By: Lynell Hodge Ed.D., Assistant Director, University of Central Florida
Nationally, first generation students represent about 30% of the student population. Administrators routinely discuss the effectiveness of support services and intervention for this population. However, the first generation student experience is unique and requires care and concern. Building on this premise, an upper level undergraduate leadership capstone course,
at the University of Central Florida was given a challenge. They were asked to think critically about the needs of first generation students. Students were asked to consider entry points, barriers, and milestones. Throughout the semester they collected data and established a problem statement. They worked in groups to research, explore, and assess. They identified common barriers and problems first generation students often face. A summary of both the groups’ and instructor’s reflections is listed below.
In summary, many first generation students require support. A semester long class project highlighted opportunities for improvement. This tells us that it is important to review messaging and services annually could bolster success. Including first gen in the assessment and evaluation of the aforementioned services could also be valuable.
Lynell Hodge presented Connecting the Dots: First Generation an Experiential Learning Exercise during the inaugural Focus on First Generation Conference at Florida International University.
She earned her Doctorate from the University of Central Florida in Higher Education and Policy Studies and Master’s from The Florida State University in Higher Education. Her research is focused on secondary trauma in higher education. She has worked in Student Affairs since 2005 and has been an instructor within LEAD Scholars Academy since 2012.