A Sociocultural Roadmap to Academic Achievement: Exploring the Support and Challenges of First-Generation College Students as They Persist in College

Download or read book A Sociocultural Roadmap to Academic Achievement: Exploring the Support and Challenges of First-Generation College Students as They Persist in College written by Sharon Lanre-Orepo and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent years, an increasing number of first-generation college students have pursued higher education. However, previous studies found that these students are significantly more likely to depart before their second year in college and encounter more challenges that impede them from pursuing a college degree. The purpose of the current study is to examine the role of support factors and the academic and social burden associated with first-generation college students in predicting persistence. The study also examined the role of instructor support and academic self-efficacy in predicting college persistence. A total of 145 first-generation college students completed a survey that assessed family support, instructor support, social support, college persistence, college academic self-efficacy, and academic and social burden. Results revealed that instructor support and social support significantly predicted higher college persistence, and that family support and social support significantly predicted lower academic and social burden. The results also demonstrated that academic self-efficacy predicted college persistence after controlling for support factors and that academic self-efficacy mediated the relationship between instructor support and college persistence. These findings indicate that academic self-efficacy is not a rigid personality trait but can be impacted by a student's college experience, particularly the student's relationship with a trusted instructor. Findings from this research can guide institutions of higher education to implement programs and practices to help more first-generation college students realize their academic dreams and goals.