"Services and Studies to Support First Generation College Students" presented at the 2016 National Diversity in Libraries Conference at UCLA

1. National Diversity in Libraries Conference
UCLA 2016
Services and Studies to Support
First-Generation College Students
Ernesto Hernandez, University of California, Irvine
Christina Woo, University of California, Irvine
Stacy Brinkman, Miami University
Josefine Smith, Dickinson College
Jennifer Natale, Miami University

2. Who are “First-Generation College Students?”
Parent’s level of experience with higher education
First in the family to
pursue education
beyond high school
First in the
family to ever
attend any
type of college
Neither parent
attended a 4-
year college
Neither parent
earned any
college degree
Neither parent
earned a 4-year
college degree

3. University of California, Irvine
• ACRL’s Instruction Section:
ISDP FG bibliography
• Under our radar: UCI’s
growing FG enrollment
• Faculty response
• Libraries’ response
• Focus Group Findings
• FG & International
Student Outreach
Committee

4. ACRL Instruction Section:
Identifies resources for its bibliography
Investigates gaps in the literature
Discusses and improves library instruction for diverse
populations
Instruction for Diverse Populations Committee
h"p://bit.ly/29IqPSk

5. Poster Session Preview

6. UC Irvine Demographics 2015
• Public University founded in 1965
• Coastal, suburban Orange County
• 25,256 Undergrads + 6,285 Grad students = 31,551
• 86 Academic majors
• 41% Live on campus
• Student-to-Faculty ratio is 20:1
Photo:
“UC
Irvine,
Langson
Library”
by
Mikejuinwind123/CC
BY
3.0

7. FG Undergraduate Headcount
Fall 2014 Fall 2015
Headcount Percent of
Total
Headcount Percent of
Total
FG 12,451 50.84% 13,037 51.62%
Not FG 11,336 46.29% 11,469 45.41%
Not stated 702 2.87% 750 2.97%
Totals 24,489 100.00% 25,256 100.00%

8. FG Undergraduates by Gender, Ethnicity (Fall 2015)
FG Female 57.24%
Male 42.48%
Not FG Female 50.36%
Male 49.17%
FG Not FG
Asian/Pacific
Islander
37% 44%
Black 3% 3%
Hispanic 39% 9%
White (non-
Hispanic)
9% 21%
International 10% 20%

9. Our Definition: First-Generation Students
Who are UCI’s FG students?
• Neither parent has a 4-year degree from a U.S. college or university
• Parent(s) may have attended some college, or not at all
Image
from
h"p://quotewit.blogspot.com/2014/01/graduaPon-­‐quotes.html

10. Characteristics of FG Undergraduates
• More academically at-risk
• Speak less in class, volunteer less for presentations
• Interact less with faculty
• Participate less in campus activities
• Make fewer friends
• Have a reduced sense of belonging
• Have lower self-efficacy and self esteem
• Suffer more from “imposter syndrome”

11. Challenges of FG Undergraduates
• More likely to graduate from lower-performing schools
• More likely to work full time or have competing family
responsibilities
• More likely to live at home
• Less likely to know how to study well; more likely to
study alone
• More likely to be a non-native speaker of English
• Lack 18 years of family and friends orienting them
toward college culture & how to get there

12. UC Campuses’ 2015 percentage of FG students
Merced River-
side
Irvine Santa
Barbara
Santa
Cruz
Davis Los
Angeles
San
Diego
Berke-
ley
ALL
FG 72 55 51 44 44 43 36 35 28 42
Not
FG
27 43 46 53 53 54 61 63 70 55
Interactive 2000-2015
http://universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/uc-enrolls-diverse-pool-undergraduates

13. UC Irvine’s FG Faculty Initiative
• Based in the Div. of Undergraduate Education
• Promotes FG faculty to identify themselves to their students
• Encourages FG students to use support services
• Raises positive awareness about UCI’s FG students
• Holds 2 lunch workshops/yr
• Oct 2015: Challenges FG undergrads face in the UC, how
they fare, roles faculty mentors can play
• April 2016: How to develop lessons that support FG
academic success in a culturally competent manner

14. UC Irvine’s FG Faculty Initiative
Image:
Screenshot
of
h"p://universityofcalifornia.edu/news/5429/first-­‐generaPon-­‐students-­‐hear-­‐faculty-­‐who-­‐have-­‐been-­‐there

15. Image:
Screenshot
of
h"ps://news.uci.edu/feature/bridging-­‐the-­‐first-­‐generaPon-­‐gap/

16. UCI Libraries FG Focus Group: Advertising

17. UCI Libraries FG Focus Group (April 2016)
• 5 UCI FG students
• 2 transfer students
• 3 freshmen
• Questions & Conversations:
• Library use?
• Quality of experience?
• Remote access?
• What do you wish you knew about the Libraries that
you now know?
• What puzzles you about the Libraries?

