First-Generation Collegians Navigating the Transition Into Higher Education During the COVID-19 Global Health Pandemic

• In Event: First-Generation Students Navigating Higher Education

Abstract

Throughout the current era of the global health pandemic, COVID-19, most collegians and higher education instructors abruptly transitioned to virtual learning. Although online education is not a new phenomenon, as several institutions and programs offered such educational experiences to the pandemic, this was an unforeseen transition for most. Higher education researchers must analyze the experiences first-generation first-year and transfer students as they engage in primarily virtual learning environments amidst a global health pandemic and racial unrest. This study aims to investigate what these students experienced during their first year at a historically white university in the northeast, U.S., to offer implications to higher education leaders to best serve these students in other virtual courses and programming initiatives.

Authors

• Stephen Santa-Ramirez, University at Buffalo - SUNY

• Sarah Block, University at Buffalo - SUNY

• Anthony Vargas, University at Buffalo - SUNY

• Kavitha Muralidhar, University at Buffalo