First Generational Students’ Knowledge of Academic Resources
Marc PrigmoreKaty Foster Rochelle Bateman Brittan Plante Petra Henderson
Question:
• Does UVU effectively welcome and orient first-generation students? Are first-generation students at UVU generally less aware of resources? Do first generation students know less about college application/financial aid processes? What don’t first-generation students know about college (terminology like bursars office, syllabus, rubric, FAFSA, etc.; what an appropriate course load is; how to choose a major; etc.)? How do first-generation students get information about attending college/comparing colleges?
Introduction
• Survey– UVU Institutional Research and Information Department
submitted an email survey to 10,000 students.– Some important questions posed to students in the survey were:
• What resources here at UVU do you feel are most helpful in providing you with a successful college experience?
• Please indicate your level of awareness of support resources available to help you as a student here at UVU.
• When did you feel you had a workable understanding of the following terms or processes? (List terms, such as bursar’s office, syllabus, etc).
– 500 responses were recorded
Research Method
Analysis
Analysis
Analysis
0 - 3.0 4.0 - 7.0 8.0 - 10.00%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Before beginning college, how confident were you in undertaking the application process?
(10 = 100% confident)
Not first generation First generation
Analysis
0 - 3.0 4.0 - 7.0 8.0 - 10.00%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Before beginning college. how confident were you inundertaking the financial aid process?
(10 = 100% confident)
Not first generation First generation
Analysis
Syllubus Transcript Credits Prerequisites FAFSA Rubric Bursar's Office How to choose major Appropriate courseload
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Before college, what terms did you understand?
Not First Gen First Gen
Analysis
AnalysisCertificate
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Higher than Master's
Unsure/does not apply
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%
Highest level of education non-first generation students expect(ed) to achieve
Now, as a current college student Before beginning college
Analysis
Certificate
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Higher than Master's
Unsure/does not apply
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
Highest level of education first generation students expect(ed) to achieve
Now, as a current college student Before beginning college
Analysis
Certificate
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Higher than Master's
Unsure/does not apply
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Highest level of education you plan on now, as a current college student
First generation Not first generation
• The majority of students both traditional and non-traditional receive their primary support from their parents• Improvements can be made at UVU to help students and
parents understand:– The enrollment process – The administration– The financial aid process
Findings