This document summarizes strategies that colleges use to help first-generation students successfully transition to college. It discusses reaching out to students and families about financial aid to alleviate "sticker shock." It also emphasizes the importance of early engagement through programs that involve families, assign peer groups, and connect students with mentors. Supporting first-generation students socially and academically in their first semester is key to retention.

1. Experts share
their secrets

2. F
or a ~tuJent hu parent and sIblings have never t ttent'! d
enllegeI simply eh ) ) ing :::t cnllege and completing the applicati n
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By Susan Martinez
~--~---
these students make the transition to college
life and achieve academic and social success.
Providing first-generation students with a solid
foundation of academic and financiall guidance,
opportunities for engagement, and faculty and
family support early on in their educational
careers can help them successfully complete
their educational goals.
Get the word out
A
t EI Paso Community College
(EPCC) in EI Paso, Texas, financial aid
director Linda Gonzales-Hensgen
spends many hours reaching out to first-time
students in the region. Every year, the college
partners with the University ofTexas - EI Paso
(UTEP) to hold financial aid nights at all 40 EI
Paso-area high schools and to send financial
aid information brochures to every high
school senior.
Once accepted, many experience "sticker shock"
at the thousands of dollars it often costs for
four years of tuition. Paying for college can be
extremely stressful for first-generation students
and families, who often have low incomes
and are unaccustomed to borrowing or taking
on debt.
And while all first-time college students must
adapt to new experiences, such as living in a
dorm, making their own decisions, and adjusting
to the rigors of college study, these transitions
can be even more difficult for a first-generation
student. First-generation students often belong
to close-knit, extended families, and living
away from home for an extended time can be a
difficult experience that negatively affects their
academic performance.
Because of these and other hurdles, campus
administrators should examine their enrollment
processes from the perspective of first-generation
students. They should look for way'), 0 help

3. ester, and that this
~rtable becoming
tend to focus
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How can your office make the
engage students by having them meet faculty members
and upperclassmen, who can serve as great mentors for
students, especially those living in residence halls:'
Early student engagement
L
andrith points out that most st dents become
homesick during their first se
can be an especially hard time for first-generation
students, many of whom come from arge families.
Involving the family in the college transition helps the
student flourish during that importa first semester.
If students receive support and encouragement from
home, they are more likely to feel com
involved in activities on campus. They a~
on the future instead of worrying about th'e next time
they can visit home.
"Many first-generation students come from minb rity
cultures where the family unit is very strong," he sa
"This is great, but it also means that they are often vert
dependent on their family and concerned about being
away from them. Involving the whole family and having
the family check on the student and encourage him or
her can go a long way in helping that student become
engaged on campus."
At San Antonio's University of the Incarnate Word, the
vast- majority of students in its incoming freshman
class are first-generation students. Through the
university's First-Year Student Engagement Program,
this Hispanic-serving institution makes a special effort
to reach these students and their families before they
ever set foot in a college classroom.
The First-Year Student Engagement Program is Title
V-funded and open to all of the school's incoming
students. The program's goal is to introduce students
and their families to college life and to provide a
support network of faculty and peer mentors who can
help students make a successful transition to college.
transition to college e sier t r
first,generation students?
Here are some ideas:
• Implement a special session for
first-generation students and their
families during orientation.
• Assign groups of first-generation
students to a core class or series
of classes.
• Develop informational pieces
on financial aid directed to
first-generation families.
Hi rONlIEClIOIi 15 VOLUME 8, ISSUEI

