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The first generation college student often feels alone in navigating the processes and culture of higher education. In this article, we wanted to highlight some of the programs that are making them feel welcome. The challenges first-gen students face are well-documented, as is their determination and grit. Their presence at our colleges and universities represents one of the best things about American higher education—the way it gives students an open door to create more opportunities for themselves and their families. Yet, one of the pervasive obstacles and the most difficult to battle is the feeling of “I don’t belong here.” Surrounded by other students who appear to navigate college smoothly and have a wealth of family advice and experience they can draw upon, the first-generation student can feel alone. Often, first-generation students don’t realize how many of their peers are also the first in their families to attend. First-generation can easily be an invisible identity. In the U.S., November 8 is National #CelebrateFirstGen Day. Last year, to celebrate, we shared this article with you, in which our staff offered advice for other first-generation students. This year, we wanted to reach out to ask our colleagues at several universities what they […]

Beyond a workshop, what does developing student leaders effectively look like? The former president of Nichols College shares 5 quick steps any college can take – followed by advice on how to take student leadership development to the next level. by Susan West Engelkemeyer, Former President, Nichols College At many colleges and universities, student leadership development programming is limited or localized to an office in the student affairs division. Yet we know that leadership is one of the core capacities that employers (and society) require of our graduates in the 21st century. Leadership development should be integrated throughout the curriculum and co-curricular experience, for all students. We have been working on that integration systemically at Nichols College, but you don’t have to systemically re-imagine your general education curriculum in order to get started. Here are 5 things any university can do that supplement existing offerings and programs with meaningful leadership development: 1. Add a Module to Your First-Year Seminar In a course already required for first-year students, include a several-weeks-long module or two that focus on leadership practices and issues. Or offer a dedicated seminar during intercession. Having students work through case studies serves as useful format. The subjects can range […]

On many campuses, professional and faculty advisors work separately and with great disparity in their available resources and training. by Vivek Shastry (Appalachian State University)  Vivek Shastry attended our conference “Improving Advising Effectiveness through Interpersonal and Digital Communications” in January 2019. Immediately upon returning to campus, he was able to apply the new strategies and ideas he learned at the event – a testament both to Vivek’s vision and commitment to improving academic advising, and to how actionable and practical Academic Impressions’s conferences are. (See what conferences are coming up next here.) In this article, Vivek shares the actions he and his colleagues took after the event – and some key takeaways for colleagues at other institutions. Why a Comprehensive Advising Website? Developing a comprehensive academic advising website can help you address the disparity that exists when multiple models of advising exist at an institution. This is important because professional advisors and faculty advisors can have very different needs: Sometimes, also, an institution will have split models in advising, where specific groups of students (such as undecided or undeclared majors) are advised by professional advisors, while students who have declared their major are assigned to academic units or to specific […]