First Generation Students:First Generation Students:From Admission to GraduationFrom Admission to Graduation

Association of American Colleges and Universities Association of American Colleges and Universities ConferenceConference

Annual Meeting 2013Annual Meeting 2013

Ms. DeLaine Priest Ms. DeLaine Priest Dr. Vivian Ortiz Dr. Vivian OrtizAssociate Vice PresidentAssociate Vice President Director DirectorUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity of Central Florida University of Central University of Central

FloridaFlorida

• UCF Overview

• UCF First Generation Population

• Factors that affect the transition, retention, and graduation of first generation college students

• UCF Interventions and Support Services

• Engagement

• Impact of Assessment and Evaluation

• Q/A

Presentation Overview

•Metropolitan Research University•Orlando, Florida•2nd Largest Institution in the Nation

– Undergraduates 50,968– Freshman 6,129– Transfer 7, 364– Graduates 8,522– Medical School 277

TOTAL 59,767

UCF Institutional Overview

•Racial/Ethnic Demographics:– Hispanic 18.9%– African American 10%– Asian/Pacific Islander 5.6%

•Fall Freshman Profile (2012-2012):– Average SAT Score 1244– Average ACT Score 27.1– Average High School GPA 3.9

•Residency (all students)– In-state 95%– Out-of-State 5%

UCF Institutional Overview

UCF First Generation Student Definition

A First Generation Student (FGS) is a student whose parents or guardians have not earned a bachelor’s degree

UCF First Generation Students

Over 11,500 UCF undergraduates are first generation college students (approx. 23% of all undergraduates)

Summer to Fall Full Time FTIC Cohort Retention (2011-2012) = 83.8%

59 % of First Generation Students identify as female and 41% as male

Racial/Ethnic Background (FTIC 2011-2012)6% Asian11% Black26% Hispanic53% White4% Other

FGS in Perspective

A 2007 study by the Higher Education Research Institute found that 17percent of entering first-year students were first generation students.

Now look at 2012, where one in three college students is first generation (Greenwald, 2012).

Significant increase and growth in enrollment of first generation students in just five years.

Research on FGSNote: Before any factors can be discussed, limitations of the research on first generation college students should be noted. While studies indicate that first generation students are less likely to be retained, little is known about the college experiences of first generation students (Duggan, 2001; 2002; Pike & Suh, 2005)

What is known:

15 percent gap between 3-year persistence on first (73 percent) and second (83 percent) generation students (Walburton, Bugarin, & Nunez, 2001)Differences in the pre-college characteristics of first and second generation students can affect FGS persistence and graduation rates (Terenzini, Springer, Yeager, Pascarella, & Nora, 1996)More likely to have spent less time socializing with peers in high school and interacting with high school teachers (lower levels of engagement)FGS are less likely to live on campus, to develop relationships with faculty members, and more likely to work more hours off campus (Richardson & Skinner, 1992; Terenzini et al., 1996)FGS are less likely to develop strong relationships with other students and to become involved in clubs and organizations (Billson & Terry, 1982; Richardson & Skinner, 1992)FGS are more likely to report lower levels of engagement in college (Pike & Suh, 2005)

Factors affecting FGS

Transition to college, academically and culturally (Choy, 2001; London, 1989, 1996; Nunez & Cuccaro-Alamin, 1998)

Lack of knowledge (Tym, McMillion, Barone, & Webster, 2004): Campus environment Academic expectations University operations (housing, financial aid, etc.)

Less parental support in making the decision to attend college (Billson & Terry, 1982; Choy, 2001; York-Anderson & Bowman, 1991)

Less family support in attending college (Terenzi et al., 1996) Academic expectations (Terenzi, Springer, Yeager, Pascarella, &

Nora, 1996): Longer to complete degree programs Weaker cognitive skills (reading, math, critical thinking) Lower degree aspirations

Characteristics of FGS

Characteristics of FGS

First Generation Students are at a distinct disadvantage compared to their peers when it comes to retention and graduation from higher education institutions

‘Access does not equal success’

Why Provide Support to First Generation Students

Large number of underserved students

No targeted programming for FGS though it is an at-risk population

Need to be proactive in addressing issues of student retention and success

UCF’s Response to First Generation Students

Identified the need for a First Generation Student Program Identified the barriers to FGCS success Developed the mission and goals of the FGCS Program Maximized the potential for success through appropriate

unit/program alignment Identify first generation college students:

Financial Aid (FAFSA)AdmissionsOrientation Creation of initiatives targeting this population

Evolution of UCF’s First Generation Program

FinancialNavigating the college systemAcademic PreparationCampus EngagementFamily/Cultural ChallengesExpectations of SelfPreparation for future after college

Challenges that UCF FGS Experience

Multicultural Academic and Support Services (MASS)

Mission: maximize student success by assisting Multicultural and First-Generation College Students in their transition to the University of Central Florida and by connecting with the University community and our partners to promote and facilitate academic support services and programs.

•Brother to Brother Program

•SOAR Program

•First Generation ProgramFirst Generation Program

•Workshops/Speakers

•Community College Day

•Multicultural Transfer Student Welcome Reception

||||Part of the Multicultural Academic and Support Services OfficePart of the Multicultural Academic and Support Services Office Mission: To ease FGCS’ transition to college, provide them an academic home, Mission: To ease FGCS’ transition to college, provide them an academic home, demystify their college experience, assist them with navigating through the demystify their college experience, assist them with navigating through the university landscape, and help them prepare to succeed at UCF and beyond.university landscape, and help them prepare to succeed at UCF and beyond.

