Supporting First-Year, First-Generation Student Success Through Increased Participation In High-Impact Practices

This presentation provides an overview of a participatory action research study conducted at Central Valley University (pseudonym) in 2025. The study explored how the university could enhance its recruitment and retention of first-generation students by promoting their increased engagement in high-impact practices. Through focus groups, a survey, and individual interviews, first-gen students served as co-creators of a prototype high-impact practices participation campaign for current and prospective students.