First-generation college students face unique challenges in the collegiate environment, but they also hold unique cultural capital that helps them succeed. We learned from a panel of experts at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) all about the first-generation college student experience. Read on to discover insights and new ideas you can use to teach and support these students in your classrooms.
Show the answer before the question
First-generation college students are the first in their family to attend a four-year college or university. Being a pioneer in a collegiate environment can prove daunting because students often don’t know where to start. Cheryl Love, Career Specialist at UCR, sees this every day. "If you're the first in your family to go through this process, you don't even know the questions that you should be asking as you're trying to navigate the college experience," she says.
This lack of context can leave students feeling defeated before their experience even begins. Providing resources, such as academic and career counseling, mentorship, and clubs can help students see that other students like them have been successful. Students who find the right resources will discover what their needs and questions are before it even occurs to them.
Give them a model
Helping students ask the right questions is just the first step. Take the support and mentorship further by helping them see a clear vision of their potential. Elizabeth Montgomery, Associate Director for Student and College Engagement at UCR, mentions how colleges can demystify the college and career experience by plugging students in with fellow students and professionals.
“As universities, we need to work on sharing the process of making career-based decisions. At UCR, we have a handout that walks students through specific actions they can take and resources they can access,” says Elizabeth. “But we don’t want to stop at handouts. It helps students see people who are like them out in different professions in the working world. Give students opportunities to connect with and network with alumni,” she continues.
Keeping alumni connected and engaged helps create a mentoring cycle that empowers recent graduates and first-generation college students alike. To formally establish this connection, UCR has implemented ORBITS, a two-quarter program that pairs first-generation college students with mentors. Similar programs can be created on any college campus.
Keep the door open
Forming meaningful mentoring relationships can happen with alumni and fellow students. But why wait? It can also happen in your own classroom. Dr. Rich Yueh, Assistant Professor of Teaching in Information Systems at UCR, suggests that educators should encourage students to ask questions and seek help, especially during office hours, which may be a new concept for many first-generation students.
“Office hours aren’t necessarily a familiar concept for students coming from other cultures and backgrounds. In fact, some may see it as a sign of weakness to ask for help from your professor or from your TA,” says Rich. “I break down the concept and assure them it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. I even like to take it a step further and put them in charge of the meeting. I coach students to ask the questions that they need. If they want help with course content, or a resume review, or some career advice, that’s what we’ll discuss.”
You can even open yourself outside of office hours. Cheryl echoed Rich’s discussion of transparency and support. "Professors and educators should share their stories. They need to be willing to help students and let students know that they can help outside of the classroom walls," she says.
UCR has a faculty “Ask Me Anything” series, where educators share their career journeys in class, helping to build connections with students and humanize the faculty. Opening forums like this helps students access you in a way that breaks down traditional teacher-student barriers.
Final thoughts for educators
Knowledge. Connection. Openness. These attributes are crucial to teaching and supporting first-generation college students. Rich suggests that educators try to remove themselves from their "expert blind spots" and look at each student with a fresh perspective. Every effort is meaningful for helping students feel empowered and ready to succeed in their college journey.
Get more ideas and advice from the UCR team on their CERTIFIED Podcast episode .