The six-year university graduation rate for minority, first-generation, and low-income students is significantly lower than it is for non-minority students, students whose parents went to college, and students from high-income families. The problem addressed in this study was small private, faith-based institutions do not have a viable model for…

This action research study explored implementing a remote summer bridge program that was offered in a synchronous format to comply with the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the action research study was to address the problem of a high attrition rate of Educational Opportunity Program students through the…

Higher education institutions have implemented many initiatives to support first-generation college students' (FGCS) persistence to degree completion; however, many FGCS fail to persist beyond their freshman year (Forrest Cataldi et al., 2018). Many FGCS are able to benefit from secondary and postsecondary supports as they move from kindergarten…

First-generation college students are a diverse at-risk population and have continued to face challenges obtaining 4-year degrees. Access to postsecondary education has increased for first generation students. Academic and social programs and services at four-year institutions such as first-year seminars, summer bridge programs, service learning,…

Recognising the authoritative de/legitimising power of education systems, this paper contributes to studies concerned with the ways in which new entrants to higher education experience the positioning of their inherited identities as they negotiate their transition to campus life. The findings emerged during a broader psychosocial study of the…

Through an examination of 13 first-generation college students' views, this paper aims to provide one possible lens to viewing the complex social and academic landscapes that impact on students' academic identity construction. Academic and social experiences within and beyond the safety net of a mentoring program are explored. The paper concludes…

This study examined stress, coping, and perceived academic goal progress among first- (n = 363) and continuing-generation (n = 325) college students. Stress was significantly related to institutional supports for first- but not continuing-generation students. In addition, institutional supports explained the relation between stress and perceived…

Despite an increased focused on developing and understanding engineering undergraduates' entrepreneurial mindsets, best practices related to assessing this mindset remain nascent. In an attempt to evaluate concept mapping as a potential assessment tool for entrepreneurial mindset and identify the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) first-year…

First-generation students, who represent more than 40% of entering college freshmen, have lower academic achievement and struggle to persist compared to their continuing-generation peers. Although previous studies have repeatedly shown a deficit model for first-generation students, there is still a lack of clear understanding about the…

To close the achievement gap between first and continuing generation students, several interventions that specifically target first-generation students have been designed and delivered in a variety of settings. These interventions are typically intended to promote wellness and support academic achievement in students' college careers, which in…

The role of social capital in the creation of human capital may be a significant factor limiting the college readiness and completion of underrepresented populations. After fifty years of increasing educational intervention programs, underrepresented populations still have the lowest rates of college completion and poverty still hovers around 14%.…

I analyze interview data collected from 16 students who were involved in a student-led group for low-income, first-generation, and/or working-class (LIFGWC) students at an elite liberal arts college. I find that students' assumed class identities on campus are tied to their racial identities. Specifically, students of color are overwhelmingly…

The news is full of growing doubt about the ability of the higher education systems to provide people with paths to a good life. Crushing loan debt, low completion rates, and an uncertain return on investment are among the concerns. Low-income young people, who have the most to gain in earnings from a college degree, fare the worst. Since 2002, an…

First generation college students, defined as students whose parents did not attend or complete education after high school, currently make up about one in three college undergraduates. First generation students often face difficulties adapting to the college environment and find their identities challenged in efforts to find success. Much…

This study was designed to understand the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the family's role in their students' college experiences. Specifically, the authors examined parents' attitudes towards institutions' COVID-19 decision-making, parents' perceptions of communication quality between families and institutions during the COVID-19…