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An Initiative Of NASPA and The Suder Foundation

Research from 2008-2019

An Annotated Bibliography on First-generation College Students
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
PRESS RELEASE
NAVIGATING THE TOPICS
AUTHORS

An Annotated Bibliography on First-generation College Students: Research from 2008-2019

This project is an annotated bibliography of the research from 2008 to 2019 on first-generation students. The purpose of combing through a decade of material was to help us figure out how we got to our current understanding of first-generation students and first-generation college graduates. The authors attempted to answer the question “How did we get here?” and found that, while there has been a flurry of research and practice related to the first-generation student experience, there is so much more we can and should be studying and sharing.

Suggested citation: Baldwin, A., Rease Miles, L., Boyd, W. D., Bruner, D. L., Foote, S. M., & Gutierrez, M. (2021). An Annotated Bibliography on First-generation College Students: Research from 2008-2019. Center for First-generation Student Success; NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. https://firstgen.naspa.org/journal-and-research/an-annotated-bibliography-on-first-generation-college-students-research-from-2008-2019

About this project

Annotated Bib Cover Page

An Annotated Bibliography on First-generation College Students: Research from 2008-2019 examines hundreds of entries, placing each into chapters centering on eleven topics: career readiness; classroom teaching and pedagogy; graduate and professional school students; intersections of identity; low-income & working-class students; student refugees; mass media and popular culture; memoirs and fiction; parents and families; social and cultural capital; and student success.

Annotated Bibliography

Press Release

Center for First-generation Student Success releases comprehensive summary of research on first-generation college students.

Press Release

Authors

Bio: Amy Baldwin
Amy Baldwin, Ed.D.

Former Director and Senior Lecturer of Writing, Literacy, and Academic Success in Student Transitions, University of Central Arkansas

La'Tonya Rease Miles 2020 Headshot
La’Tonya Rease Miles, Ph.D.

Director of University Partnerships, ReUp Education

Bio: Whitnee Boyd
Whitnee Boyd, Ed.D.

Past-Chair; Coordinator of Special Projects, Office of the Chancellor, Texas Christian University

Dawn Bruner Headshot
Dawn L. Bruner , Ed.D.

Director, Parent and Family Relations, University of Rochester

Stephanie Foote
Stephanie M. Foote, Ph.D.

Senior Associate Vice President, Stony Brook University

Mike Gutierrez Headshot
Mike Gutierrez, M.Ed.

Senior Program Coordinator, University of Texas at Austin

Statistics

Statistics

33% stat image

33% of higher ed students today are the first in their family to attend college.
U.S. Department of Education

Statistics

27% stat image

Only 27% of first-generation college students complete a bachelor's degree in four-years
Higher Education Research Institute

Statistics

surveyed institutions

Of surveyed institutions, only 50% have identified a "point person" to lead first-generation initiatives
2018 National Landscape Analysis of First-generation Student Success Programs at Four-year Institutions

Statistics

78% Senior Administrators

78% of senior administrators at my institution care about first-generation students This statistic is reflective of all university leaders, practitioners, and scholars surveyed for the landscape analysis. 
2018 National Landscape Analysis of First-generation Student Success Programs at Four-year Institutions

Statistics

20 percent versus 42 percent

20 percent of first-generation college students had obtained a bachelor’s degree 10 years after their sophomore year in high school compared to 42 percent of continuing-generation students.
U.S. Department of Education

Center Resources

Center Banner Image Students
Journal of First-generation Student Success

Learn more about the first academic journal dedicated to the success of first-generation college students.
Fact Sheets 2021 Hero
National Data Fact Sheets on First-generation College Graduates

National statistics about first-generation college graduates’ transition to graduate school and employment in the year after earning a bachelor’s degree.

The Center / June 2021
CC Landscape Report Hero Image
First-generation Students in Community and Technical Colleges

A National Exploration of Institutional Support Practices

The Center / November 2020
First-gen College Student Factsheets
Fact Sheets on First-generation College Students

These fact sheets provide national statistics about first-generation and continuing-generation college students.

The Center / October 2019
First-generation Student Success: A Landscape Analysis

Across higher education, engaged communities of university leaders, practitioners, scholars and students are working tirelessly to craft approaches that unlock the vast potential of first-generation students.

The Center / October 2018