First-Generation Low-Income Students: Support through Scholarship, Mentoring, Tutoring

1. First-Generation Low-Income Students:Support through Scholarship, Mentoring, Tutoring Leslie Hahn Assistant Director, New Student Programs University of Florida leslieah@dso.ufl.edu

2. Presentation Overview • First-Generation and Low-Income: Who are these students? • Florida Opportunity Scholars Program (FOS) • How can you improve services to FOS-like students on your campus?

3. 1. Academic preparation & “college knowledge” • FG does not always equal LI and vice versa • Many attended low income high schools • Cultural Capital (Lundberg, 2007) & College Knowledge (Vargas, 2004) • Baseball analogy • Importance of relationships with adults Lundberg, C. (2007). How bad is a dented bat? A bleacher-seat view of cultural capital. About Campus. 11(6), 8-12. Vargas, J. H. (2004). College knowledge: Addressing information barriers to college. Boston, MA: College Access Services: The Education Resources Institute (TERI). www.teri.org

4. Straddling two cultures (London, 1992) Families unsure how to support student during college Many have friends who do not go to college Especially tough for students living at home Conflict management London, Howard B. (1992). Transformations: Cultural challenges faced by first-generation students. New Directions for Community Colleges, vol. 2, no. 4, p. 5-11 2. Relationship with friends and family often change

5. Could not afford it previously Not part of culture Brittany’s Story Examples may include: Tutoring, Counseling Center, Health Clinic, Office Hours, etc 3. Free or low-cost support services often unknown or not used

6. Financial pressure Working while in school Career that makes a lot of money Send money home to help family Family pressure Limit campus involvement; focus on grades To come home Joselene’s story 4. Face Different Pressures

7. Trailblazer In college to better family situation, clear goals Family often very proud Many mentors Sees college as a great opportunity, not a necessary step 5. Tremendous drive, motivation, determination

8. Florida Opportunity Scholars ProgramUniversity of Florida

9. Challenge • Low SES students under-represented at UF • Meeting college costs is major family concern • Fear of debt • Fear that work may negatively impact academic success

10. Freshmen Family Income

11. Action • Create a scholarship program that provides a commitment for the lowest income students that they can graduate UF without debt and without working.

12. Target Scholarship Population • First-generation freshmen beginning with Summer 2006 class • Parental income < $40,000 • Florida resident

13. Percentage Distribution by Race 2006 FTIC freshman enrollment

14. Projected Program Costs • First year: $2.1 million • 444 students • Second year: $3.6 million • 750 students • Third year: $5.5 million • 1025 students • Fourth year: $8 million • 1250 students

15. Program Features • Four year renewable scholarship to meet full financial need (after all federal, state, institutional, private grants/scholarships) • 2.0 GPA and 24 earned credits required to renew • Support services • Funding for one study abroad opportunity

16. Support Services • Special hour-long orientation* • Residence hall housing priority • Peer mentoring program* • Presidential reception • First-generation support groups • List serve • First-Year Florida Course* • Financial literacy workshops* • Academic interventions as necessary • Year-end celebration *Mandatory for 2007 class

17. Research and Assessment • Most of information about first cohort (now sophomores) • Three Focus Groups (n = 22) • Surprised by lack of “requirements”/wanted more • Financial literacy sessions extremely helpful • Mentoring, wanted more contact/become mentors themselves • Understanding difference between HS and College took a long time • Sophomore Year: more workshops ($, Career, Study Abroad) • Send newsletter to parents • Pre Test with second cohort (n = 190, online survey) • 77% Agreed or SA they have enough financial support to attend UF • 89% Agreed or SA in their ability to succeed academically at UF • 76% listed a parent or guardian as a support system while 52% listed an FOS mentor

18. First-Year GPA Results 2006 FTIC freshman enrollment

19. Where Do We Go From Here? • Strategic Plan/Assessments • Funding • Legislative appropriations • Fundraising • Grants • Services for upper division students • Expand eligibility? • Staffing • Review eligibility criteria

20. Small Group Discussion Does a similar program exist on your campus? If not, would one like this be feasible? Where would you start? How are first-generation, low-income students supported on your campus? What are some first steps you might be able to take at your university?

21. Additional Resources Fitzgerald, B.K. (2003). The opportunity for a college education: Real promise or hollow rhetoric? About Campus, 8(5), 3-10. McCaroon, G.P & Inkelas, K.K. (2006). The gap between educational aspirations and attainment for first-generation college students and the role of parental involvement. Journal of College Student Development, 47(5), 534-548. Oldfield, K. (2007). Welcoming first-generation poor and working-class students to college. About Campus, 11(6), 2-12 Pascarella, E.T., et. al. (2004). First-Generation college students: Additional evidence on college experiences and outcomes. Journal of Higher Education, 75(3), 249-284.

22. For Additional Information: Leslie Hahn Karen Fooks New Student Programs Student Financial Affairs leslieah@dso.ufl.edukfooks@ufl.edu Thanks for Attending!