Demystifying Higher Ed for the First-Generation Student: A Pre-College Program to Bolster Confidence and Success By Agnes Hooper Gottlieb, Ph.D. Vice President of Student Services Seton Hall University NASPA (March 2019)

Learning Outcomes Gain a clear understanding of the challenges that first-generation students face when they begin college. Understand the important role the student’s family plays in the student’s success. Learn the steps to organize a Gen 1 program around specific learning outcomes. Understand creative pathways for funding.

Seton Hall University Catholic Diocesan Located in South Orange, NJ with a new health professions campus nearby About 6000 undergraduates, total +/- 10,000 Historical commitment to providing access to college, especially among first-generation nearby community A 20-year commitment to retention initiatives

Retention initiatives A deep dive into the data began in 2000 with a first analysis of fragile populations Formation of the Retention Committee Freshman Studies department has always been the source of initiatives to improve retention Established the four pillars of retention Identified fragile populations

Fragile Populations: Undeclared majors Students who are tracking another major First-generation college students Men African American men Commuters Out-of-state students Transfers

Niche initiatives aimed at specific risk groups Undeclared and Pre-majors: creation of the Sophomore Center and continued intrusive advising into the second year. Transfers: creation of the Transfer Center to serve as a concierge service to cut down on the perceived run-around that transfers complain about. Out-of-state students: focus groups; targeted communication; programming; increase in activities on weekends. First-generation: creation of a pre-college program.

Definition of First-Generation College Student (USDOE) An individual, neither of whose parents completed a baccalaureate degree; or An individual, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with an received support from only one parent and whose supporting parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree; or An individual who, prior to the age of 18, did not regularly reside with or receive support from a natural or adoptive parent. If your parent(s) and/or guardian(s) attended college but did not have a bachelor’s degree (i.e., did not graduate), you are considered to be first-generation.

What the numbers told us: 25% of white students; 41% of African American students; 61% of Latinx students 25% of First Gens attend four-year colleges. Pew Institute study showed these students were seven times more likely to graduate than students who made the two-year college choice More likely to attend college part-time Less likely to complete their degree in six years (50% v. 64%) More likely to have dependents Older

More about First Gens More unmet financial need Higher degree of need for remedial classes Median family income $37,565, compared to $99,635 for non-first- gen students ESL for 20% of First Gens

Data Indicators Fall-to-Fall retention of our freshman class in 2016: 85% Fall-to-Fall retention of First Generation student population at SHU: 79% National Fall-to-Fall retention of First Gen student population: 79% In Fall 2017, 22% of SHU freshman class self-identified as First Generation.

What the literature tells us about first-generation college students: Less likely to feel like they belong More financial challenges Puzzled by the mysterious culture of higher education Less academically or socially engaged More likely to have family obligations More likely to commute Less likely to have financial and social support from family

Seton Hall’s long history of first-generation support The Educational Opportunity Program The Pre-Med Pre-Dent Plus Program Upward Bound Summer Scholars Fast Forward

Gen 1 @ SHU: Summer Boot Camp Begun as a pilot in August 2017 Attracted 24 students Grew into a “movement” that included outreach and communication to all First Gen students on campus One result was the formation of the Gen 1 student organization Now has two facets, programming for all Gen 1 students and a boot camp for incoming freshmen first-gens.

Program Objectives: Introduce parents to the challenges that their students face in college and enlist them in the journey Provide students the opportunity to learn the language of college and understand the rules and traditions Help the students become comfortable with the footprint of the campus and the classroom spaces Introduce students to the concepts of mindfulness, grit and resilience Raise awareness of the common pitfalls to success Acquaint students to the myriad of university resources

More objectives: 7. Demonstrate how accessible and approachable faculty can be 8. Provide writing and math workshops to brush up on rusty skills 9. Introduce students to leadership and self-advocacy strategies 10. Exploit our university’s location to open the cultural and entertainment possibilities of NYC 11. Begin the team-building process so our students understand that they belong.

Gen 1 Pre-College Boot Camp Fall 2017 – 24 students opted in to the pilot program Held from 8/13-8/22, then move-in day followed and students transitioned to Orientation and classes began Students then were assigned to the same section of University Life (a required first-year course), creating a learning community Gender breakdown: 19 Women, 5 Men Required attendance in order to receive $500 book scholarship Pre-assessment and follow up

Pre-assessment 71% indicated they expected to spend more than six hours a week on external commitments (family, etc.) 62% planned to work the first semester and 40% of those students planned to work more than 16 hours per week Financial assistance was the top reason for attending SHU (100%) Top three anticipated barriers: Self-motivation (37.5%) Finances (25%) Academic preparedness (17%)

Post-Assessment

Workshops and Events Family Welcome Barbeque and meet the president Workshops in Math and English Faculty Speakers, including representatives from English, Education, Math, ahd Pscyhology Lots of advice, including “The 17 Things You Need to Know About College Train trip to NYC to see a Broadway show A day of service Introduction to all the support services available

Parents! We included parents in the communication to the students We invited family to the opening evening We surveyed the parents and guardians to understand the level of their involvement in their students’ lives We created a parents’ newsletter to keep them informed

Year 1 24 students G1 Fall to Spring Retention: 96% Overall retention: 95% G1 Fall to Fall retention: 88% Overall retention 83% 3.12 cumulative GPA 57% above 3.0 39% Dean’s List

Year 2 (Fall 2018) 49 G1 students G1 Fall to Spring retention 94% (-3); Overall campus 95% 3.05 gpa after one semester 61% above 3.0 37 Dean’s list

Budget 2018-19 Items Cost Swag (backpacks and tee-shirts) $2600 Community Service Project $325 Food $7000 Broadway tickets/train/food $4200 Stipends $7300 Book Vouchers ($500 per student) $25500 Misc. $3000 TOTAL $49925

Student Challenges At a private school, can unmet need be a barrier to enrollment? What can a student do when a family matter impedes success? How much debt is too much deby? How does family culture affect a student’s ability to persist and complete?

Institutional Challenges How do we assist students with their financial challenges? How do we get campus buy-in for the program? How do we fund the program?

Happy Consequences The first Gen 1 cohort established a Gen 1 club for all first-gen students on campus. The club is flourishing. The students continue to return to the director of the Gen 1 program, who serves as a mentor and adviser. The students continue to meet with academic coaches for help and support. Persistence of these cohorts has outpaced the general population of first-gen students.

Questions? Contact: Tracy Gottlieb, Ph.D. Vice President of Student Services Seton Hall University gottlitr@shu.edu