Betances, Samuel. “How to Become an Outstanding Educator of Hispanic and African-American First-generation College Students,” in What Makes Racial Diversity Work in Higher Education: Academic Leaders Present Successful Policies and Strategies, edited by Frank W. Hale, Jr. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, 2004. 44-59. Betances suggests several action steps for educators who want to better support first-generation students and strengthen racial diversity in higher education.
Engle, Jennifer, and Vincent Tinto. Moving Beyond Access: College Success for Low-Income, First-Generation Students. St. Paul: Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, 2008. This report gathers data about the demographics, constraints, and completion rates of students who are both first-generation and low-income. Pages 2-4 succinctly summarize the study and its findings, while pages 25-29 discuss the recommended best practices for supporting and retaining these students.
Ward, Lee, Michael J. Siegel, and Zebulun Davenport. First-Generation College Students: Understanding and Improving the Experience from Recruitment to Commencement. Hoboken: Wiley & Sons, 2012. The authors argue that first-generation students need distinctive social and academic support systems—especially during the student’s first year—to thrive in college. Emphasizing the central importance of student learning outcomes and of a holistic approach to student success, the book includes various concrete recommendations for recruiting, retaining and graduating first-generation students.