Understanding the Needs of First Generation and Low Income College Students

1. Understanding the Needs of First Generation and Low Income College Students Presenters: Bernadette Lynch Liz Bremer

2. Agenda • Welcome and Introductions • The Numbers • Common Challenges • Engagement & Connections • I’m First Program Overview “Access without support is not opportunity.” ~ Vincent Tinto

3. The Numbers • 30% of entering freshmen in the USA are first generation college students • 24% of entering freshmen in the USA are first generation AND low income • Over 25% of first generation college students do not persist to their second year • 89% of low income, first generations college students leave college within 6 years WITHOUT a degree First-generation college students stay the course - USATODAY.com. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2014, from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-03-30-FirstGenDorm30_ST_N.htm

4. RIT Numbers • Fall 2016 • 664 first generation first-year students • 139 first generation transfer students • Persistence Rates? • Graduation Rates? • I’m First Program • Serving 154 students • 5 students affiliated with NTID

5. Common Challenges Managing Relationships with Family • Expectations • Defining the home relationship • Cultural influences • Make us proud vs. Don’t leave us • Other significant relationships

6. Common Challenges Identity Development • Struggle between home identity and college student identity • Contrast between home realities and peer realities here • Where do I fit in?

7. Common Challenges Academic Preparation • Remediation is often necessary • May have been strong academically in high school, but did not have a strong high school • Transfer students in this population seem to have a particularly rough time. Self Confidence • Not confident in academic abilities • Not confident in navigating college experience

8. Money, Money, Money • Financial burdens can impact engagement in academics and general campus life • Parents’ greatest involvement with students focuses on college costs including completing financial aid forms – challenge in this population • Many students may be sending money home to families while juggling college responsibilities

9. Student Engagement • Overwhelmed with choices and options available. • Work comes first. • Danger of becoming overinvolved to the detriment of academics.

10. Parental Engagement • Lack of knowledge about the college experience • Accessibility to student records/staff • Push/pull between home responsibilities vs being a full-time student • Parents as partners – what does that mean for this specific population

11. Finding Connections“A Home Base” • Making connections with students as advisors can be key. • If a connection with you isn’t working, refer to someone who may give it another try – i.e. I’m First or some other similar program.

12. A first generation program that provides customized services to promote overall success in college • Opportunity for mentoring • One-on-one support to assist with navigating the college experience • Educational speaker series • Community of first generation students and faculty/staff • Leadership opportunities • Connection to appropriate campus resources

13. To Refer… I’m First Campus Center, Suite 2720 (585) 475-2833 imfirst@rit.edu https://www.rit.edu/diversity/imfirst Follow us on Facebook & Twitter!