Education Commons^™

Sense Of Belonging Of New Members Who Are First-Generation College Students: A Single-Institution Qualitative Case Study, Levi J. Harrel-Hallmark, Jason Castles, Pietro A. Sasso

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

While there is research to suggest that first-generation college students benefit from and have a greater sense of belonging as a result of involvement in student organizations, there is limited research on how first-generation college students develop a sense of belonging specifically through their involvement as new members of a fraternity or sorority. This study, constructed within a single-institution qualitative case study framework, highlighted the unique role that organizational involvement, mentorship, emotional support, and first-generation status and identity can play in the development of sense of belonging for fraternity and sorority new members that are first-generation college students.

Moving From Racist To Antiracist Practices: Using Lewin’S Field Theory To Examine Career Help-Seeking Behaviors And Intentions Of Black First-Generation Students Attending Predominantly White Institutions, Jonique R. Childs, Jennifer Sánchez, William M. Liu

Journal of College Access

This study examined person and environment contextual factors associated with career decision-making difficulties among Black first-generation students (FGSs) attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Using Lewin’s field theory, we investigated the predictive value of person and environment factors on help-seeking behaviors for 63 Black FGS attending PWIs. We used a non-experimental correlational research design, along with hierarchical regression analysis, to investigate the predictability of contextual factors on previous career services use and intention to seek counseling for racist career barriers. Change/loss in advisor and lack of information were associated with previous career services use, whereas intention to seek counseling for racist …

Access Granted: The Journey Of Conditionally Admitted, First-Generation College Students At An Hbcu, Zackeus Dontrell Johnson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative case study was undertaken to understand the perspectives of first-generation, conditionally-admitted students, regarding how their participation in a college access program may or may not have contributed to their persistence at a Historically Black College and University. This study was grounded in Tinto’s (2012) Model of Institutional Action for Student Success, Schlossberg’s (1990) Transition Theory, and Astin’s (1984) Student Involvement Theory. This single case study was positioned at a university in the South, named Success State University for this research. The study included 5 female participants who participated in virtual interviews due to the unforeseen Coronavirus 2019 outbreak. …

First-Generation Black Males’ Challenges In Attending A Pwi: Understanding What Makes Them Persist, Shakeitra Simmons

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology, the researcher studied the challenges and persistence factors for undergraduate First-generation Black males to persist at a Predominantly White Institution. Through conducting six one-on-one semi-structured interviews, the researcher identified the challenges faced by this group of students as mental health, lack of support, and racism/microaggressions. The researcher also identified the factors for persistence at the PWI to be upward mobility, family and school personnel support, and campus involvement.

Can Free College Programs Level The Playing Field? An Exploratory Study Of Understanding Non-Economic Persistence Barriers For Low-Income Students, Alan Byrd

Dissertations

The rising cost of higher education has created substantial access and persistence barriers for low-income students. Consequently, gaps in educational attainment between low-income students and their middle- and high-income peers have continued to widen over the last few decades. Colleges and universities have taken notice of these growing disparities, and several institutions have responded by developing need-based financial aid programs to close unmet need gaps for Pell Grant recipients. These last-dollar financial aid programs have opened doors for more low-income students to attend selective institutions, but it is unclear how these programs will influence their persistence and completion rates. The …

What Career Development Practitioners Share With First-Generation College Students: A Grounded Theory Study Of Self-Disclosure In Career Counseling, Pamela Eve Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

Financial security is cited among reasons why first-generation college students pursue higher education (Bradbury & Mather, 2009; Brooks-Terry, 1988; Shelton, 2011; Walpole, 2003), but the emphasis on perceived value of a bachelor's degree fails to account for the importance of career planning (NACE, 2014; Parks-Yancy, 2012). The purpose of this qualitative, grounded theory study was to examine how career counselors use their personal experience to support first-generation college student. The study was inspired by Knox and Hill's (2003) therapist self-disclosure types and their use in the counselor/client discourse. The findings suggest that first-generation college students benefit from hearing their career …

How Scholarship Programs Facilitate First-Generation College Students’ Involvement, Maria C. Restrepo Chavez

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

As a first-generation college student, I am interested in the on-campus involvement and experiences of other first-generation college students. First-generation college students are those whose parents did not receive a university degree and tend to come from low-income families. This project explores programs designed to support and enrich the experiences of such students. The Centennial Scholars Program at James Madison University and the Presidential Scholarship Initiative at Virginia Tech aim to increase the socio-economic diversity on each campus. These programs provide students with full funding for four years, mentorship, professional development and social benefits, among others. In turn, students become …

A Qualitative Exploration Of First-Generation Student Experiences At A Rural Community College, Rebecca Margrete Evans

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

First-generation students comprise 36% of U.S. community college enrollments but struggle to remain in school to earn a college credential. First-generation students are less likely to enroll in college and have a higher probability for attrition than continuing-generation students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how first-generation students attending a rural community college located in the Southeastern United States perceived that their experiences impacted their academic and nonacademic success. This study replicated and extended the Stansberry and Burnett (2014) study that explored the experiences of first-generation students attending a large, diverse research university.

This phenomenological study utilized …

A Pilot Program To Promote Higher Education: Summer Support Workshop, Nicole Bahbout

Master's Projects and Capstones

Overview

This report discusses the importance of educational attainment for the underserved community, particularly for youth raised in or near San Francisco’s Tenderloin. It identifies the reasons why low-income, first-generation students have trouble matriculating into college, and considers the current efforts that address this issue.

Based on the literature and the data analyzed, De Marillac Academy’s Graduate Support Program staff designed and implemented the Summer Support Workshop, a pilot program intended to assist high school graduates as they transition into post-secondary life. This paper presents the research and the findings that support the project’s development.

Introduction

For underserved children and …

Reflecting On The Past; Shaping The Future Of Student Affairs, Michael J. Stebleton, Marina B. Aleixo

Michael J. Stebleton

The purpose of this essay is to offer several reflections on the content of the Envisioning Student Affairs document co-published by ACPA and NASPA. The metaphor of a public art exhibit with five reflective questions is used to inspire educators to think critically about serving students. As the demographics of students pursuing higher education changes, we urge a recommitment to historically underserved student populations. This call to service invokes a social justice philosophy when we serve historically marginalized student groups, including immigrants, students of color, and first-generation learners. Doing so will engage students and reenergize our commitment to the profession.