Community College Leadership Commons^™

Retaining First-Generation College Students: Faculty And Staff Perceptions, David Wolff

Student Academic Conference

Research showed faculty-student interactions impact student engagement and was a primary factor to student retention (Kuh & Hu, 2001; Means & Pyne, 2017; Swecker et al., 2013; Tinto, 1987). The literature revealed while retention may be an issue for many institutions, there is a greater need to address retention specifically related to first-generation college students (FGCS). Students often seek advice from faculty and staff when faced with questions about their academic progress. Faculty and staff voices need to be collected regarding their perceptions of the effectiveness of the support systems used within an institution that promote retention for FGCS. This …

Educating The Whole Family: Best Practices For Advising First-Generation Students, Michelle Applegate, Nicolas Latorre

First-Generation Symposium

Being a first-generation student can feel like a very solitary experience. This secluded feeling can be exasperated if the student’s network of support does not feel supportive to them. In many instances family and friends, whom a first generation student may rely on for support, may actually be causing additional stress due to their own unfamiliarity with the college experience. We as advisors must create an environment that incorporates education for the whole family in order for the student to gain the autonomy needed to pursue their passions and be successful. This discussion-based session will incorporate real world examples and …

First-Generation College Students And "Othering" In Undergraduate Engineering, Dr. Harriet Hartman, Dr. Stephanie Farrell, Dr. Ralph Dusseau, Dr. Kauser Jahan, Sarah Bauer, Dr. Tiago Forin, Dr. Beena Sukumaran, Stephanie Lezotte, Cra, Danilo Zeppilli, Eit, Theresa Bruckerhoff

First-Generation Symposium

We have baseline data collected from a sample of all Rowan engineering students in 2015-6, and have analyzed the differences between first-generation engineering students (FGES) and non-first-generation engineering students (Non-FGES) with respect to (a) their perceptions of “otherness” in a variety of situations in engineering at Rowan (FGES do not perceive themselves as “other” in most situations); (b) their background in engineering-related subjects and extra-curricular activities in high school (FGES background differs from Non-FGES); (c) their satisfaction with various aspects of the engineering program at Rowan (there are few differences); (d) their self-confidence as engineers (there are some differences); and …

Thriving, Not Surviving, Corinne Werner

First-Generation Symposium

Struggle, hardship, turmoil. These are a few words that come to mind when thinking about barriers to success that first-generation college students face. How can we help turn these three adjectives into more positive predictors? This educational workshop focuses on evidenced-based practices for supporting first-gen students, specifically focusing on two effective programs for at-risk scholars. Together, we will investigate the workings of the University of California’s (UC) Student Academic Preparation and Educational Partnerships (SAPEP) program and Colorado State University’s (CSU) Key Communities (Key) program. SAPEP’s programs work holistically with educational institutions, community organizations, and the business sector to improve academic …

Coordinating Resources Efficiently To Bolster Success Among Underserved College Students, Amanda Ciavarella

First-Generation Symposium

Based on a 5-year study at Montgomery County Community College (PA), during which academic support and mentorship programming was developed for student-athletes, four key pillars of support were identified as contributory to increases in completion rates, success rates and GPA among students from underserved populations (including, but not limited to, students who identify as being first generation, minority, LGBTQ, disabled, poverty-stricken, underprepared, non-traditional, international or displaced). Students participating in all four pillar programs performed 321% better than average; participation in three of the four programs resulted in a 96% better performance; and those participating in two or less of the …

Information Literacy And Critical Thinking: The Power Of Success, Cheryl A. Clayton-Molina Dr.

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Students and adults cannot just be excellent learners, but lifelong learners to keep pace in today’s world. Information literacy and critical thinking presentation provides skills for individuals to grow and develop as a person and professional. Individuals will learn:

Higher-Order Thinking

Problem solving

Effective and Positive Communication Skills

Setting Realistic Goals

Self-Development/Growth (Who are you)

Building Confidence