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.

New Questions on Racial Disparity and Student Debt

Early takeaways from new federal data show lower proportion of some nontraditional student types and racial disparities in graduate borrowing.

Inside Higher Ed / May 18, 2018

Rethinking financial aid: Small grants make a big difference in college completion

Financial aid needs to be reimagined so it not only facilitates college access, but also fosters college completion.

The Washington Post / May 17, 2018

How faculty mentors can help first-generation students succeed

A new initiative by the UC system uses first-generation faculty to guide first-generation students, with the goal of decreasing dropout rates.

PDS News Hour / May 15, 2018

National Urban League Annual Report Highlights STEM Gap, Student Debt

The Urban League is monitoring the impact of rising student loan debt, specifically on Black, Hispanic, lower-income and first-generation college students.

Diverse Issues in Higher Education / May 14, 2018

College Costs Are America’s Cruel Graduation Gift

Higher education has long been a fundamental element of America’s promise of economic prosperity and social mobility.

Huffington Post / May 13, 2018

Making The Learning Experience Student-Centered To Combat The Skills Gap From College To Career

Three ways universities can connect the five functional areas to make the learning experience and entire student lifecycle more student-centered.

Forbes / May 10, 2018

male mentor with diverse group of students

College Admissions Counselors: From Gatekeepers To Caseworkers

Research from the NCES finds that just over half of all students who begin at four-year colleges complete a degree in six years.

Forbes / May 08, 2018

$5 million gift to establish program for first-generation students at Virginia Tech

The gift helps create a program that spans across multiple years, with the goal to increase the amount of first-generation college students at Virginia Tech.

Collegiate Times / May 04, 2018

Colleges' 'Good Neighbor' Policies Reveal Great Opportunities For Local Students

Institutions have taken the initiative to provide students and families in surrounding communities with special admission and financial aid incentives.

Forbes / May 03, 2018

Penn First Plus expands programs and support for first-generation students

New initiatives will address the growing first-generation, low-income student needs in alignment with the University’s goals of inclusion and access.

Penn Today / May 01, 2018

How Four-Year Institutions are Failing to Graduate Low- and Moderate-Income Students

New Pell data uncovers an additional layer of the college completion crisis for low- and moderate-income students.

Third Way / May 01, 2018

4 Steps Students Can Take to Find the University That Is the Best Fit for Them

This is what College Track recommend students consider on their way into college, so they can extract the most value from their degree once they are out.

The 74 / May 01, 2018

Fixing financial aid

Bill Gates recently sat down with a group of first-generation students and they shared that the biggest challenges they face is completing the FAFSA form.

Gates Notes / May 01, 2018

male professor blue polo talking to students

Why Part-Time Success Matters

Closing the achievement gap will require better support for underserved part-time students.

Inside Higher Ed / April 30, 2018

Guides to ‘Being Not-Rich’ on Campus

At the U. of Michigan at Ann Arbor, students are talking with administrators about the future of a student-written guide to "Being Not-Rich" on campus.

The Chronicle of Higher Education / April 26, 2018

students in classroom standing with teacher

Inclusive Leadership for Education and Lifelong Learning

Ensuring that every student feels supported, valued, and prepared to enter the working world, a goal that has yet to be reached nationally or globally.

Diverse Issues in Higher Education / April 26, 2018

Teaching in the Era of Bots

First-generation college students, often feel marginalized in academic settings and this narrative of self-doubt can have negative effects on success.

EdSurge / April 25, 2018

Free College Is a Great Idea. But much more is necessary.

Free college does not address major hurdles students face, particularly for low-income, first-generation students compared to their wealthier peers.

The 74 / April 24, 2018