The impact of college success program on first generation college students in their preparation for college

2019-02-14Traditionally, higher education institutions have not been easily accessible to low income, first-generation college students. However, higher education is quickly becoming more desirable for economic independence and a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. Federal college preparation programs were created to create diversity among college campuses and to increase the number of low income, first-generation students. College access programs aim to provide services to and for underserved, first-generation students. As participants of such programs, students can gain positive personal adjustments as well as gain multiple avenues of capital for academic and social success, college admission, and university matriculation. One may concur that college completion could free low-income, first-generation students from intergenerational poverty and negative social stigma. There is a lack of empirical research about the characteristics and factors of low-income, first-generation students and their paths to college, sense of belonging, and persistence in college. ❧ This study examined the factors that contribute the above-mentioned characteristics. Furthermore, this study aimed to find how one college access program enhances college readiness, what components of the program contribute to retention and persistence of students while in college, how the program fosters sense of belonging and in what ways spirituality plays a role in sense of belonging. Participants were asked to share their experiences with the program, staff and students through in-depth interviews. The researcher gained insight and understanding of the functionalities of the College Success Program, its participants and its programmatic outcomes. The results of this study affirmed that students who participated in College Success Program felt prepared to enter college, continued participation while in college and post-graduation, gained a sense of belonging within the program and valued having and being mentors