he second layer of segmentation in our design separated different kinds of under? graduate students into two sets of focus groups: first-generation students and those from more traditional, highly educated backgrounds (students with at least one college graduate parent)

almost every instructor in these focus groups shared their frustrations with students' difficulties in comprehending their basic expectations, which make up the upper path of our model. This was especially true when dealing with relatively new college students

success in college requires that students must cope with broad variation in the standards that different professors will use in assessing their performances. Just as in the earlier example of different types of colleges and universities having different expectations for their students, different professors within any one school will have different expecta? tions

While we certainly acknowledge that non-academic factors, such as, social integration, level of financial support, and campus climate are also important in explaining student retention, our primary emphasis here is on those elements that affect student performance in the classroom.

niversity success requires mastery of the ' 'college student" role.

While my college had done an excellent job recruiting me, I had no road map for what I was supposed to do once I made it to campus. I’d already embarrassed myself by doing things like asking my R.A. what time the dorm closed for the night

Only four classes? they asked, assuming I was mistakenly taking my first semester too easy.

Many education experts even use the terms “first gen” and “low income” interchangeably.

They also try to make degrees more affordable.

“There is a real problem with the elite privates and flagship publics in not serving as many low-income students as they should,”

these universities have seemed to struggle, with unprepared students, squeezed budgets and high dropout rates.

“It used to be popular for people to say, ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead.’ The ironic thing is, not sleeping enough may get you there sooner,”

We’ll catch up on shut-eye later, so the thinking goes — right after we click down one last digital rabbit hole.

Courage propels our willingness to be different and unique--to establish ourselves as a university with a distinct mission and character, rather than a follower in the pattern of others. Courage allows us to hold difficult conversations in broad forums and undergirds our commitment to social justice, to shared governance, to academic freedom and to student, faculty and staff activism. Courage recognizes that innovation involves risk and failure, and it embraces change and adversity as opportunities. Courage fortifies our efforts to question conventional wisdom and explore controversial issues in the name of deeper understanding; it energizes our commitment to academic freedom.

Inspired by the diversity of our community that includes many first-generation college students, and the courage of an academic community that strives to break down traditional boundaries, SF State equips its students to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

tate is a major public urban university, situated in one of the world's great cities. Building on a century-long history of commitment to quality teaching and broad access to undergraduate and graduate education, the University offers comprehensive, rigorous, and integrated academic programs that require students to engage in open-minded inquiry and reflection.