Within Your Grasp

The inspiration behind this column’s name is a saying I use when I meet with students lately, “you already have a no, get after the yes.” In a few weeks, many families will experience their first family member leaving to attend college or someone resuming their post-high school academic goals.  So, how do we support our students when the system is different than what we know or if no one in our families has attended college/university before? 

According to the U.S. Census and the organization Excelencia in Educatión, six percent of Michigan’s population is Latino. Latino students make up nine percent of K-12 students and 22% percent of college students in Michigan. While all students face challenges to complete their degrees, Latinos enrolled in community colleges graduate at a 21% rate and 54% of students enrolled in a four-year institution complete their degree. In my role of Assistant Dean of Students at Oakland University, I have supported hundreds of students who are first-generation students enrolled in college and have witnessed their common challenges. In all honesty, my biggest connection to students is my lived experiences as a first-generation, immigrant student a few decades ago and my testimony that considering the support tips below will increase their ability to succeed and reach their academic goals.

Go for Yes!

Start on the right foot: Reading all the messages sent by all institutions is critical since they have deadlines that determine funding opportunities, and next steps about their situation. Communications in the month of August are important since the financial aid office will share payment plans and scholarships, the admissions office will share orientation dates, and the academic advisors on how to choose their classes. Create a flag or reminder for departments so that messages from these offices are not missed. 

Nobody is born knowing everything: For many students, being the first student to attend college in their family turns into overwhelming pressure to succeed and know what they are doing. This pressure prevents them from recognizing they need help or asking for help. It is important to reinforce that there are offices with support services such as academic advisors, the Dean of Students office, and counseling centers. 

Time is of the essence:  Some students have additional obligations such as familial responsibilities that compete for their time and attention when they have to work on homework or projects. Other students have not been taught how to prioritize their time and additional obligations. In order to manage their time, the key is to add the hours of instruction they are enrolled and set aside one hour for each hour of instruction. This time management strategy will provide students an idea of how much time they need to assign to their studies so they can plan for additional responsibilities. 

Over the next weeks I will continue sharing tips and keys to academic success that are within our grasp. I suggest that you share these tips with all the students in your life and remind them that the key to a successful academic year is to ask for help, remember there are departments who provide support, they are not alone in their journey, and we are proud of them.

Dr. Aura J. Cazares has over two decades of experience employing Spanish fluency and analytical skills to lead strategic enrollment and student support systems for a Catholic Jesuit University and a Hispanic Serving Institution, an urban community college, and currently leads support systems for students and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at a four-year institution. Her interest and passion are addressing systemic barriers that preclude student success and educating her community about how to achieve academic and professional success. She loves spending time with her family and friends, watching movies, and listening to audiobooks.