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Jeff Davis on "Forum with Michael Krasny" on NPR

Jeff Davis, director of The Learning Center, appeared on National Public Radio's "Forum with Michael Krasny," on Wed., March 10. His appearance coincided with the publication of his new book titled, The First-Generation Student Experience: Who They Are, Their Characteristics, and Strategies for Improving Their Persistence and Success. Davis took part in a panel discussion of first-generation students in the American postsecondary school system. Krasny's show was part of a series on the health of postsecondary institutions in this period of economic decline. The economic decline is affecting first-generation students more dramatically than traditional students. First generation students have lower persistence rates, lower graduation rates, and lower GPAs than non first-generation students.

The First-Generation Student Experience arose out of Davis's work with first-generation students as director of SSU's Learning Skills Services and NoGAP McNair Scholars project. At the heart of Davis's book are 14 narratives describing the first generation student experience written by SSU students. Davis hopes to continue his work with first-generation college students by creating an Institute for the Study of the First-Generation Student Experience here at SSU.

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