Putting first-generation students first: faced with a growing population of first-generation students, many colleges are undertaking unique initiatives to recruit and retain these students

Diverse Issues in Higher Education, April 17, 2008 by Dina M. Horwedel

Like its counterparts at other schools, AAP offers the standard fare of tutoring for core courses. UCLA's academic advancement program is 35 years old and boasts 23,000 graduates, who are leaders in city and state government and other fields, Alexander says. Graduates also support its scholarship program, which provides $250,000 a year in scholarships.

An important component of AAP's success is mentoring.

"It is important for students to know what it takes to succeed," Alexander says.

The program encourages students to attend professional or graduate schools by matching them with graduate student mentors as early as their freshman year. The mentors help students explore their interests, select schools, and fill out applications, Alexander says. The AAP Research Rookies program matches freshmen with UCLA scientists for a fellowship. At the end of the year, the student presents a research paper. The goal of the program is to expose students to graduate school opportunities.

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Much of the student support at UCLA is provided in the residence halls, where more than 90 percent of the undergraduate student body lives. Dr. Suzanne Seplow, director of the Office of Residential Life, has been working on developing a program tailored specifically for first-generation students, such as a newly revamped theme-housing program, which will offer students the opportunity to live in residences with Chicano/Latino studies and African Diaspora study themes. In addition, UCLA is improving the ratio of residence advisors to students in the residence halls to enhance peer support for first-generation and first-year students.

Whether at CSUDH, McLennan Community College or UCLA, officials agree that as the country sees more first-generation students from diverse backgrounds enter college, it is important that schools offer programs to help these students succeed. It isn't enough to get a first-generation student to college, they say, because raising the education level of the community requires equipping these students with the tools they need to get through college.

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