1. First Generation Students – Who are they, and how do we help them succeed?
Shawn Denman
Assistant Director of Financial Aid
University of Rochester

2. Today’s Objectives What do we mean when we say “first generation”?
Background/Demographics
Why don’t they do their paperwork?
Transitioning to college life
A different college experience

3. “First Generation” – what does it mean?
Different definitions from different places
Parents without 4-year degrees
Parents with out a degree
Parents without any college at all
No college degrees in the family
Starting From scratch

4. So who are these kids? More likely to be urban or rural than suburban
May overlap with URM population, but don’t assume
May be older than traditional first-year students
Most first-generation students don’t self-identify
Some first-generation students do not like the label

5. Why do they struggle on the way in?
Can come from smaller, rural high schools with less emphasis on college
Can come from larger urban high schools with big populations
May not know what to ask their high school counselor
Parents may not want to complete forms
Potential language issues

6. Transitioning to college life
“Starting behind can lead to falling further behind”
Orientation is extra important
Emphasis on early relationship building
May reach out to people they know on campus
May still need to work
May not know when to ask for help – “I got this”

7. A very different experience
College culture – what to expect Starting off slow, but “feeling like they’re flying” May not be in the right classes, or which classes are right May have trouble making friends and finding study groups May be working more hours than other students May need to “find their own support”

8. Supporting first-generation students
Don’t assume that what you’re saying is what they’re hearing Don’t “alienate by accident” Provide “portable” instructions Don’t assume that the student has help on the paperwork Listen for clues that might identify difficult situations Be prepared to direct traffic

9. Odds and Ends
First-generation students: Graduate at a lower rate than continuing-generation students Take longer to graduate Earn less overall credits Are up to 6 times more likely to be on academic probation None of these factors directly correlates to test scores, intelligence or ability.

10. An opportunity to help
Things to consider: Almost 2/3 of students stated that their first relationship with a staff member was with – you guessed it – a financial aid counselor Students repeatedly stated that they trusted their FA counselor, and asked outside questions because of that trust Students stated that when they couldn’t figure out what to do, they would ask their FA counselor

11. (or experiences, examples or ideas…if you’ve got ‘em, share ‘em!)
Questions?
(or experiences, examples or ideas…if you’ve got ‘em, share ‘em!)