First-Generation College Students

12-16-96

Patrick T. Terenzini, Professor and Senior Scientist
Center for the Study of Higher Education
The Pennsylvania State University
(814) 865-6346, e-mail ptt2@psu.edu

If you're the first in your family to go to college, chances are you're a Hispanic American woman from a lower-income family who didn't get much encouragement to attend college. Also, you are probably older than the traditional college student who enrolls at 18, you probably came into college with poorer reading and math skills, and you expect to take more time to complete your degree.

These and other findings come from an award-winning report on the characteristics and the experiences that first-generation college students nationwide bring to college and the knowledge and skills they build in their first year. Terenzini is one of the co-authors of the study, which was published this year in "Research in Higher Education" and won a "best paper" award last year from the Association for Institutional Research.

"First-generation students face huge challenges that may jeopardize their chances of survival and success in college," says Terenzini. "One is to overcome the characteristics they bring to college, such as weaker skills in reading and math and minimal involvement with teachers in high school. Another is the first year of college itself. Compared to traditional students, first-generation students take fewer classes, work more hours off-campus, and are more likely to believe that faculty members don't care about student learning."

Terenzini says colleges and universities need better programs to help keep first-generation students in school, such as "bridge" programs that smooth the transition to college and provide sustained support through the early years of college, enhanced advising and academic support services (such as learning labs and tutoring), and appropriate financial aid packages and opportunities for on-campus work.

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Contact: Alan Janesch or Christy Rambeau at (814) 865-7517.