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First Generation Students At The University Of Massachusetts Amherst, Ryan S. Wells, Genia M. Bettencourt

Reports and White Papers

Executive Summary

First generation (First Gen) students—those who do not have a parent or guardian who attained a four-year degree—represent a third of all college students in the United States. At the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), a quarter of the undergraduate student body is First Gen. Nationally as well as locally, First Gen students often experience lower rates of academic success due to factors such as a lack of family familiarity with the college going process, lower levels of academic preparation, and limited finances.

UMass Amherst is undertaking efforts to improve conditions for success for First Gen students. As …