18. Survey Used in Focus Group

19. UCI Libraries FG & International Student
Outreach Committee
• 6 members for 2016-2018
• Report to AUL for Public Services
• Plan library outreach programs and instruction activities
that emphasize:
• information literacy
• research skills
• confidence in using library services and collections
• Continue recurring outreach and programming with key
campus units

20. Workshops and Instruction to…
• Student Outreach and Retention Center (SOAR)
• Summer Academic Enrichment Program (SAEP)
• International Students Transitioning to
Educational and Personal Success (I-Steps)
• International Student Excellence Programs/
International Peer Groups

21. Future Partnerships
FG1Q Challenge
Connect with Student Support Services (campus
office)
Personal Librarian Program

22. Publicity
Image:
Screenshot
of
h"p://www.nyPmes.com/2015/09/17/upshot/californias-­‐university-­‐system-­‐an-­‐upward-­‐mobility-­‐machine.html

23. Image:
Screenshot
of
h"p://www.nyPmes.com/interacPve/2015/09/17/upshot/top-­‐colleges-­‐doing-­‐the-­‐most-­‐for-­‐low-­‐income-­‐students.html

24. Publicity
Does the UC System use
Affirmative Action?
No. Not since 1997.
Image:
Screenshot
of
h"p://projects.dailycal.org/affirmaPve-­‐acPon/

25. “...Dr. Gillman grew
up in North
Hollywood and was
a first-generation
college student.”
Image:
Screenshot
of
h"p://chancellor.uci.edu/about/index.html

26. Support of Leadership
Image:
Screenshot
of
h"p://chancellor.uci.edu/engagement/monthly-­‐messages/2016/160615-­‐monthly-­‐message.html

27. Information Seeking Behaviors of
First-Generation College Students:
A Multi-Institution Study
National Diversity in Libraries Conference
UCLA 2016
Stacy Brinkman, Miami University
Josefine Smith, Dickinson College
Jennifer Natale, Miami University

28. Overview
• Introduction
• Campus Comparison
• Methodology/Timeline
• Survey Design
• Initial Findings
• Future Projects

29. Precedent Study (2012)
Brinkman, S., Gibson, K., Presnell, J. (2013). When the helicopters are silent: The information seeking strategies of
first-generation college students, presented at the ACRL National Conference, Indianapolis, IN, 2013
Qualitative study:
Everyday life information
seeking successes or failures
may impact academic
information seeking behaviors
Photo:
“GraduaPon”
by
taz_k/CC
BY
2.0

30. Campus Demographics
Miami University
• Public University
• 16,387 Undergraduate/
2,520 Graduate students
• 120 Undergraduate
programs
• 47% live on campus
• Student to Faculty Ratio:
17 : 1
Shippensburg University
• Public University
• 6,050 Undergraduate/
1,050 Graduate students
• 100 Undergraduate
programs
• 34% live on campus
• Student to Faculty Ratio:
20 : 1
Photo:
“King
Library”
by
Zawackae/Public
Domain
Photo:
h"p://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-­‐
colleges/shippensburg-­‐university-­‐3326/photos

31. Project Formation
Survey Creation
IRB/Sampling
Data Collection
• Lit review
• Team formed
• Validated
instruments
• Q’s based on
qualitative data
• MU: random
sample (2000) +
oversample of FG
• Shippensburg: sent
to population
• Fall 2014
• Spring 2015
Timeline/Methodology

32. • Information seeking perceptions (4 questions)
• Information seeking behavior (20 questions)
• Library use (1 question)
• Library Anxiety Scale, modified (10 questions)
• IL Self-Efficacy Scale (16 questions)
• Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (54 questions)
Survey Design

33. Which of the following best describes you?
1. Neither of my parents attended college
2. At least one of my parents attended college, but none
graduated
3. At least one of my parents graduated from college
4. Other (please describe)
First Generation?

34. Which of the following best describes you?
1. Neither of my parents attended college
2. At least one of my parents attended college, but none
graduated
3. At least one of my parents graduated from college
4. Other (please describe)
“First Generation Narrow”

35. Which of the following best describes you?
1. Neither of my parents attended college
2. At least one of my parents attended college, but none
graduated
3. At least one of my parents graduated from college
4. Other (please describe)
“First Generation Broad”

36. Variable Miami
(n = 303)
Shippensburg
(n = 207)
Gender Female = 68%
Male = 30%
Female = 73%
Male = 27%
First Generation
(narrow)
14% 30%
First Generation
(broad)
27% 51%
Year 1st/2nd year: 43%
3rd year +: 57%
1st/2nd year: 43%
3rd year +: 56%
Respondent Demographics

