Publication Date
Spring 5-9-2020
Document Type
Action research project: Open access
Degree Name
MA Higher Education Leadership
Department
Leadership Studies
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore undergraduate first-generation college students (FGCS) and their campus connections. The overarching research question guiding my study was: How can I, as a FGCS, graduate student and future higher education educator create more accessible on-campus resources for undergraduate FGCS at USD? A secondary question was: In partnering with the first-generation stakeholders how can we better adapt our services to meet the needs of FGCS during their time at USD? Using Coghlan and Brannick’s Cycles of Action Research as a guiding framework, I conducted one pre-cycle, a needs assessment, and three cycles of data collection: a survey, individual interviews with students, and a focus group. My findings suggest that students desire to be a part of programming participation, but they are hindered due to other obligations (i.e. commuting) and not having centralized information. As a result, I developed a set of recommendations to better meet the needs of FGCS.
Digital USD Citation
Ortega, Ashley, "First Generation College Students’ Connection to Campus Involvement at the University of San Diego" (2020). M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects. 50.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/soles-mahel-action/50
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.