RESEARCH: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY —
TOOLS FOR EVALUATING COLLEGE SUCCESS FACTORS FOR FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS

Rachel F. Pickett, Ph.D., Concordia University Wisconsin

The Suder Foundation is committed to assisting four-year public universities in providing a data-driven approach to increasing the graduation rate of first-generation college students. The foundation awarded a program development grant to three university research teams at the following institutions: Morehead State University, Texas Tech University, and The University of Utah. The work from these projects informed the Suder Foundation’s First Scholars initiative.

As first-generation college (FGC) student enrollment has reached record highs and college student enrollments are becoming more diverse (Chronicle of Higher Education, 2008), it is important to consider the unique challenges these students face and support their academic success.

Research has indicated six important factors for student success (Gore, Leuwerke, and Metz, 2009):

1. Academic engagement considers the degree to which a student views oneself as conscientious and hardworking. Support strategies may include skill-building workshops, academic advising, or community service.
2. Educational commitment represents a student’s dedication to persisting in college and earning a degree. Support strategies may include career counseling, academic advising, or financial planning.
3. Campus engagement reflects how connected a student feels to the college community as well as one’s level of involvement in student life. Support strategies may include extra-curricular activities, school sponsored events, or faculty-student interactions.
4. Social comfort is defined by how comfortable a student feels meeting and interacting with others. Support strategies may include counseling, volunteer opportunities, or extra-curricular activities.
5. Academic self-efficacy is a student’s belief in one’s ability to perform well in school. Support strategies may include career counseling, personal counseling, academic advising, or faculty mentoring.
6. Resiliency is classified as appropriate management of feelings and emotions across a variety of social and academic situations. Support strategies may include counseling, wellness services, or connection to home communities.

The Student Strengths Inventory (SSI) was designed to measure these six factors for student success, and develop and implement comprehensive student support efforts on campus, as well as direct students to specific support services based on their unique needs. It provides easy-to-read, personalized reports for the student and advisor highlighting strengths and weaknesses. The measure is concise and cost-effective, as well.

Based on this grant research review and other exploratory efforts, the Suder Foundation utilizes the Student Strengths Inventory and the National Survey of Student Engagement in the foundation’s efforts to support FGC students through the First Scholars initiative.