Listening to Our Low-Income Students: Seniors Reflect on Their College Experience

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Date
2018
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Volume Title
Publisher
Yes We Must Coalition
Abstract

While there is a growing effort to better understand how to best support low-income students in higher education, too often listening to the students themselves has not been part of the inquiry. A pilot effort in 2017 involved focus groups conducted at eight Yes We Must Coalition (YWMC) institutions with 55 graduating Pell-eligible students. The results made it clear that students had important insights to offer. Based on these results, the 2018 project was undertaken to develop a larger sample of students drawn from more institutions in order to increase the understanding of commonly experienced challenges and what might be done to make the journeys of low-income students quicker, less costly, and/or less at-risk for interruption and non-completion. This report presents the results which could be useful in informing institutional assumptions and policies, including the nature, accessibility and timing of interventions and resources.

Description
Keywords
access to higher education, low-income students, student financial aid, college student experience
Citation