Research & Policy

Dedicated first-generation research allows for evidence-based decision-making that is critical to student success. This section highlights both foundational research and recent scholarship that informs understanding of the student experience, institutional approaches to programming, and identification of supports and barriers for first-generation students. Timely updates on public policy discussions shaping first-generation student success are also provided. 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.

Peer Coaching Program Development: A Framework of First-Year Latina/o Student Persistence Pursuing STEM Pathways at a Hispanic Serving Institution

This study developed and examined the implementation of an intrusive peer-to-peer coaching program model at a private 4-year master’s degree granting Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) located in South Texas.

Journal of Hispanic Higher Education / August 2019

The College Dropout Scandal

This book outlines the scale of the problem and shows that it's fixable - -we already have the tools to boost graduation rates and shrink the achievement gap.

Kirp / August 2019

How useful are default rates? Borrowers with large balances and student loan repayment

This article examines the distribution of student loan balances and repayment rates in the United States using administrative student loan data.

Economics of Education Review / August 2019

Effects of a Science of Learning Course on College Students’ Learning With a Computer

This article investigates whether a first-year science of learning course, focused on self-regulated learning, would benefit first-generation college students.

American Educational Research Journal / July 2019

Developing First-Year Students' Innovation Capacities

This study examines the influence of collegiate environments and experiences on students' innovation capacity development

The Journal of Higher Education / July 2019

Service-Learning and First-Generation University Students: A Conceptual Exploration of the Literature

This article examines the potential of one of these practices—service-learning—to address the disadvantages faced by first-gen students.

Journal of Experiential Education / July 2019

Do adolescents’ self-concepts moderate the relationship between STEM stereotypes and motivation?

This study assessed students’ trait-based nerd and genius stereotypes about STEM and related self-concepts as well as their STEM motivation (competence and value beliefs).

Social Psychology of Education / July 2019

Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Educational Opportunities and Student Services in Higher Education

The education community is just beginning to find ways to successfully implement AI for staff and students. Artificial Intelligence should be leveraged to create a better student experience.

The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges / July 2019

The Relationship between Student Admissions Data and Six-Year Degree Completion

This study was conducted as part of the university effort to assess annual progress toward its retention and graduation goals.

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension / July 2019

Improving Completion Rates for Underrepresented Populations

This article reflects on the need to increase resource allocation on both the academic support side and the student support services side to increase structured contact between the student and the support to decrease the “stigma” of seeking help.

The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges / July 2019

Teachin' It!: Breakout Moves That Break Down Barriers for Community College Students

Teachin' It! is a hands-on guide to cutting-edge research and classroom strategies that redress the graduation gap in community and open-access colleges.

Darling / June 2019

Early Modern Culture: First-Generation Shakespeare, Volume 14 (2019)

The collection of essays discuss the context for the editing assignment, its foundation in critical pedagogy, the assignment’s outcomes, and how it might offer some insights into teaching first-generation students more generally.

Stockton et al. / June 2019

How Relevant Is Grit? The Importance of Social Capital in First-Generation College Students’ Academic Success

This study employed social network analysis to operationalize dimensions of social capital.

Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice / June 2019

Scaling Success: Lessons From the ASAP Expansion at Bronx Community College

ASAP was designed to improve completion rates by providing wraparound services for eligible students, including financial, academic, and personal support.

Community College Research Center / June 2019

Professors' Pedagogical Strategies for Teaching Through Diversity

This study describes the teaching strategies of two sociology professors at a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

The Review of Higher Education / May 2019

Indicators OF HIGHER EDUCATION EQUITY IN THE UNITED STATES

As more students continue to enroll in college and earn degrees, inequalities in U.S. higher education opportunity are increasing, according to the Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States — 2019 Historical Trend Report.

The Pell Institute & PennAHEAD / May 2019

Challenges and Realizations of First-Generation Students Who Navigated through Transfer Momentum Points

This study amplified the voices of first-generation community college students who were achieving success towards transferring and described the challenges and learning that they experienced in the process.

Community College Journal of Research and Practice / May 2019

The Guilt of Success: Looking at Latino First-Generation College Students’ Experience of Leaving Home

This study looked at the experiences of six participants and their feelings of guilt.

Journal of Hispanic Higher Education / May 2019