“We’re All About That Family”: What First-Generation, Low-Income Students At A Highly Selective University Value About The Nature And Strength Of Ties Formed In A Community And Belonging Centered Bridge Program
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- As the first in their families to go to college, first-generation, low-income (FLI) students face unique social, emotional, and academic challenges at elite universities. To aid these students in their transition to college, many universities have implemented interventions such as the bridge program. However, most bridge programs focus on STEM development and most studies of bridge programs focus on measuring quantitative outcomes like graduation rates and grades through the use of longitudinal surveys. This study documents the qualitative outcomes of a community- and belonging-centered bridge program through semi-structured interviews with participants from one cohort of the program in their final year at a highly selective university. Students reported that the program’s centering of the FLI identity throughout its programming, structure, and staffing had myriad positive impacts on their ability to build community and feel a sense of belonging, both socially and academically, throughout their time at university. This study demonstrates that dedicated, intentional programming and support facilitated and enforced a strong sense of belonging and community for FLI students, enabling them to make the most of their higher education experience. Finally, this study also contributes to the understanding of FLI students’ nuanced experiences through their own words, filling the gap of qualitative data in the current literature about bridge programs and their outcomes within the “black box” of higher education.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | June 3, 2021 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Phan, Bao T |
|---|
Subjects
| Subject | Graduate School of Education |
|---|---|
| Subject | First-Generation Low-Income Students |
| Subject | Bridge Programs |
| Subject | Higher Education |
| Subject | Elite Universities |
| Subject | Honors in Education |
| Subject | Community |
| Subject | Belonging |
| Subject | Community and Belonging in Higher Education |
| Genre | Thesis |
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- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Phan, Bao T. (2021). “We’re All About That Family”: What First-Generation, Low-Income Students At A Highly Selective University Value About The Nature And Strength Of Ties Formed In A Community And Belonging Centered Bridge Program. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/yj277xv0362
Collection
Undergraduate Honors Theses, Graduate School of Education
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- baophan@stanford.edu
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