UCF’s First Generation Program: Overview

The Program Offers:One-on-one Support through graduationFinancial support through scholarships and information on financial resourcesReferral to resourcesOpportunities to connect with students, faculty, staff, professionals and alumniPrograms and workshops that provide role models to FGCS and help them succeed

UCF’s First Generation Program: Initiatives

UCF’s First Generation Program: Initiatives

First Generation Speaker SeriesFirst Generation Speaker Series Multicultural & First Generation KnightsMulticultural & First Generation KnightsNetworking ReceptionNetworking Reception

Advisory Board : Boeing, Orange County, Orlando Magic, Disney Advisory Board : Boeing, Orange County, Orlando Magic, Disney World, Universal Studios, INROADS, State FarmWorld, Universal Studios, INROADS, State Farm

Community partners with KAPLAN & TargetCommunity partners with KAPLAN & Target

Campus Partners: Campus Partners: McNair Program, Office of Undergraduate Research, Career Services, Financial Aid, Multicultural Student Center, UCF Colleges, PRIME STEM Program, UCF Foundation

Grants provided to UCF First Generation ProgramGrants provided to UCF First Generation ProgramTarget Grant: Student ScholarshipsOrlando Magic Youth Fund: Student

Scholarships/ProgrammingUCF Parent and Family Fund: Lunch and Learn (Pilot) and First

Generation Speaker Series

UCF’s First Generation Program: Collaborations

Programs Preparing FGCS Students for Graduate School or STEM FieldsPrograms Preparing FGCS Students for Graduate School or STEM Fields

Learning Environment and Academic Research Network (LEARN)Learning Environment and Academic Research Network (LEARN)Living-Learning Community for incoming undergraduate students planning to major in the STEM fields, which intentionally

outreaches to first-generation students, underrepresented minorities, and low- income students.

Student Support Services-PRIME STEM ProjectStudent Support Services-PRIME STEM ProjectThe goal of SSS grant is to increase the college retention and

graduation rates of its participants and help students make the transition from one level of higher education to the next.

McNair ProgramMcNair ProgramMcNair Mission: To increase the number of first-generation college students from low-income families and members of underrepresented groups in the nation's professoriate.

UCF Interventions and Support Services

Assessment and Research

Assessment To promote continuous improvement To gather indicators that will be useful for decision-making

and planning To gather evidence about how well students are meeting

student learning outcomes

Research Confirm hypothesis Gain new information Advance knowledge in a discipline Solve a problem

Billson, J. & Terry, B. (1982). In search of the silken purse: factors in attrition among first-generation students. College and University, 58, 57-75.

Chen, X (2005). First-Generation Students in Postsecondary Education: A Look at their College Transcripts. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.

Choy, S (2001). Students Whose Parents Did Not Go to College: Postsecondary Access, Persistence, and Attainment. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.

Duggan, M. (2001). Factors influencing the first to second year persistence of first-generation college students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the North East Association for Institutional Research, Cambridge, MA.

Duggan, M. (2002). The effects of social capital on the first to second year persistence of first-generation college students. Dissertation Abstracts International, 63(03), 188.

Engle, J. (2007). Post-secondary access and success for first-generation college students. American Academic, 3(1), 25-48.

Greenwald, R. (2012). Think of first generation students as pioneers, not problems. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1-3. http://chronicle.com/article/Think-of-First-Generation/135710/

Higher Education Research Institute (2007). First in my family: A profile of first-generation college students at four-year institutions since 1971. Retrieved from http://www.heri.ucla.edu/pdfs/pubs/briefs/firstgenresearchbrief.pdf

Lohfink, M. & Paulsen, M. (2005). Comparing the determinants of persistence for first-generation and continuing-generation students. Journal of College Student Development, 46(4), 409-428.

London, H. (1989). Breaking away: a study of first-generation college students and their families. American Journal of Education, 97(2), 144-170.

London, H. (1992). Transformations: cultural challenges faced by first-generation students. In L.S. Zwerling & H.B. London (Eds.), First-generation students: confronting the cultural issues. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

References

Nunez, A. and S. Cuccaro-Alamin (1998). First-Generation Students: Undergraduates Whose Parents Never Enrolled in Postsecondary Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.

Pike, G. & Kuh, G. (2005). First and second generation college students: a comparison of their engagement and intellectual development. The Journal of Higher Education, 76(3), 276-300.

Richardson, R. & Skinner, E. (1992). Helping first-generation minority students achieve degrees. In L.S. Zwerling & H.B. London (Eds.), First-generation students: confronting the cultural issues. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Terenzini, P., Springer, L., Yaeger, P., Pascarella, E., & Nora, A. (1996). First generation college students: characteristics, experiences, and cognitive development. Research in Higher Education, 37, 1-22.

Tym, C., McMillion, R., Barone, S., & Webster, J. (2004). First-generation college students: a literature review. Research and Analytical Services. http://www.tgslc.org/pdf/first_generation.pdf

Warburton, E., Bugarin, R., & Nunez, A. (2001). Bridging a gap: academic preparation and postsecondary success of first-generation students. Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Education.

York-Anderson, D. & Bowman, S. (1991). Assessing the college knowledge of first-generation and second-generation college students. Journal of College Student Development, 32, 116-122.

References

Questions?

DeLaine PriestDeLaine PriestDeLaine.Priest@ucf.eduDeLaine.Priest@ucf.edu

(407) 823-4625(407) 823-4625

Student Development and Enrollment Services

www.sdes.ucf.eduVivian OrtizVivian Ortiz

Vivian.Ortiz@ucf.eduVivian.Ortiz@ucf.edu(407) 823-4243(407) 823-4243