In order to thrive in college, students need general good health, sufficient energy, the capacity to focus on their studies, and the chance to actively participate in classes. Stress related to financial matters and mental health issues can disrupt the essential dynamics that contribute to achieving academic success. This brief examines data from…

First-generation college students (i.e., those whose parents do not hold a bachelor's degree or higher), enter college without the same resources, skills, and knowledge as their non-first-generation counterparts which may lead to disadvantage regarding their chosen field of study in college (Prospero and Vohra-Gupta 2007; Roksa and Levey 2010;…

Maintaining and increasing student retention is a challenge for small institutions especially small private Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). There are factors which contribute to this problem of practice and solutions that could increase student retention given more research and analysis. The purpose of this instrumental case…

Purpose. This research aimed to contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersection of ethnicity, first-generation status, and higher education attainment. The study sought to comprehend the essence of the journey through college for a group of first-generation Latino males, unveiling the challenges, triumphs, and transformative aspects that…

First-generation college students (FGCS) are considered underrepresented minorities in healthcare. While there are numerous studies on undergraduate students, little is known about FGCS in graduate programs, as this information has not been routinely collected. As such, diversity has been measured only based on race or ethnicity, which may not…

While college was once just for a few people, college access has increased. More students are attending college than ever before, but access does not correlate with degree persistence. Many prospective students cannot attend college due to the increasing cost of tuition. Affordability is a risk to all students, but it is especially difficult for…

This dissertation is motivated by the limits of current conceptualizations of college transition-- the metaphorical bridges, pathways, and tracks to college that represent a linear trajectory upheld by normative educational progress narratives often oriented toward Eurocentric, English-dominant, text-based standards for academic writing and…

We explore the experiences of female humanities, arts, social science (HASS) majors taking STEM general education (GE) courses at a large, public university. Using pre- and post-course surveys, we examined how science GE courses designed for non-STEM majors impacted their attitudes toward science on nine measures, with a focus on their confidence…

Research focused on undergraduate science, technology, math, engineering and math (STEM) student success has demonstrated the positive contribution of active learning strategies. Using a sociopolitical lens, which recognizes that students arrive with varied social identities and historical legacies, this study examines the role that faculty play…

Many students work during college to offset rising costs, but significant time on the job affects postsecondary outcomes. Analyzing the High School Longitudinal Study (N = 4,418), this article estimates the effects of hours worked on grades, credits earned, persistence, stopping out (i.e., unenrolling for 5 months before reenrolling), and dropping…

The Challenge: Rising mental health challenges are placing increasing strain on higher education systems. At this Hispanic- and minority-serving institution, many students are first-generation college students from neighborhoods characterized by some of Texas's highest incarceration rates and among the top ten ZIP codes for behavioral…

Disparate grade outcomes across various axes of student identities are prevalent in introductory science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, including in the biological sciences, yet few studies have examined outcome disparities in upper-division courses. Those that have present mixed findings. Rooted in a critical approach…

This paper examines how Black first-generation college students (FGCS) involved in a participant photography project describe their sense of belonging at historically white institutions (HWI). Using visual and narrative data from a qualitative study of 20 Black FGCS at private HWIs, the paper examines their experiences with the campus racial…

This Case Study is based on original research into the teaching and learning and wider needs of first-generation (or first-in-family) students studying at an elite U.K. university during the time of the online pivot engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It addresses the practical problems around conducting semistructured interviews online between…

This book explores how first-generation college students negotiate the culture of higher education through an embrace of their multiple identities. Featuring contributors with multiple experiences and identities, this volume attempts to shed light on the creative approaches first-generation students use to succeed in college as well as help…