Supporting First-Gen Students through Inclusive Course Design

For first-generation students, higher education offers a gateway to career advancement, valued social capital, and intergenerational mobility. Yet despite the best efforts of instructors, first-generation students face numerous challenges to successfully completing a degree, evidenced in higher drop-out rates compared to their peers. Understanding those challenges can help inform course design strategies that foster a greater sense of inclusion and belonging that can help all students find academic success.

Key Takeaways
• Learn about key tenets of inclusive design and accessibility and how they relate to the needs of first -generation learners
• Understand instructional strategies designed to address the specific challenges faced by first-generation learners
• Discover tools institutions can adopt to support learner preference and promote inclusive education