What We Talk About When We Talk About First-Generation Students: Exploring Definitions in Use on College and University Websites

Authors

Danielle E. Maurici-Pollock, Health Sciences Library and Informatics CenterFollow
Rebecca Stallworth, Simmons University
Sasha Khan, Simmons University

Publication Date

5-2025

Abstract

First-generation students (FGS) are a population that has received increasing attention, but the term has been inconsistently defined. Such inconsistency creates challenges not only for research, but for students themselves, many of whom may find they meet the FGS definition in one institutional context, but not another. In this study, we analyze how the term first-generation student is defined on the public websites of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada and discuss implications for students and academic libraries.

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Keywords

first-generation students, academic libraries

Disciplines

Library and Information Science

Description

Accepted for publication in College & Research Libraries.

Recommended Citation

Maurici-Pollock, Danielle E.; Rebecca Stallworth; and Sasha Khan. "What We Talk About When We Talk About First-Generation Students: Exploring Definitions in Use on College and University Websites." College & Research Libraries (2025). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hslic-publications-papers/94

Peer Reviewed

1

Publication Title

College & Research Libraries