First-generation Students’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This live briefing will highlight the results of the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) COVID-19 survey, which was administered to more than 40,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at ten large, public research universities from May to July 2020. 

Through their analysis of the data, the scholars discovered significant disparities between continuing-generation students and first-generation students during the pandemic. They will discuss first-generation students’ obstacles when adjusting to online instruction, food insecurity, housing insecurity, safety, mental health, and financial hardships. Also, they will discuss students’ perceptions of how supportive their universities have been during the pandemic and share insights into first-generation students’ sense of belonging and inclusion during these tumultuous times. Finally, they intend to provide recommendations for institutional leaders to develop more supportive campuses for first-generation students during the pandemic. Additionally, participants will have an opportunity to engage in sharing how their institutions have responded to support first-generation students during the pandemic. 

Learning Outcomes: 

• Learn about the disparities experienced by first-generation and continuing-generation undergraduate, graduate, and professional students during the COVID-19 pandemic;

• Share how their own institutions are responding to the needs of first-generation students during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

• Understand new ideas and recommendations to create more inclusive and supportive learning environments for first-generation students during the COVID-19 pandemic