Counterspaces, Counterstructures: Low‐Income, First‐Generation, And Working‐Class Students’ Peer Support At Selective Colleges 1

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135-1156
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Lee ◽  
Jacob Harris
Keyword(s):  
Working Class ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Selective Colleges ◽  
Working Class Students

scholarly journals Divergent Approaches to Access: How Selective College Admissions Offices Recruit Lower-Income, First-Generation, and Working-Class Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 36-49
Author(s):  
Hannah Gunther ◽  
Janel Benson
Keyword(s):  
Working Class ◽  
First Generation ◽  
College Admissions ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Selective College ◽  
Admissions Officers ◽  
Selective Colleges ◽  
Weak Records ◽  
Working Class Students ◽  
Societal Inequality

In recent years, selective colleges and universities have made diversifying their student bodies a top priority, yet the class diversity on these campuses has barely shifted. While most research on class disparities in college admissions focuses on student explanations, this study seeks to understand how campus admissions approaches to recruitment may also contribute to why so few lower-income, first-generation, and/or working-class students (LIFGWC students) attend selective colleges. To address this question, we conducted interviews with seven admissions officers from selective campuses with both relatively strong and weak records of LIFGWC students recruitment. Institutions with stronger records of recruiting LIFGWC students actively sought out new initiatives to make their college more accessible for LIFGWC students, and these actions were motivated by a shared focus on improving larger societal inequality. Although campuses with weaker records also expanded their recruitment strategies, their efforts were often piecemeal and motivated by competition for students and institutional rankings rather than a larger mission to improve diversity and equity. These findings suggest that institutional missions and philosophies are central to increasing access.  

scholarly journals Spiritual and Religious Support for Underrepresented First-Generation, Low-Income (UFGLI) Students

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 548
Author(s):  
Elliott Ingersoll ◽  
Sophia Elliott ◽  
Stephanie Drcar
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Educational Experience ◽  
Religious Support ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Minimal Support ◽  
Systemic Barriers

UFGLI students comprise 34% of the students enrolled in four-year universities. Unlike some students, UFGLI students face internal and systemic barriers throughout their educational experience and their struggles are often dismissed and disregarded. Working and raising a family while taking courses, minimal support systems, and financial struggles require students to optimize their resources. We explore the issues of UFGLI students and the importance of their spiritual and religious supports using a literature review and a case study. Religious and spiritual identities are resources that should be explored and supported by staff at university counselling centers. Affirming UFGLI students’ religious and spiritual identities and understanding how religion and spirituality work in their lives can assist these students in their acclimation to and success at university.

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