4. "Most first-time students don't have any behaviors to model
as a college student; therefore, they arrive on campus not
understanding what to expect," says Sandra McMakin, director,
First-Year Student Engagement Program. "For example, they
hear that going to class is optional at a university, when in
reality attending class is the primary key to success."
The First-Year Student Engagement Program involves parents
in the learning process as well. McMakin says the more parents
understand what is expected of their
children and of the process, the more
support they will provide, which helps the student
succeed. The program explains everything from financial
literacy to what will be expected of students in college.
"As with anything, if you don't understand it, you are not likely
to support it," McMakin says."Parents who don't understand
what it means to be a university student can create barriers
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In general, feeling accepted, safe, and
comfortable in a new academic and
social setting have greater relevance
for Latino students deciding which
college to attend than other factors
such as quality, location, diversity,
or cost.
for their children. We want them to understand in order to
prevent that."
At Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) in Savannah,
Georgia, the administration has established "learning
communities" for incoming students. Students are assigned
to core classes in a cohort so that they move through the first
two years at the school together, which allows them to build
relationships with each other and a connection to the school.
"The learning communities give students the opportunity to
develop study partners and form social relationships with other
students, which increases student engagement;' says LeeAnn
Kirkland, AASU financial aid director.
Financial aid nd paying for college
P
erhaps one of the most significant challenges for first­
eneration students and their families is figuring out how
to finance their college education.
Often,just hearing the cost of tuition scares many first-generation
families into thinking they eQuid never afford college. In addition,
many do not know that financial aid is available; others don't
understand the application process; and some are leery about
divulging personal information, such as tax returns. Still others are
uncomfortable with incurring debt through student loans.
rG (ONN[CIIOII 16 VOLUME ,ISSUE I

5. Veronica J. Leech, director of student financial aid Many of CSU's parents are denied a PLUS loan.
at Central State University (CSU), a historically black Therefore, students often take out unsubsidized Stafford
university in Wilberforce, Ohio, says the biggest loans or fill gaps with payment plans and alternative
challenge for CSU's students and their families is a loans, which, Leech says, can present another challenge
lack of understanding of the financial aid process and because of the need for a co-borrower.
of the ways that they can maximize their financial
To help educate students on their loan obligations,
aid eligibility.
the school provides students with credit and debt
"Our students and parents understand when they management and default prevention lessons during
get their award letter in the mail that they qualify for orientation and at graduation. Leech enlisted the help
financial aid;' Leech says. "Unfortunately, they then ofTG and its Positive+Balance™ debt management
think that everything is paid for. We have to educate program to help with this process.
them to look at the cost of attendance and the amount
"Positive+Balance helps a lot;' Leech says."The students
of the financial aid they qualified for to help them
ask a lot of good questions and they take away good
determine ways to make up any difference:'
information they can begin using right away:'
Educating its students and families about financial aid
is a key issue at CSU, where 75 percent of the more Form phobia
than 1,600 students are Pell-eligible, the majority of
M
any first-generation families are reluctant
whom are first-generation.
to fill out the FAFSA. Kirkland says many
One way that CSU helps its families understand the first-generation families at AASU do not
financial aid process is by including an "award wrap" feel comfortable filling out the FAFSA because they
with the award letter. The award wrap includes a list must provide personal information like income and
of frequently asked questions about financial aid, Social Security numbers. Completing the FAFSA online
important information families adds another point
need to know, how financial
"We really have to work to of hesitation.
need is determined, and a list of
educate th [arenr ~l['H.l1l1ak· "We really have to work
contacts and phone numbers.
them feel comfim:al Le C )Lllplettng to educate the parents
Leech says that although the and make them feel
rhe fl1[m.~," Kirkl.:mci ays.
majority of the school's families comfortable completing
are low-income, they are eager the forms;' she says."A
to help support their children's education, including lot of times this means having the families come in and
taking out student loans."Generally, they are so filling out the form for them."
excited to have the opportunity to attend college,
Kirkland said AASU also tries to reach out to first­
they are willing to do whatever it takes to make that
generation families as soon as possible. She said her
happen;' she says.
office works to identify first-generation students at high
Unfortunately, many have never taken out loans or school fairs and tben follows up with extra counseling
have had bad experiences with loans; so Leech and on the financial aid process.
her staff spend a lot of time educating students and
"It really helps to start educating these families as soon
parents about the responsibilities of loan repayment.
as you can," she says._
IG(ONlIECrIOtl 17 VOLUME8, ISSUEI