Conference

The Influence of Socio-Economic Status on the Educational Experiences of Racially Diverse Persons

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Abstract

An increasing body of research demonstrates that both students of color and first generation college students fiice significant barriers to success in higher education. Although issues with each population have been independently investigated, little attention has been given to the interaction between socio-economic status and race and ethnicity. Our session wi ll explore this intersection. Investigators have identified a variety of challenges and strengths that first generation students of color experience academically, financially, culturally, and soc ially while pursuing their college degree. First generation students of color are three times more likely to discontinue their education after the first year, and are approximately five times more likely to not earn a bachelors degree after arriving on campus. At the same time, first generation students of color show strong collegiate survival skills: they report better managing their time, a more consistent focus on academic goals, and a greater ability to advocate for themselves. In our session, we wi ll outline both the current status of how campuses address the needs of first generation students of color, and ways in which this population might be helped further within higher education environments.