Lexington Books Clearing the Path for First Generation College Students: Qualitative and Intersectional Studies of Educational Mobility

Product Description Clearing the Path for First-Generation College Students comprises a wide range of studies that explore the multidimensional social processes and meanings germane to the experiences of first-generation college students before and during their matriculation into institutions of higher education. The chapters offer timely, empirical examinations of the ways that these students negotiate experiences shaped by structural inequities in higher education institutions and the pathways that lead to them. This volume provides insight into the dilemmas that arise from the transformation of students' class identities in pursuit of upward mobility, as well as their quest for community and a sense of "belonging" on college campuses that have not been historically designed for them. While centering first-generation status, this collection also critically engages the ways in which other dimensions of social identity intersect to inform students' educational experiences in relation to dynamics of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, gender, and immigration. Additionally, this book takes a holistic approach by exploring the ways in which first-generation college students are influenced by, and engage with, their families and communities of origin as they undertake their educational careers. Review As first-generation college students traverse class boundaries, their journeys illuminate the power of social class in America. These compelling pieces by younger scholars will help to define the terms of the debate going forward.--Annette Lareau, University of Pennsylvania Theoretically rich, empirically engaging, and a celebration of what first-generation college students bring to our colleges, Clearing the Path provides practical suggestions and needed insight into how colleges can do better for our students. A necessary read for students, parents, and educators.--Laura Nichols, Santa Clara University Clearing the Path is a timely, powerful, and refreshingly nuanced collection of qualitative studies on the unique struggles, strategies, and persistence of first-generation college students. By centering the diverse voices of first-generation students, chapters in this volume provide invaluable insights into the experiential core of higher education--a complex space too often neglected by those hoping to identify and address the needs of a growing number of first-generation students.--Amy E. Stich, Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia About the Author Ashley C. Rondini is assistant professor of sociology at Franklin and Marshall College. Bedelia Nicola Richards is associate professor of sociology at the University of Richmond. Nicolas P. Simon is assistant professor of sociology at Eastern Connecticut State University.