Providing Supplemental Programs for First Generation and/or Low-Income CS Students in Trying Financial Times

As more colleges and universities develop programs to support first-generation or low-income undergraduate Computer Science and Engineering students, retention and completion rates have empirically risen for students within such group. Despite this success, financial support for these programs has become increasingly uncertain due to the recent shift in United States government priorities, tightening of corporate coffers, and state budget shortfalls. This panel will probe the experiences of four faculty from diverse institutions regarding the fundamental components that have been successful in their programs. We aim to clarify how institutions can provide quality support to first-generation and low-income students during these trying financial times.