BRIDGEPORT – Starting Monday, Oct. 28, Housatonic Community College will hold a series of workshops devoted to improving the success rates of first generation college students.
The success rates of these students are low nationally. According to USA Today, some 30 percent of the college freshmen in the United States are first generation. More than 89 percent of these students leave college without a degree, 25 percent within the first year. Housatonic’s workshops are designed to address this problem.
“The events will be solution focused,” said HCC Director of Academic Advising Mary K Clark, an organizer of the event. “We not only want to impart solutions, we want to develop a few based on the students’ needs”
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The events include:
· Monday, Oct. 28, Beacon Hall Events Center, 2-4 p.m.
In-house showing of the film First Generation to faculty, staff, students and the public. After the film, viewers will discuss key issues faced by first generation students and strategies that faculty and staff may already be using.
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· Tuesday, Oct. 29, Beacon Hall Events Center 1-3 p.m.
In-house showing of the film to high school educators, along with HCC faculty, staff, students and the public. After the film, viewers will discuss first generation student experience in the high school to see how HCC and secondary schools might collaborate and better prepare the students for college.
· Wednesday, Oct. 30, Beacon Hall 288, 2-3:30 p.m. Student Focus Group.
First generation student participants will discuss the challenges they face in navigating the college processes and how the college may be able help them become successful students and HCC graduates.
· Thursday, October 31, Beacon Hall 140, 2-3:30 p.m. Panel Discussion.
First generation students will share their stories and experiences with HCC faculty and staff.
· Friday, November 1, Beacon Hall 287, 9-11 a.m. Findings Day. Workshop participants will meet to discuss what they learned from the week’s activities and how to proceed.
Housatonic Community College is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off I-(5 (Exit 27) and Rte. 8 (Exit 1), a block from the Harbor Yard sports complex. Free parking is available in the Housatonic garage.
