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Breaking Down Barriers: Academic Obstacles Of First-Generation Students At Research Universities, Michael J. Stebleton, Krista Soria

Michael J. Stebleton

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived academic obstacles of first-generation (FG) students in comparison to non-FG students. Using the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) completed by 58,000 students from six research universities, the researchers used nonparametric bootstrapping to analyze differences between first-generation and non-first-generation students’ obstacles to academic success. The results suggest that first-generation students more frequently encounter obstacles that compromise their academic success as compared to non-first-generation students, such as job responsibilities, family responsibilities, perceived weak English and math skills, inadequate study skills, and feeling depressed. Implications for learning assistance professionals are outlined.