First-in-Family Students, University Experience and Family Life

Sarah O’Shea works with Curtin University and the University of Wollongong, Australia. As a higher education researcher, she considers how under-represented student cohorts enact success within university settings. Josephine R. May is Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Her research focuses on the history of education.Cathy Stone is Conjoint Associate Professor with the University of Newcastle, Australia. Her research focuses on students who are first in family, mature age, regional and remote, and studying online.Janine Delahunty is Honorary Fellow at the University of Wollongong, Australia, with research that embraces the diverse perspectives of equity students, staff, online learners and teachers.

• Part I.- 1. Setting the Scene.- 2. The Lack of What …?: First-in-Family Learners and their University Experience.- 3. Disrupting the Deficit – Beyond Notions of Lack for First-in-Family Students.- 4. What Am I Waiting for? - Part II - 5. Trailblazing: Motivations and Relationship Impacts for First-in-Family Enabling Students.- 6. The Online Student Experience: New Challenges for Engagement and Support.- 7. ‘So How Was Big School Today?’ Family Perceptions of HE Participation.- 8. Parents Managing University and Family Life.- 9. Motivated Men: First-in-Family Male Students.- 10. ‘Hey You! You've Got This and You Are Smart': Motivated Women Drawing on ‘Sisu’ to Persist and Succeed at University.- 11. Concluding Thoughts.