News & Blogs

Find the latest from the Center, learn new and innovative approaches from colleagues, and engage with current mainstream media conversations on first-generation student success. In addition to the filters below, please utilize the “search” bar in the top, right corner to search by keyword, author name, or publication title.

Battling High Dropout, Low Enrollment Requires Empathetic Measures

For students, every academic year poses new challenges on the road to a college degree. In 2020, those challenges became almost insurmountable.

INSIGHT into Diversity / December 22, 2020

F.I.R.S.T @ BCC

F.I.R.S.T @ BCC–Futures, Initiatives, Resources, Support, Tradition

Frederic MacDonald-Dennis / December 21, 2020

3 Lessons Facilities Staff Can Teach SA-Pros About Engagement

Relationships between first-gen students and other campus employees seem to have a strong effect on these students’ sense of belonging.

Presence / December 21, 2020

Center Newsletter 12.21.20 (Holiday)

Happy Holidays from the Center for First-generation Student Success!

FirstGen Forward / December 21, 2020

How First-gen Students Can Land Jobs During the Pandemic

In this challenging internship and job market, it is more important than ever that we give first-gen students the tools to navigate the career exploration and job/internship search processes.

Erin Kimura-Walsh, Ph.D. / December 18, 2020

PGCC's First-Generation College Celebration

Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) was delighted to receive grant funding from the Center for First-generation Student Success and the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) to support activities this year.

Michael A. Walker / December 17, 2020

Providing Support to First-gen Students Through Advocacy, Programs

Virginia Tech is reducing barriers for its first-generation students through advocacy, empowerment, and programming.

Charmaine Troy, Ph.D. / December 17, 2020

Common App Starting New Effort to Reach Low-Income Students

A new initiative launched by the Common App, College Advising Corps, and AdmitHub will provide free admissions guidance and coaching.

Inside Higher Ed / December 17, 2020

Creating THEE First-gen Box at THEE I Love

Student Success at Jackson State University is unwrapping THEE gift of first-generation college students!

Mitchell M. Shears, Ed.D. / December 16, 2020

The Impact of Family Support on the First-gen Experience

While many first-gen students voice concerns about their families not having all of the knowledge, resources, or skills needed to support their college experience, many believe that their families’ emotional support is what helped them the most.

Megan Elsen, LMSW; Julie Collins, Ed.D.; Kim Kushner; Susi Krulewich; Ruth Gonzalez; & Amaal Sheikhadan / December 16, 2020

Loyola New Orleans Celebrates First-generation Students

This year was a bit different, but we still found a way to celebrate our first-gen students.

Brent McLemore, M.S. / December 16, 2020

Building Global Education Initiatives For and With First-gen Students

As Loyola Marymount University brings in another year of their "First To Go Abroad" program, they reflect on the myriad of ways first-gen advocates can push the boundaries of what we know about access to immersive global education.

Alexia Fernanda Pineda Soto, M.A. / December 16, 2020