Cracking the Confidence Code for First Generation College Students

• In Event: Roundtable: Student Success in Criminal Justice: Opportunities for First Generation and Underrepresented Student Populations

Abstract

With the number of post-traditional students increasing in higher education, these students are increasingly choosing to major in criminology and criminal justice programs. These programs offer students immediate job prospects and opportunities upon graduation. Many working professionals returning to complete their degrees, a large proportion of students transferring to 4 year institutions from community colleges, and approximately half of first time entering freshmen report first generation student status. How many of this number could benefit from additional co-curricular support to increase their opportunity of entering professional careers upon graduation? How many academic departments have time to provide this support? This presentation will discuss one academic departments’ creative partnerships with co-curricular offices to encourage student success for first-generation college students in its major. Offering different teaching modalities, increasing alumni mentoring support, and stepping outside of the classroom to provide students additional supports will all be discussed.

Author

• Deshonna Collier-Goubil, Azusa Pacific University