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.

Breaking Down Barriers

This report describes Hispanic students’ and their parents’ views and concerns about their college preparedness.

Heisdorf / September 2019

My Time Among the Whites

This book examines the sometimes hopeful, sometimes deeply flawed ways in which many Americans have learned to adapt, exist, and—in the face of all signals saying otherwise—perhaps even thrive in a country that never imagined them here.

Capó Crucet / September 2019

Ensuring Success Among Students: Developing a Unified Community of Support

This study of integrated programs at several California State University campuses indicates that successful integrated programs are effective because they create what we term a unified community of support for students, faculty, and staff.

American Behavioral Scientist / September 2019

Moving Up without Losing Your Way: The Ethical Costs of Upward Mobility

This book looks at the ethical dilemmas of upward mobility faced by students as they strive to earn a successful place in society.

Morton / September 2019

Supporting Students’ Transitions to College Through Comprehensive and Integrated Programs

Integrated programs link students to several existing supports on campus so that they essentially become a comprehensive support program. This volume of articles focuses on two major comprehensive and integrated programs.

American Behavioral Scientist / August 2019

Lucia's Journey of Bridging Two Worlds: Counseling Latinx First-Generation College Students

In this book chapter, the author utilized a case study to discuss her counseling approach for helping Latinx first-generation college students navigate the terrains of higher education.

Tello / August 2019

A Cross-Cultural Organizational Framework to Scale Access to Learning-Ready Classrooms That Support Student Success

The authors propose shifting learning space discussions away from building an historically small number of active learning spaces, towards a larger number of what they term “learning-ready classrooms,” which apply universal design principles to support the multiple teaching identities and philosophies of faculty and the physiological, cultural, and cognitive needs of all students.

Journal of Teaching and Learning With Technology / August 2019

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

First Generation Students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst

This study was conducted to better understand who the first-gen students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are, the experiences they are having, and how to better serve them.

Center for Student Success Research / 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

First-Generation College Student Research Studies

This volume examines the first-generation college student population and analyzes topics a number of topics contributing to first-generation student success.

Hicks, Butler, & Myrick / 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