**|l0rtlanfe (Obstruer CAREERS&EDUCATIONs^c ial Edition
May 17. 2006
Page A3
Overlooked Group: First-Generation Students
Mentors ease
the transition
to college
by S arah B lount
T he P ortland O bserver
Before their first research paper, the
infamous first all-nighter, and long before
their thesis, college students have to mas­
ter the little things that are scarcely taught
and rarely mentioned: W hat’s a syllabus?
What do I call my professor? Why do I
have to stay the full hour, if nobody's
taking role?
Many college students feel comfort­
able with these issues and easily transi­
tion from high school tocollege life. Other
students arrive on campus without know­
ing the right questions to ask, which can
lead to embarrassment, intimidation, or in
the some cases, dropping out.
Portland State University’s Student
First Mentoring Program is there for stu­
dents who don’t know the unspoken rules
of college life. They’recalled first genera­
tion college students, whose parents
didn’t go to college and were not able to
Chris Solario (left), a Portland State University graduate student, helps junior PSU Darrin Howard with his environmen­
prepare them forhighereducation through
tal sociology coursework as part o f the university's program helping first-generation college students.
their own experience.
PSU’s pilot program started in the fall
Face-to-face mentoring, computer and said Cathy Gordon, project manager. and liaison between PSU and the Depart­
quarter of 2005 with about 80 students.
Internet resources, videos and discus­ “Many don’t know they are first genera­ ment of Education.
The program is technically a Department sion groups help new students familiarize tion, they just know they're a fish out of
Collier, a sociology professor who spe­
o f Education funded research project and prioritize college life and avoid be­ water."
cializes in socialization and identity, be­
aimed at creating successful first-genera­ coming overwhelmed.
Student First is the brainchild of Peter came interested after learning about the
tion freshmen and transfer students.
“They’re kind of an invisible group, Collier, project director, budget creator federal Educational Opportunity Program.
Restaurant Empire Defends Hiring
continued
fro m Front
paign Pioneers, meaning that he their investigation of 30 McCormick who wish to report theirexperiences.
bundled at least $ 100,000in contri­ & S chm ick’s restaurants from
To learn more about the lawsuit
Smith, R-Ore., and was a member of butions for the president.
across the country. She would not you can contact lawyers for the
the finance committee for the Re­
L ast y ear, B ush ap p o in ted disclose details of the investiga­ plaintiffs by calling toll free 866-
publican National Committee.
McCormick ambassador to New tion or if one of those locations was 854-4165 or visiting the website at
According to the Center for Re­ Zealand and Samoa.
in Portland.
lieffcabraser.com/mccormick com­
sponsive Politics, he ran the O r­
Diana Tate, one of the attorneys
Tate said the case is on-going and plaints.
egon fundraising effort for Bush for the plaintiffs, said the lawsuit her side is hoping to hear from other
Associated Press contributed to
and was listed as one of his cam ­ seeks class action status based on employees of the restaurant chain
this article.
which provides students with academic
support services and advisement. Thou­
sands are low-income PSU students are
eligible for EOP but the program reaches
less than 300.
Last fall’s first wave of students within
the program were mentored by graduate
students, who tailored face-to-face time to
each student’s needs and availability.
Some students had a couple o f hours of
face-to-face mentoring while others met
every single week. Every mentor is a former
first-generation student themselves.
Collier is the only second-generation
student on staff since his father attended
night school. Even so, his college experi­
ence came with a fair share of trials. Col I ier
dropped out of Iowa State University to
raise a family, got into the bar business,
returned to school for nursing, and fin­
ished with a Masters degree and PhD from
PSU.
“A big piece for me was the disconnect
between why I was going to school and
what I would do with a degree,” Collier
said. “I went because it was expected, but
I had people who could give me advice. A
lot o f these students don’t have that."
According to the EOP, nearly 20 per­
cent of PSU students are first-generation.
O f that group, 12 percent are low-income.
When the research project’s three years
are up. Collier and Gordon said they want
to see the experiment continue as a pro­
gram at PSU. They hope to take the their
resources and incorporate them into the
university’s existing services.
"The best benefit is that it could be
expanded to all students trying to make
transition,” Collier said.
Alberta Street Art Hop
continued
fro m F ront
really comes together because of
the street's local business owners
Northeast 22nd and 23rd.
and artists, whocreate community
The night parade heralds the through the power of the arts and
start of “Alberta After Hours,” put on the creative/cultural arts
moving art hoppers inside to more festival.
than a dozen music and entertain­
For more information about this
ment venues.
year’s A lberta Art Hop, visit
The art happening on Alberta www.artonalberta.org.
NEW SEASONS
M A R K E T 1
I
1
THE
first- Taste o f Guarnir
S a tu rd a y & S u n d a y • 11 a m - 5 p m
EASY
&
FUN
TO
SHO P
• LOCALLY
OW NED
&
O PERATED
A R B O R L O D G E : N In te r s ta te A v e & P o r tla n d B lv d P o r tla n d O R 9 7 2 1 7 5 0 3 .4 6 7 .4 7 7 7
C O N C O R D I A : N E 3 3 rd & K illin g s w o r th P o r tla n d O R 9 7 2 1 1 5 0 3 .2 8 8 .3 8 3 8
...a n d fiv e o th e r P o r tla n d a re a lo c a tio n s . V is it u s o n lin e a t w w w .n e w s e a s o n s m a r k e t .c o m .
i