37. Information Seeking Perceptions

38. How much do you agree with the
following statements?
(Scale of 0 to 10)
Miami
Mean
NFG, FG
Shippensburg
Mean
NFG, FG
I know who to turn to if I have
questions about college
8.31
8.27, 8.54
8.28
8.36, 8.13
Other students around me know
more about college than I do
5.53
5.49, 5.78
5.39
5.38, 5.44
People on campus are helpful
when I ask them questions
7.61
7.54, 7.95
8.18
8.24, 8.08
It is difficult to navigate the
system in college
5.19
5.18, 5.29
5.01
5.11, 4.68
Findings: Info Seeking Perceptions

39. Info Seeking Behavior: Academics

40. Miami Shippensburg
Parents 3.2 3.0
Friends 4.0 4.0
Other Relative 2.5 2.5
Professor 4.3 4.5
Academic Advisor 4.0 3.9
Resident Advisor 2.5 2.2
Librarian 2.4 2.6
Learning Center 2.3 2.9
Supervisor/coworker 2.5 2.5
Find it on my own 3.5 3.7
Other 2.5 2.1
How likely are
you to seek
help
about
academics
in college
from….?
(scale = 1-5)
FG and NFG
scores combined

41. Not First-Gen First-Generation
Professor: 4.3 Professor: 4.3
Friend: 4.0 Advisor: 4.1
Advisor: 4.0 Self: 3.6
Self: 3.5 Friend: 3.3
Parent: 3.4 Other: 2.9
Work: 2.5 Librarian: 2.8
RA: 2.5 Other Relative: 2.7
Other Relative: 2.5 Learning Center: 2.6
Other: 2.5 Work: 2.5
Librarian 2.3 RA: 2.4
Learning Center: 2.2 Parent: 2.1
Ranking of
most likely
sources
of academic
information
at
Miami
University
(scale = 1-5)

42. Not First-Gen First-Generation
Professor: 4.5 Professor: 4.5
Friend: 4.0 Advisor: 4.1
Advisor: 3.9 Friend: 3.8
Self: 3.6 Self: 3.8
Parent: 3.3 Learning Center: 2.9
Learning Center: 2.8 Librarian: 2.6
Librarian: 2.5 Work: 2.6
Other Relative: 2.5 Other Relative: 2.5
Work: 2.5 Other: 2.4
RA: 2.2 Parent: 2.2
Other: 2.0 RA: 2.1
Ranking of
most likely
sources
of academic
information
at
Shippensburg
University
(scale = 1-5)

43. Info Seeking Behavior: College Life

44. Miami Shippensburg
Parents 3.1 2.8
Friends 4.4 4.3
Other Relative 2.8 2.6
Professor 2.5 2.6
Academic Advisor 2.4 2.5
Resident Advisor 2.8 2.7
Librarian 1.8 1.8
Learning Center 1.7 1.8
Supervisor/coworker 2.6 2.6
Find it on my own 3.4 3.5
Other 2.5 2.1
How likely are
you to seek
help
about
college life
from….?
(scale = 1-5)
FG and NFG
scores combined

45. Not First-Gen First-Generation
Friend: 4.5 Friend: 3.7
Self: 3.3 Self: 3.6
Parent: 3.2 Other: 2.9
Other Relative: 2.8 Professor: 2.7
RA: 2.8 Advisor: 2.6
Work: 2.6 RA: 2.6
Other: 2.5 Other Relative: 2.5
Professor: 2.4 Work: 2.3
Advisor: 2.4 Parent: 2.2
Librarian: 1.7 Library: 2.0
Learning Center: 1.7 Learning Center: 2.0
Ranking of
most likely
sources
of college life
information
at
Miami
University
(scale = 1-5)

46. Not First-Gen First-Generation
Friend: 4.5 Friend: 4.0
Self: 3.5 Self: 3.5
Parent: 3.0 Professor: 2.9
RA: 2.8 Work: 2.8
Other Relative: 2.7 Advisor: 2.8
Work: 2.5 Other Relative: 2.5
Professor: 2.5 RA: 2.5
Advisor: 2.4 Other: 2.3
Other: 2.0 Parent: 2.3
Learning Center: 1.6 Learning Center: 2.1
Librarian: 1.6 Librarian: 2.1
Ranking of
most likely
sources
of college life
information
at
Shippensburg
University
(scale = 1-5)

47. Contrary to expectations:
• FG students more likely to seek
information from “official” sources
• FG students NOT more likely to
seek information from friends
• FG students do not report feeling
less secure about information
seeking
Take-Aways
Photo:
“So
Pred…”
by
LexnGer/CC
BY-­‐NC
2.0

48. • Do FG experience different levels of library anxiety than their
peers?
• How about academic self-efficacy?
• Does Library Use predict…
• Academic Self-Efficacy?
• Information Literacy Self-Efficacy?
• Information Seeking Behavior?
Future Projects

49. Thanks
Photo:
“THANK
YOU!!!”
by
Willard/CC
BY-­‐NC-­‐ND
2.0