College guide highlights Henderson programs
Henderson State University has been recognized in Strive for College’s 2017 I’m First! Guide to College, a comprehensive college guidebook designed to help first-generation students make college a reality.
Young people from all walks of life dream of going to college. Eight of 10 students expect to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Despite these aspirations, however, students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education can be severely underrepresented on college campuses.
According to the College Board, high-achieving students from low-income families have roughly the same chance of enrolling in college as low-achieving students from more affluent families. More distressingly, those who do attend college rarely make it to graduation. According to a Pell Institute study, only 11 percent of low income, first-generation college students receive a degree within six years.
Strive for College recognized Henderson State’s innovative programs for high school students such as the Southwest Arkansas College Preparatory Academy and transition programs like Heart Start and the Henderson Seminar for first-year students. In addition, the university devotes resources on advising for all students, a focus that provides a supportive environment that can lead to academic success, retention and graduation.
“Henderson State is committed to offering programs and services that can help all our students reach their full potential, and so we are very proud be profiled in the 2017 I’m First! Guide to College,” said Henderson State assistant provost for enrollment management and admissions Brandie Benton. “This is the kind of information families and prospective students need to know when considering which college is right for them.”
The 2017 I’m First! Guide to College (http://imfirst.org) features:
• 179 colleges and universities highlighted for their outreach efforts, financial aid opportunities, and student support services
• Articles and advice from experts and college students
• An interactive college planning and preparation curriculum for students, teachers and counselors
• Information for parents and mentors, including a Spanish-language section