First Generation Students

1. First Generation Students Standing in the Doorway of Success

2. Why Study First Generation Students? • At Risk Population • Growing Segment of the College Bound Population • Key to Enrollment Success for Many Institutions

3. Welcome to My House • The Doorway • Cultural Differences • Who’s Values Will be Embraced? “Education is not about learning more, it’s about behaving differently.” - Ruskin

4. Studying First Generation Students in the VSC system Studied Freshmen vs Sophomores Residential campuses/students only 41-question survey using 5-point Likert scale Broke down freshmen Pre-registered from not returning Purpose – to determine if there were differences in how these groups responded to questions

5. Findings of Interest • Family • 86% of all students maintained weekly contact • Importance of Financial Aid • 57% of Freshmen vs 73% of Sophomores • 24% of Freshmen did not know their debt level • Maintaining a Job • 59% of Freshmen employed vs 75% of Sophomores • Outside Influence • 50% of Freshmen had someone outside the family influence their decision to attend college

6. Statistically Significant Findings • Family & Friends • Work • Connection to Faculty/Campus • Academic Preparation • Career Counseling/Relevance

7. Influencers • Family and Friends • Over 90% of all students reported their families were supportive of them attending college • Over 90% reported their families continued to be supportive of attending college • Sophomores more likely to have HS friends still enrolled in college (83% vs 64%) • Work • 80% of all respondents worked • Sophomores more likely to work only on campus (44% vs 27%)

8. Influencers – Continued • Connection to Faculty & Campus • PR freshmen were more likely to believe their faculty advisor was concerned about their success • More likely to believe most faculty were interested in their success • More likely to think of themselves as campus citizens vs customers • Academic Preparation • PR freshmen felt more academically prepared for college • Once Enrolled PR freshmen gained confidence in their academic skills • NR Freshmen confidence levels remained the same

9. Influencers – Continued • Career Counseling & Relevancy • PR Freshmen were more likely to be enrolled in a major that suited their career goals • More likely to understand the relevance of a college education to the real world

10. What Did We Learn? • First generation students remain close to family and friends in the first year • Work is important • We must build stronger connections with these students • Student issues are not one-dimensional • Academic skills and confidence are important • We must connect relevance of a college education

11. What are the Answers? • We must understand the cultural transition • Connect appropriate advisors • Connect curriculum to real world relevance • Develop academic confidence