DEFINITION White there is no universal definition for “first-generation college student” and much

of the research uses the definition “a student with neither parent having any education beyond high school,” we choose to define a first-generation college student as “neither parent having received a four-year college degree.” – I’m First

First generation students can come from families with lo incomes or from middle- or higher-income families without a college-going tradition. Some have parents who support their plans for higher education; others are under family pressure to enter the workforce right after high school. – The College Board

An individual both of whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree; or in the case of any individual who regularly resided with and received support form only one parent, an individual whose only usch parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree. – Higher Education Act of 1965, 1998 Higher Education Act Amendments Sec.402B(6)g1(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyJRiCWy7xo

•  Financial Worries •  My family doesn’t have

that kind of money

•  Academic Frustrations •  I was in the top of my

class….

•  Emotional Component •  Am I going to make it and

be someone in the world?

WHO THEY/(WE) ARE: COMMON ISSUES, FEARS, & EMOTIONS

STARS PEER MENTOR PROGRAM

C O N C O R D I A U N I V E R S I T Y C H I C A G O

“The STARS program is for first year, freshman students who are the first in their families to attend college. During the fall semester, these students are matched with an upperclassman to support them in their transition to college life.”

- Multicultural Student Engagement Office

STARS PEER

MEN

TOR

PR

OG

RAM

•  “The Mentors will not only serve as a social support but will be responsible for coordinating activities (academic and social) that will help their Mentees become acclimated to the Concordia community.” – MSE Office Website

•  Student and Family First Generation Reception, August 21, 2013

•  Website resources for prospective students/families •  Blog from U.S. News and World Report •  Trailer for First Generation: The Film •  Link to book and DVD material from The First in the Family:

Your College Years short video snippets •  Link to Know How 2Go •  ACT publication for parents supporting prospective First

Gen students

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

•  “The average freshman award for the current year is $13,000. The average total financial aid package is $25,500.” – Financial Aid Website

•  Education is both a process as well as an investment •  “When I learned about how affordable Concordia-Chicago

could be, I decided to apply. The financial aid I received was more than I got from other schools I applied to, and it brought the cost down the most.” – Anthony Huspen, Theatre and graphic arts double major from Norridge, Illinois (Financial Aid Website)

FINAN

CIAL AID AN

D FIN

ANCIAL

LITERACY AM

ON

G STUD

ENTS

•  Access and Affordability

•  Transparent and Informative

•  Accommodating to unique circumstances

FINAN

CIAL AID AN

D FIN

ANCIAL

LITERACY AM

ON

G STUD

ENTS

•  Managing Your Finances: Financial literacy for the prospective, current, and post college student • Budget strategies •  Investment basics • Resolving debt • Student loans • Credit cards

•  Appreciative and proactive advising

•  Intended to increase student success through

•  Enhancing student motivation

•  Demonstrating interest and involvement in students’ lives

•  Educating students on all options

•  Approaching students before situations develop

•  This is practiced through six phases:

•  Disarm, discover, dream, design, deliver, and don’t settle

ACADEMIC ADVISING: CURRENT SERVICES AND TECHNIQUES

FINAN

CIAL AID AN

D FIN

ANCIAL

LITERACY AM

ON

G STUD

ENTS

•  Managing Your Finances: Financial literacy for the prospective, current, and post college student • Budget strategies •  Investment basics • Resolving debt • Student loans • Credit cards

ACADEM

IC LEADER

S SERIES

WO

RKSH

OPS •  Lewis & Clark – Major Selection for Undeclared

Students •  How to Get Good Grades •  Time Management, Getting Organized

COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES IDEAS •  Start a specific First Gen student organization •  Establish campus traditions specifically for first gen students (like homecoming,

graduation events, end of the year celebrations) •  Work with campus communications (e.g. newspaper/magazine, websites, public

relations office, alumni office) to publicize stores about the successes of First Generation Concordia students.

•  Partnership programing between faculty and student affairs professionals •  Mandatory mid-term grade reports •  Hold a focus groups with current First Gen students to identify and determine

what they need and how they can best be served specifically at CUC •  Outreach to First Gen college alumni •  Incorporate First Gen families and parents into campus events aside from

welcome week reception.

Mission: As a distinctive, comprehensive university of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and based in the liberal arts, Concordia University Chicago equips men and women to serve and lead with integrity, creativity, competence and compassion in a diverse, interconnected and increasingly urbanized church and world. Vision (2012): Rooted in its Christian heritage of engaging knowledge and faith, Concordia University Chicago aspires to be the destination university for all who seek to develop their full individual potential through a distinctive, innovative and dynamic environment of exploration, creativity and discovery for leading lives of servant-minded leadership. 

IMAGE ATTRIBUTIONS •  Record Freshman Class Enrolls for Fall 2013. (2013, December 1).

<i>Forrester</i>, 12-13.

•  F1RST image: http://studentsuccess.unc.edu/first-generation-college-students/

•  Concordia University STARS Peer Mentor 2013: We're excited to announce our Fall 2013 STARS Peer Mentors! [ca. 20130. in Facebook CUC's Office of Multicultural Student Engagement. Retrieved March 16, 2014. https://www.facebook.com/ConcordiaOMSE/photos/pb.163507327028776.-2207520000.1428855272./522939184418920/?type=3&theater

•  Pillars image: https://www.linkedin.com/edu/concordia-university-chicago-18252

•  Scorecard image: http://collegecost.ed.gov/scorecard/UniversityProfile.aspx?org=s&id=144351

Final Concordia Logo: https://www.higheredjobs.com/InstitutionProfile.cfm?ProfileID=15831