Advising and First-Generation College Students October 2, 2015

 Overview on first-generation college students  Thoughts / words from members of Augustana community that are first- generation college students  Discuss strategies and tools that can be used in your advising work with first-generation students  Q & A Today

 Students not having a parent who graduated from college with a baccalaureate degree (Sickles, 2004)  Enter college without as much preparation as their counterparts  Less, different type of, parental support  Many turn to their advisors for the support needed to succeed in college First-Generation College Students

 Less academically/socially prepared for college (Mehta et al., 2011)  Greater difficulty adjusting to college (Ramos‐Sanchez & Nichols, 2007)  Lower academic aspirations (Pike & Kuh, 2005)  More likely to come from low socioeconomic backgrounds (Higher Education Research Institute, 2007)  Often are academically outperformed by their continuing‐generation peers (Pascarella et al., 2004) First-Generation College Students

 Not all first-generation college students are equal  Thoughts / words from members of Augustana community that are first-generation college students First-Generation College Students

 What strategies, tools and skills might you use in your advising work with first- generation college students?  What resources and/or development opportunities would be beneficial to have for your advising work with first- generation college students? Discussion

Advising Tools  Consider group advising  Students get support from their peers  Have students create a time log and share it with their families  Involve parents and/or families  Create a credible/safe advising environment  Start an appointment by relationship building  Become familiar with the student’s background

Practical Ways To Assist First Generation Students  Develop Positive Friendships  List Important Dates  Provide a Contact or Referral List / Use all Campus Resources

Practical Ways To Assist First Generation Students  Use Technology to Help Students  Contact the student throughout the term  Help Students Persist  Serve as an advocate  Assist them in maneuvering and learning the campus  Share your personal struggles as a college student

Q &A Interest in a discussion group focused on first-generation college students?

Higher Education Research Institute. (2007). First in my family: A profile of first generation college students at four‐year institutions since Washington DC: Saenz. Kocel, K. (2008). Advising First-Generation College Students for Continued Success. The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal. Retrieved from: Mehta, S. S., Newbold, J. J., & O’Rourke, M. A. (2011). Why do first‐generation students fail. College Student Journal, 45(1), 20‐35. Pascarella, E. T., Pierson, C. T., Wolniak, G. C., & Terenzini, P. T. (2004). First generation college students: Additional evidence on college experiences and outcomes. Journal of Higher Education, 3(75), 249‐284. References

Peters, L. (2007). Practical Ways We Can Assist First Generation Students. Academic Advising Today, 30(3). Pike, G. R., & Kuh, G. D. (2005). First‐and second‐generation college students: A comparison of their engagement and intellectual development. Journal of Higher Education, 3(76), 276‐300. Ramos‐Sánchez, L., & Nichols, L. (2007). Self‐efficacy of first‐generation and non first‐generation college students: The relationship with academic performance and college adjustment. Journal of College Counseling, 10(1), 6‐18. Sickles, A.R. (2004). Advising first-generation students. Retrieved from the NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site: References Continued