The Impact of Faculty Mentorship on the Educational Achievement of First-Generation Low-Income Latinx Students

• In Event: AERA Graduate Student Research in Progress Roundtable Session Two
  In Roundtable Session: High-Impact Strategies for Retention and Success in Postsecondary Education (Table 8)

Abstract

For first-generation, low-income Latinx students, the transition is more difficult from high school or community college to a four-year university, often attributed to the lack of social capital. As a result, exposure to academic extra-curricular activities and resources for these students is scarce. The purpose of this study is to investigate the experiences of a group of first-generation, low-income Latinx students and the support they have received from their institution and faculty during their higher education journey. From a unique perspective, the author will present current data on student success and preliminary results from interviews conducted in spring 2022 with alumni students from the FSMP (Faculty-Student Mentoring Program) at San Diego State University. FSMP's goal is to encourage and support enhanced student learning via campus programs and activities that facilitate increased academic and personal development (https://fsmp.sdsu.edu/about). Through this research, we intend to gain a holistic understanding of the academic and personal experiences of first-generation, low-income Latinx students. The future results of this study will provide essential implications in understanding the impact of faculty mentorship, student resources, and extra-curricular activities and why they are vital to understanding the longitudinal impact on this group's educational success.

Author

• Daisy Gomez-Fuentes, University of California - Riverside
  Presenting Author