Although information literacy has been fundamental to the work of teaching librarians for decades, the ways in which students develop their information literacy is not well understood. In addition, the sociocultural nature of information literacy is often neglected when attempting to assess students' information literacy development. The purpose…

In America, it is promised that self-discipline, hard work, and ambition will be met with equality of opportunity. That is a promise that has failed to be kept far too often. Now more than ever, it must be ensured that talented college students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, are prepared to compete for strong jobs before they…

We assess whether a light-touch intervention can increase socioeconomic and racial diversity in undergraduate Economics. We randomly assigned over 2,200 students a message with basic information about the Economics major; the basic message combined with an emphasis on the rewarding careers or financial returns associated with the major; or no…

Online learning has become a significant part of the strategic plan to increase enrollment and college access (Crawley, 2012). Allen & Seaman (2013) noted that more than 65% of U.S. higher education institutions believe that online education is necessary to sustain and continue progress toward their strategic planning goals to increase…

Online learning has become a significant part of the strategic plan to increase enrollment and college access (Crawley, 2012). Allen & Seaman (2013) noted that more than 65% of U.S. higher education institutions believe that online education is necessary to sustain and continue progress toward their strategic planning goals to increase…

First-generation college students represent a significant percentage of all college students and comprise various sub-identities and unique backgrounds. Compared to continuing generation college students, many first-generation students arrive on college campuses without complete understanding of how to navigate college life. Factors, such as…

This quasi-experimental pilot study addressed the need for financial literacy services to assist in increasing and providing financial literacy skills development to first-generation, low-income students through a TRIO Student Support Services program. Identification of student needs and support implementation to provide effective services is…

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) serve a disproportionate number of first-generation students who are less likely than their counterparts to persist to graduation. One way they are working to retain first-generation students is through social engagement. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the social…

Student persistence and retention are critical concerns for colleges. Although much research has been focused on first-generation college students and how their pre-college circumstances contribute to their failure to persist to a degree, little research has been done to focus specifically on first-generation students and how failure in gateway…

The fastest-growing population of Latinx students across California Community Colleges calls for an analysis on institutional practices to ignite change and improve the overall educational achievements of this student population. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of first-generation Latinx students by employing the…

This case study illustrates the use of photo-cued interviewing to improve postsecondary education for students from rural Indigenous communities in Peru. We explored (a) how access to postsecondary education influenced the identity development of rural first-generation Indigenous students in Peru, and (b) how postsecondary education can be…

This study examines the early departure pathways of first-time freshmen university students to better understand the intersection of financial and time-related constraints that affect first-generation and low-income Black and Latinx students. Data from 50 interviews with students who experienced an early departure from a four-year university…

For more than a century, scholars and policymakers have commented and debated on the purposes of higher education. These conversations reflect a combination of public and private goals, with an increasing emphasis on social mobility. The perspective of students, especially those currently enrolled and first-generation college goers for whom social…

This action research study aimed to understand and overcome barriers of awareness and access to out-of-the-classroom experiences for Bangladeshi and Pakistani female immigrant and first-generation (BPFIF) students at North Richmond College, a large urban public college located in the Northeastern United States. The study unfolded in two cycles…

First-generation college students (FGCS) in engineering bring a wealth of knowledge to their academic and social experiences in higher education, in contrast to deficit-based narratives that students are underprepared. By listening to FGCS' own experiences navigating higher education and using information literacy in their project-based work,…