"Sense of belonging is a basic human need, sufficient to motivate certain behaviors and it takes on heightened importance at times and in places where individual(s) feel vulnerable."
- Terrell L. Strayhorn
What is a first-generation college student?
- No universal definition - my study will adopt a broad definition - college students whose parents have not received a college degree
- Includes adult learners, English language learners, immigrants, ethnically-diverse, lower SES (socio economic status)
- Without universal definition, how to track, report etc
- Demographic cliff - lower birth rates = less high school graduates
- 1/3 of all college students identify as a first-generation college student
- Increasing access to attract first-generation college students
- Disrupt generational poverty cycle
- Gen Z - the most racially and diverse generation in U.S. history
- Enriches campus experience for everyone
- Nurture active citizens
- Public distrust of higher education
- Call for higher accountability and transparency
- ROI
- Student Loan Debt
What do we know?
"although first-generation students do not always come from low-income families, and low-income students are not always first-generation students, often the two groups converge, creating two dimensions of disadvantage that have negative associations with degree attainment."
-Adams, Meyers, Beidas (2016)
- The myriad of identities add a layer of complexity to college experience
- Greater financial need = greater financial anxiety
- Lack of social, cultural, familial, navigational capital
- Additional barriers
- Lower self-efficacy
- More likely to experience discrimination, imposter syndrome, increased stress
- 33% of FGCS leave without a college degree within 3 years of starting
- Financial support is a significant predictor of retention, persistence, graduation
- FGCS with gift aid experience an increased sense of belonging
"Higher education is deemed as the avenue for social mobility and economic opportunity but these institutions are not built to support the growth and prosperity of BIPOC Communities."
-Havens (2021)
what is sense of belonging?
Sense of belonging has been positively associated with increased retention, graduation, and engagement rates
Feeling valued for your authentic self, empowered to contribute, an indispensable member of community.
Belonging to an underrepresented identity often entails trail blazing and forging through systems, policies, or processes built to favor the dominant student identities (Aspelmeier, et al., 2012; Baldwin et al., 2021; Costello et al., 2018).
Cultivate safe space for authentic expression of self.
Foster connections and meaningful relationships with peers, faculty, staff.
Scholars Program
Build capital
- Model behavior and habits
- Build professional network
- Provide opportunities to reflect
- Faculty engagement
- Personalized attention
- Access to resources
The synergetic magic of these scholarship programs lies in providing financial support while addressing gaps in social, cultural, economic capital and increasing sense of belonging.
forms of capital
Network of relationships, experience, knowledge often related to position of power or privilege
- Social
- Economic
- Cultural
- Navigational
- Aspirational
"College is a cultural ecosystem with its own values, language, and norms. Just as a traveler visiting an unfamiliar land finds both pleasant surprises and perplexing barriers, a lack of cultural capital—in other words, “college knowledge”—can create stumbling blocks for first-generation students" (Baldwin et al, 2021).
Outcome: Retention Rates
Student's academic goals and definition of success does not align with the institution's metrics of retention, graduation, persistence rates.
Schreiner (2014) advocates for a more holistic definition of success; thriving.
"We described a thriving student as one who is engaged in the learning process, invests effort to reach important educational goals, manages time and commitments effectively, connects in healthy ways to other people, is optimistic about the future and able to reframe negative events as temporary setbacks, is appreciative of differences in others, and is committed to enriching his or her community. Each of these qualities is amenable to intervention and connected to academic success and persistence to graduation." -Laurie Schreiner (2014)
Mixed Methods Study
- How do first-generation college students describe their sense of belonging at their institution?
- What factors contribute to an inclusive environment?
- Is there a statistically significant difference in sense of belonging between first-generation college students who receive scholarships and those who do not?
- Is there a statistically significant difference in retention rates of first-generation college students who receive scholarships and those who do not?
"There is the moment of truth when campus leaders realize that student learning and success must become their top concern, not because it is their product or reputation or institutional effectiveness that’s at stake—although it is indeed all of that—but because it is why they exist." - Laurie schreiner, 2014
Credits:
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