Understanding the Experiences of First-Generation College Students

Throughout the history of higher education, it is evident that many strides have been made to provide more accessibility to different populations both at the undergraduate and graduate levels – this holds true in regards to the first-generation college student population. Traditionally, first-generation college students are defined as individuals who are the first in their family to attend college.

While mechanisms have been created and are in place to increase the presence of first-generation college students in higher education, questions regarding how these institutions support this particular population throughout their higher education experience come to the surface.

This session will discuss recent research involving First-Generation college students and the way they develop their scholar identity within a higher education environment. This research adopted an asset-based perspective and focused on what First-Generation college students perceived to be their academic and/or personal strengths, and how these factors influence their persistence to graduation.