Many theories that student affairs professionals learn and practice, both in past and present, have been created and applied to understand the development of students with historically privileged identities (Patton et al., 2016). While theories of student development have expanded to include students with minoritized identities, there are still…

New England has a rich history of innovation and economic prosperity due, in part, to the fact that the region is home to some of the nation's most prestigious higher education institutions as well as a wide array of other postsecondary offerings. Nearly 60% of the students that Thomas College, Maine, serves are "first-generation"…

The development of an honors program at Rogers State University a decade ago brought about significant positive changes to the campus, where more than three-quarters of the students are the first in their families to attend college. Throughout the years, these young scholars have elevated academic discourse across campus and delivered an impact…

First-generation students sometimes lack a support network that values higher education. Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA)--a regional, comprehensive university of approximately 13,000 students, located in East Texas--serves a diverse body of students who are nearly 50% first-generation. These students often face financial constraints and…

The published psychological literature on the developmental milestone that is the doctoral dissertation emphasizes either psychological interpretations or practical strategies as ways to help, each often failing to note the critical importance of the other. Clinicians need to understand underlying psychological issues that may complicate the…

Based on an examination of related literature, reviews the pre- and post-enrollment characteristics of first-generation community college students, and discusses what colleges should do to help these students be successful. Asserts that while considerable research exists on first-generation students on four-year college campuses, the findings and…

This report describes activities of the Student Support Services Program at Wichita State University (Kansas) during 1997-1998, the second year of a five-year federal grant. The program is designed to meet the special needs of limited-income and first-generation college students, and includes study-skill development, peer tutoring, and academic…