Traditional approaches to teaching and learning in large undergraduate STEM lectures has not kept pace with the massification and diversification of higher education. Efforts to alleviate learning obstacles call for improved instruction, stipulating the utility of specific pedagogical techniques delineated as "promising practices";…

The study focuses on the phenomenon of "undermatching" in relation to the development of noncognitive attributes during the first year of college. Particular attention is paid to examining the role of first-generation college student status in moderating these relationships. The analyses utilize longitudinal data from the Netherlands (N…

This study examines the role of communication with on-campus friends on first-year students' college adjustment, measured by academic self-efficacy, among first- and non-first-generation students. It also tests whether school connectedness, students' perceived sense of being part of the institution, mediates the relation between communication and…

This study explores the narratives of first-generation, Latinx graduate students whose parents emigrated from Mexico. We aimed to understand the life trajectories of six participants, particularly the ways in which they made sense of graduate education (MA and EdD) as part of their personal journeys, identity and practice as educators. Focus…

One of the central goals of doctoral programs is to develop independent researchers and scholars who will lead the next generation of knowledge production. Despite extant evidence of inequalities in doctoral education, few studies have closely examined the experiences of first-generation college students who pursue a Ph.D. We examine how…

Surrounded by stories of underrepresented and first-generation students lagging behind or switching out of STEM majors, three women saw an opportunity to shift the narrative. They created a new online speaker series, "The Next 10 Years: Helping STEM Students Thrive"; where faculty, staff, and students could share ideas, learn from one…

Charter high schools largely serving low-income, first-generation, Black and Hispanic students have long boasted of the comparatively high proportions of their students who graduate and go to college. But as these schools and their alumni grow older, charters also are looking at their rates of degree attainment, which remain lower than they'd…

Do donor-driven scholarship funds meet the needs of students? Do they advance equity in college attainment? In numerous instances, the answer to both questions is "no." Scholarship funds housed at community foundations often have complex, merit-based selection criteria and use evaluation methods that are exclusionary or do not recognize…

First-generation college students face many challenges transitioning into school. The obstacles are overwhelming and the learners often drop out. The research included details relating to the difficulties facing the scholars and how college educators can address the needs. Understanding the concerns of first-generation college students is critical…

In the present study, the relationships among trait hope, academic self-efficacy, and academic achievement (self-reported GPA) were examined among college students. Demographic differences were analyzed based on college-going status, ethnicity, and gender. First-generation college-going students (FGCS) reported significantly lower levels of trait…

Despite an increase in Latina/o student enrollment within institutions of higher education, Latina/os still have one of the lowest college attainment rates among all ethnicities (Astin & Oseguera, 2003; Camile & Siebens, 2009; Cerna, Perez, and Saenz, 2009; Fry, 2002; Zarate & Burciaga, 2010). Unfortunately, low attainment rates…

Since the 1970s, the college enrollment of Latinx first generation students (FGS) has increased nationally and within the research site. In this vein, the purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding regarding the actual academic and nonacademic experiences that prevent Latinx FGS from graduating community college. This…

First-generation college students who enroll in 4 year institutions are significantly less likely to complete a baccalaureate degree than their non-first-generation peers (Gibbons et al., 2019; RTI, 2019; NCES 2020; NASPA & COE, 2020; Ruiz Alvarado et al., 2020). Given that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) determined that…

First-generation students currently represent the vast majority of the student population in South American higher education institutions (Castillo & Cabezas, 2010; Cuenca, 2015); however, these students also have significantly lower persistence, especially during their first year of studies (Fanelli, 2017). The most relevant theories on…

First-generation college students (FGCSs) are a growing population in undergraduate education. Research on FGCS primarily focuses on the challenges and barriers they encounter in college. While important, this literature offers a limited view of FGCS as learners. Moreover, minimal literature has examined these students' lived experiences within…