1. 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)

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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%)

20. Post-Assessment

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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?

27. 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?

28. 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.

29. Questions?
Contact: Tracy Gottlieb, Ph.D. Vice President of Student Services Seton Hall University