The Effects of Poverty on McNair Scholars’ Educational Attainability
Author(s)
Abstract

This presentation addresses research on how poverty has affected undergraduate McNair Scholar TRIO Program students’ educational attainment. It should be noted that participants in McNair were admitted partially on the criteria of lower socio-economic status as well as first-generation college attendance. The study aims to reveal well-being as it is tied to education and poverty levels specifically. Authors that serve as inspiration and guidance in this research include Gorski and Landsman (2014). In their book The Poverty and Education Reader: A Call for Equity in Many Voices, Gorski and Landsman interview youth, and statistics are shared on how poverty affects today’s learners. Models discussed in Gorski and Landsman’s work that particularly influenced the theoretical positioning of this study include Deficit vs. Resiliency, and the presence of parents in schooling.

Gorski, P. & Landsman, J. (2014) The poverty and education reader: A call for equity in many voices. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.
Format
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2017-03-21
Contributor(s)
Faculty Mentor
Dr.Linda Hoeptner-Poling
Subject
Modified Abstract

This presentation examines a study on the effects of poverty on first-generation college students who are currently earning an undergraduate degree as McNair Scholars. The purpose of this study was to reveal well-being as it has strong correlations to educational attainment and poverty, and aims to reveal the manifestation of poverty in undergraduate students’ lives, particularly those in the McNair Scholars Program and how poverty affects their academic achievements specifically as first generation college students. The goals of this study include (a) reveal information that might contribute to the success of McNair and other TRIO participants, (b) contribute to existing research on how to work towards class equity, economic justice and educational reform, and (c) provide an opportunity to share participants’ expressive stories about their college journey thus far.