Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: A first-generation college student is typically defined as a student whose biological parent(s) or guardian(s) never attended college or who started but did not finish college. However, "first-generation" can represent diverse family education situations. The first-generation student community is a multifaceted, and intersectional group of individuals who frequently lack educational/financial resources to succeed and, consequently, require supportive environments with rigorous mentorship. However, first-generation students often do not make their identity as first-generation students known to others due to several psychosocial and academic factors. Therefore, they are often "invisible minorities" in higher education. In this paper, we describe the diverse family situations of first-generation students, further define "first-generation," and suggest five actions that first-generation trainees at the undergraduate/graduate stages can engage in to succeed in an academic climate. We also provide suggestions for mentors to accommodate first-generation students' unique experiences and equip them with tools to deliver intentional mentoring practices. We hope that this paper will help promote first-generation student success throughout the academic pipeline.
Source: Journal of Cellular Physiology
DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31158
Authors: Vijayvardhan Kamalumpundi, Sophielle Silvers, Latisha Franklin, Kit Neikirk, Elsie Spencer, Heather K. Beasley, Celestine N. Wanajalla, Zer Vue, Amber Crabtree, Annet Kirabo, Jennifer A. Gaddy, Steven M. Damo, Melanie R. McReynolds, Latanya Hammonds Odie, Sandra A. Murray, Maria Elena Zavala, Arnaldo Diaz Vazquez, Antentor Hinton
Institutions: University of Iowa, Pennsylvania State University, Vanderbilt University, Columbia University, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Fisk University, Georgia Gwinnett College, University of Pittsburgh, California State University, Northridge, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Science Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Vanderbilt University, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Awards: G1478761210, G2019238319, CREST Center for Biological Signatures and Sensing (BioSS) Phase II, G2979489556, Recycling: An Alternative Method for Rapid Gap Junction Plaque Assembly, Interinstitutional Program in Cell and Molecular Biology: A Graduate Training Path to Promote Traditional and Non-Traditional Professional Outcomes, G4462978134, G4731565586, Improving Diversity and Career Transitions through Society Support, G5359200125, G5439993701, G5563439613, PRIDE-Functional and Translational Genomics of Blood Disorders, Diabetes Research and Training Center, Excellence in Research Project: Functional Characterization of the X-antigen Gene Family, Implementation Project: Achieving Greater Confidence and Competence in Quantitative and Computational Skills in STEM Disciplines at Fisk University, G9000052735, G9000168129, G9000217187, Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center
OpenAlex ID: W4390908552