1. Risking It All: Helping First Generation and Low Socioeconomic Students Transition from College to Career Wes Lybrand Assistant Director, Career and Professional Development University of Alabama at Birmingham

2. Theses 1.G1/Low SES students have far more to lose by not completing their degree and successfully entering the workplace. 2.In order to make the transition from college to career, these students need to use their background as their platform for telling their stories. 3.The success of these students will lead to a more diverse workplace.

3. Characteristics of G1 Students Mostly from low income families More likely to be racial/ethnic minority More likely to be female than male Lower college entrance exam scores Less well prepared academically for college More likely to work full-time and attend part-time More likely to report future careers as the sole reason to attend Source: Darling, Ruth A. and Melissa Scandlyn Smith, “First-Generation College Students: First-Year Challenges” Academic Advising: New Insights for Teaching and Learning in the First Year. Available: https://www.nacada.ksu.edu/portals/0/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/documents/first-gen.pdf.

4. Characteristics of Low SES Students Less likely to graduate than high income peers Increased experiences of stress Decreased social and academic resources Lower likelihood of parents with college education Source: http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/indicator/2009/04/college.aspx

5. Historical Forces – Colonial and Early US Agrarian economy Little to no formal education system Based learning within the family and apprenticeship systems Slavery

6. Historical Forces – Industrial Revolution Industrial economy Infancy of a formal education system Child labor Segregation

7. Historical Forces – 20 th Century Service economy Robust formal education at elementary, secondary, and higher levels De facto segregation Funding

8. Historical Forces – 21st Century Knowledge economy Increased focus on the student as an individual De facto segregation Funding Rising income inequality

9. Current Perceptions of the Benefits of College… Source: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/why-go-to-college.pdf

10. Current Perceptions of the Benefits of College… Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/24/benefits-of-college-still-outweigh-costs-fed-study-says

11. Current Perceptions of the Benefits of College… Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/08/17/study-benefits-of-a-college-degree-are-historically-high

12. …but…

13. Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/24/benefits-of-college-still-outweigh-costs-fed-study-says

14. …but… Source: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/why-go-to-college.pdf

15. …but… Source: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/why-go-to-college.pdf Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/14/student-loan-profits_n_5149653.html

16. …the signs of risk. G1/LSES students tend to choose colleges that perform poorly on a number of indicators. Sources: http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2015/12/18-stubborn-race-class-gaps-college-rothwell

17. …the signs of risk. Tuition costs are rising, while wages are decreasing. Sources: http://www.businessinsider.com/growth-in-college-tuition-vs-growth-in-earnings-for-college-graduates-2012-11

18. …the signs of risk. College graduates face a tough job market. Sources: http://www.epi.org/publication/the-class-of-2015/

19. …the signs of risk. The impact of a college degree on earnings is less if you were raised poor. Sources: http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2016/02/19-college-degree-worth-less-raised-poor-hershbein

20. …the signs of risk. The curse of debt: According to sociologist Jason Houle: Students from college-educated and high-income homes are more protected from debt as their less privileged colleagues. Students from LSES background have a higher risk of accruing debt burdens that are greater than the national average. Sources: http://soe.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/12/05/0038040713512213.full.pdf and http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/10/07/whos- borrowing/

21. Challenges for G1/Low SES Students in College Limited family knowledge/support Insufficient preparation Disconnected from campus resources Low expectations from faculty Culture shock Guilt of achievement Sources: http://www.mu.edu/counseling/documents/1stgenerationcollegestudents.pdf

22. Challenges Beyond College Limited family knowledge/support Insufficient preparation Disconnected from campus resources Low expectations from faculty Culture shock Guilt of achievement

23. Towards a Solution Advocate for fairer funding of elementary/secondary schools Advocate for more holistic policies of college admission Offer flexible services that fit better into their schedules Establish clear support systems Create networking and mentoring programs with students/alumni from similar backgrounds Foster conversations about about social justice Ensure students have the resources they need to succeed Teach students to use their background as their platform