First-Generation Student SuccessMcKendree Firsts

What’s First-Generation?

•First-Generation students are the first in their families to earn a

four-year degree.

Who are First-Gen Students?

•Neither parent has attended college or neither parent has completed a four-

year degree

(First Generation Students: Program, Resources & Support Webinar, 6/9/2010).

Across the United States

•30% of incoming students in 2009 were

First-Generation Students.

(USA Today, 3/29/10)

At McKendree University

•44% of incoming freshman at the Lebanon campus were

first-generation.

(McKendree administered CIRP Freshman Survey, 2009)

Why the concern?

•89% of first-gen students

drop out,

stall out,

or fail out.

(USA Today, 3/29/10)

First-gen students are 4X more likely to fail or quit before earning their degrees than are non-first-gen students.

The good news?

•McKendree University’s retention rate is better than the national average,

but we knew that, didn’t we?

More good news

•First-gens “have a better chance of earning

a bachelor’s degree if they start postsecondary education

at a four-year college rather than a two-year college.”

(College Student Journal. March, 2002)

The better news?

•McKendree University is committed to helping all students succeed and reaching

out to first-generation students.

First-Gen programs help ALL students

•Schools which focus on issuesof first-gen students

and create programs for first-gen studentsfind the strategies…

First-Gen programs help ALL students

…also benefit non-first-gen students,

but not vice-versa.

(Thayer, 2000)

McKendree University’s Office of First-Generation

Student Success established July, 2010

Services of the office ofFirst-Generation Student Success •Referrals to on-campus services

▫Helping students find the sources availableto them such as $$, tutoring, tech help, advising, etc.

Services of the office ofFirst-Generation Student Success•Referrals to off-campus services

▫Helping students find transportation, housing, childcare, and other necessities

•Increased academic assistance available through Academic Support Center andthe Writing Resource Center

Services of the office ofFirst-Generation Student Success

•Training, seminars, and webinars (like today!)

•On-line academic assistance to off-site students at Kentucky campuses, Scott Air Force Base, and Accelerated Instruction at McKendree (AiM)

Services of the office ofFirst-Generation Student Success•Ten new Scholarships!

•Funded by a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges and the Walmart Foundation

•$1,000 scholarships---ten of them---will beawarded in March

Purpose

•Help our students earn their degrees

First-Gen characteristics

•May not know the “language” of higher ed FAFSA? Dean’s List? Prerequisite?

First-Gen characteristics

•Report they don’t have money for college

•REALITY: First-gens don’t know how to access money

Good news!

•“The FAFSA has been more simplified and President Obama has helped with a new bill…to overhaul student loans and make

it easier to borrow federal funds.”

(Washington Post, 4/16/10)

More good $$$ news

•ALL students can fill out the FAFSAas soon as January 1,

EVEN IF THEY HAVE NOT COMPLETED THEIR TAXES FOR THE NEW YEAR YET.

First-gen characteristics

•Often less academically prepared

~Due in part to high schools not preparingthese students for college

~Also due to first-gens not imagining themselves as college students while

growing up

Good news

~The McKendree Academic Support Centerhas hired MORE tutors in more subjects.

~The Writing Resource Center has hired MOREwriting consultants and is open more hours.

~On-line services available to students who aren’t on the Lebanon campus.

First-gen characteristics

•First-gen students often report they feel like

IMPOSTERS,and when they need extra help,

this can validate their feelings of not belonging in college!

Motivators for first-gen students•Helping out the family financially•Bringing honor to the family•Gaining respect from others•Better life and “making it out”

(First Generation Students: Programs, Resources & Support, 6/9/10)

Overcoming the Imposter Phenomenon•The solution is to build strong

relationships professors, staff, and other students.

Students need to:Get involved!

Visit profs during office hours!Attend university events!

Advisors need to:

•Use “intrusive advising” and initiate contact in order to build relationships with students

•Expect questions about general college experiences

•Refer students to the office of First-Generation Student Success for more help

Professors need to:

•Teach and review study skills, note taking, writing papers

•Reach out to students•Be proactive •Encourage students to attend university

events

First-Generation Student Success

The key is building relationships.

First-generation students need to betaught how to utilize

the sources which are already available to them.