Ep: 212: Voices of Student Success: The Hidden Curriculum First-Gen Students Face

In this episode of Voices of Student Success, Inside Higher Ed's podcast series exploring what really shapes students' experiences, Hope Pacheco, associate dean of students and executive director of the Gator Resource Center at the University of Houston–Downtown, joins IHE student success reporter Joshua Bay.

Being the first in your family to attend college can mean entering an unfamiliar system without the same knowledge or networks some of your peers may have—from knowing where to turn for help to navigating financial aid, academics and the unwritten rules of college. But first-generation students also bring their own experiences, strengths and support systems with them. So what do colleges still misunderstand about first-gen students—and what actually helps them feel like they belong and ultimately earn a degree?

They unpack what first-generation students experience when they arrive on campus, who they turn to when they need help and what colleges can do to make sure students don’t have to figure it all out on their own.