1. First
Generational
Students’
Knowledge of
Academic
Resources
Marc Prigmore
Katy Foster
Rochelle Bateman
Brittan Plante
Petra Henderson

2. Question:
• Does UVU effectively welcome and orient first-generation students?
Are first-generation students at UVU generally less aware of
resources? Do first generation students know less about college
application/financial aid processes? What don’t first-generation
students know about college (terminology like bursars office,
syllabus, rubric, FAFSA, etc.; what an appropriate course load is;
how to choose a major; etc.)? How do first-generation students get
information about attending college/comparing colleges?
Introduction

3. • Survey
– UVU Institutional Research and Information Department
submitted an email survey to 10,000 students.
– Some important questions posed to students in the survey were:
• What resources here at UVU do you feel are most helpful in providing
you with a successful college experience?
• Please indicate your level of awareness of support resources available to
help you as a student here at UVU.
• When did you feel you had a workable understanding of the following
terms or processes? (List terms, such as bursar’s office, syllabus, etc).
– 500 responses were recorded
Research Method

4. Analysis

5. Analysis

6. Analysis
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
0 - 3.0 4.0 - 7.0 8.0 - 10.0
Before beginning college, how confident were you in
undertaking the application process?
(10 = 100% confident)
Not first generation First generation

7. Analysis
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
0 - 3.0 4.0 - 7.0 8.0 - 10.0
Before beginning college. how confident were you in
undertaking the financial aid process?
(10 = 100% confident)
Not first generation First generation

8. Analysis
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Syllubus Transcript Credits Prerequisites FAFSA Rubric Bursar's Office How to choose major Appropriate
courseload
Before college, what terms did you understand?
Not First Gen First Gen

9. Analysis

10. Analysis 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%
Certificate
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Higher than Master's
Unsure/does not apply
Highest level of education non-first generation students expect(ed) to achieve
Now, as a current college student Before beginning college

11. Analysis
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
Certificate
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Higher than Master's
Unsure/does not apply
Highest level of education first generation students expect(ed) to achieve
Now, as a current college student Before beginning college

12. Analysis
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Certificate
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Higher than Master's
Unsure/does not apply
Highest level of education you plan on now, as a current college student
First generation Not first generation

13. • The majority of students both traditional and non-
traditional receive their primary support from their parents
• Improvements can be made at UVU to help students and
parents understand:
– The enrollment process
– The administration
– The financial aid process
Findings