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Facilitating Access to the Other Careers in which Blacks are Under-represented
Under-representation
Colleges served:
Departments served :
- Academic Focus
- Accounting
- Art
- Arts and Sciences
- Business Administration
- Business Information Systems
- Communications
- Criminal Justice
- Early Childhood Education
- Economics & Finance
- History
- Music
- Political Science
- Professional Studies
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
First-generation students often do not know about the support services available on campus and if they do know about such services, they still do not usually seek help (https://firstgen.naspa.org/files/dmfile/NASPA_FactSheet-03_FIN.pdf). The activity addresses the specific needs of these students and seeks to ameliorate their sense of belonging, academic success/campus engagement, as well as assist them with early-career exposure and aspirations. The purpose is to offer initiatives that smoothly incorporate first-generation students into the college ecosystem (www.uconnect.com) and enhance their chances of completing college. The ultimate goals are retention, persistence, and graduation as evidenced through monitored credit completion, major/career articulation exercises, and improved post-graduation ambitions with specific attention to careers in which, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Blacks are underrepresented. 
Selected initiatives include 1) engaging students in making connections between course offerings and career opportunities, 2) integrating first-generation students fully into the fabric of their departments and colleges using faculty champions and faculty-led panel discussions, 3) assisting them with enhanced study skills/tutoring, 4) exposing them to study abroad opportunities, and 5) using the Center for First-Generation Students to provide additional outreach that research has shown to be successful in helping first-generation students complete college. This activity uses a cohort model and accepts participants every fall until they earn 60 degree-related credits and become juniors.