Research Blog #4 and #5

Title:

The Lonely World of a First-Generation College Kid

Topic:

This research paper focuses on the importance of social integration for first-generation college students. It is important to understand that social integration is vital for every student’s college experience and success. However, research proves that it has an even better effect on first-generation college students.

However, the issue is that privatization of college has made college success an individual problem rather than an institutional one. The issue then is defining the roles of college institutions in creating networks and support systems, and these first generation college students in taking advantage of the opportunities provided to them.

Research Questions:

How does the privatization of college affect social integration for first-generation college students? Whose responsibility is it to fix the problems that are brought to these students? Is social integration an institutional or an individual phenomenon?

Theoretical Frame Approach:

I want to focus my argument on three aspects of the first-generation college life. The first part of my argument would centered on “Social integration.” This is centered around Ernest Pascarella’s "First-Generation College Students: Additional Evidence On College Experiences And Outcomes." He makes the argument that first-generation students must value the idea of social integration. In his research, he provided evidence, as to why students should take advantage of getting involved. However, Vincent Tinto and Jennifer Engle make an argument of how social integration is a systemic problem. They conclude that social integration is beneficial for students but universities should take the responsibility of providing programs and environments where integration is encouraged.

The other argument would be how synonymous first-generation, minority, and working-class students are. In Mark Rubin’s "Social class differences in social integration among students in higher education: A meta-analysis and recommendations for future research.." he emphasizes that first Generation college students are working-class students. He emphasizes that there is a need for them to work because they lack the resources needed to start and finish college. Why is that? This comes down to the privatization of college institutions. The emphasis on working, makes it harder for students to engage in social activities. The harder it is to engage, the less like students are able to graduate or become successful post-graduation.

Lastly, I would like to emphasize what social integration or lack thereof does for first-generation students. Who should carry the burden of becoming more involved? In the USA Today article, “Why racial integration is still a problem on today’s campus,” Clara Ritger talks about the strain on minorities to venture out into clubs and activities that do not necessarily involve them. She also talks about how integration itself is something that must be taught at home. How much should a family do, first-generation or not, to enhance their child’s integrating experience?

Research Plan:

My plan is to connect privatization to the graduation rates of first-generation college students. Because of privatization, students that are from an impoverished background are more likely to take on a job. They are afraid of the “Red” and often feel like they must face it themselves. The emphasis of working to avoid being in the red, makes little time to get out and be social. Therefore, privatization deprives first-generation students from the integrating experience.

Bibliography:

Armstrong, Elizabeth and Laura Hamilton.  Paying for the Party: How College Maintains Inequality.  Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2013. Print.

Engle, Jennifer, and Vincent Tinto. Moving beyond access: college success for low-income, first-generation students. Washington, D.C.: Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, 2008. Print.

Pascarella, Ernest T., Christopher T. Pierson, Gregory C. Wolniak, and Patrick T. Terenzini. "First-Generation College Students: Additional Evidence On College Experiences And Outcomes." The Journal of Higher Education 75.3 (2004): 249-284. Print.

Ritger, Clara . "Why racial integration is still a problem on today's campus." USA TODAY College. N.p., 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://college.usatoday.com/2013/03/11/why-racial-integration-is-still-a-problem-on-todays-campus/>.

Rubin, Mark. "Social class differences in social integration among students in higher education: A meta-analysis and recommendations for future research.." Journal of Diversity in Higher Education 5 (2011): 22-38. Print.