Outcomes Of A First Generation Support Network For Undergraduate Pre-Professional Students
Posted Date: Mar 22, 2021
- Investigator: Shawn Adkins
- Type of Study: Observational/Survey
The generation of a support program (Trailblazer Bearcats) within the Medical Sciences Baccalaureate Program (MSBP) at the University of Cincinnati is intended to have positive benefits on the futures of students involved. Because many first generation students are considered "disadvantaged" or "underserved" and may not have had access to the same resources as their peers, this program intends to bridge that gap. Trailblazer Bearcats exists to provide information, inspiration, and a sense of community for first generation and Underrepresented Minority (URM) college students within the Medical Sciences Program at the University of Cincinnati. First generation is defined as any student whose parents/guardians have not received a four-year college degree. URM is defined as “Persons with disabilities, and three racial and ethnic groups—blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians or Alaska Natives” per the National Science Foundation. We will achieve these goals through: • Holding monthly meetings to discuss information that first-generation or URM students may not have had access to or been aware of due to differences in socioeconomic status, education status of family members/mentors, etc. • Providing information and resources to first-generation and URM students to help them develop a better understanding of the college experience from a personal and professional standpoint. • Teaching students skills that they may not have been exposed to previously (financial management, stress management, graduate/postbaccalaureate education searches, etc.) and developing their ability to use those skills independently. • Developing a community to celebrate first-generation and URM success, both within the organization and within the medical campus at large. Students who participate in this program will be asked to participate in bi-annual surveys to determine the effect that Trailblazer Bearcats has had on their undergraduate experience. Students' success in post-graduate life will also be tracked to determine whether Trailblazer Bearcats provided students with the tools to get into post-graduate programs of their choice.
Criteria:
Students Must Be 18 Years Of Age Or Older, Be In The Medical Sciences Baccalaureate Program At The University Of Cincinnati, And Identify As First Generation Or Urm, As Defined In The Study Abstract.
Keywords:
Medical Science
For More Information:
Demetria Fischesser
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michaedt@mail.uc.edu