At a time when one in three American college students are the first-generation, we need to think critically about what makes them unique and how to support them in our institutions of higher education, writes Richard Greenwald. Instead of seeing them as a problem that the education system needs to fix, higher ed should seek to understand the challenges they're facing and think of them as pioneers -- and find ways to support them and set them up for success.
Greenwald writes:
So what should we do? First, those of us who were first-generation students must stand up and make our presence known. We should act as ambassadors, guides, and advocates for current first-generation students. We need to find ways to educate these students in the social aspects of college.
That means that our seminars for first-year students need more open and frank conversations about social expectations as well as what developmental tools are necessary. We need to offer workshops on college rules without stigmatizing the students who attend. In short, we need to write up the unwritten rules of college for them.
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