DESIGNING & DELIVERING SUPPORT FOR FIRST-GEN COLLEGE STUDENTS: PRACTITIONER & STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Produced in partnership with First-Gen Forward, the final brief in the series explores key issues for institutions to consider in designing and delivering supports for first-generation college. students throughout their educational journey.

Earlier landscape analyses revealed that while institutions offered supports for first-generation students, these efforts varied widely and were often constrained by limited resources and inconsistent campus engagement. New national survey and focus group data show how these supports have evolved across sectors, offering a current view of organizational structures and programmatic approaches.

Despite growing awareness of first-generation students, practitioners still see substantial room for improvement. With over half of college students identifying as first-generation—and many institutions expecting this number to rise—intentional, strategic support remains essential to bolstering student success.