Detailed Information
First Generation (FG) students are an important student population, and the UMS has used several different data sources to identify these students. A series of modifications to update and improve the University of Maine System’s practices related to defining and coding FG students has been completed; these changes have brought all campus definitions for First Generation into alignment with the federal definition, improved accuracy, removed manual coding work, and ensured alignment across the First Generation student group and reporting flag. Consistent FG data allows campuses and the system to more accurately report on this student population, more effectively identify academic trends, and more easily identify students who could receive additional support.
May 2020 Proposal Forum
First Generation Coding Proposal
Presentations Slides (slides 1-7)
Proposal Summary: First Generation (FG) students are an important student population, and the UMS currently uses several different data sources to identify these students. This proposal outlines a series of modifications to update and improve the University of Maine System’s practices related to defining and coding FG students. Consistent FG data will allow campuses and the system to more accurately report on this student population, more effectively identify academic trends, and potentially more easily identify students who could receive additional support.
Background: Currently, our data coding practices do not allow for flexible definitions for different purposes, or consistent definitions across campuses (the latter being essential for state and federal reporting requirements).These challenges, and definition variations are not uncommon, and follow national trends in the identification and reporting of these students (Toutkoushian, 2018).
Comments/Questions
- A question was raised about asking the Financial Aid Directors about use of the FAFSA data in the coding. This will be done before finalizing any coding.
- A question was raised about identifying students with unknown or blank information. This can be done; there are a lot of students with Unknown FAFSA data and/or blank application data for their parent education levels. Identifying ways to solicit this information from students can certainly be explored, but lies outside the scope of this particular project.
- Several questions were asked about the timing of the automated process, the impact for students with differing parent education levels, and the impact to the student record.
- The automated batch change process would be daily or weekly, depending on the complexity of the coding needed.
- The coding is structured so that it looks across all different sources of parent education level and looks for the highest level. If one source has a higher education level it will base coding logic on that.
- Each student has a First Gen flag/record at each campus they enroll in. However, with the new automated process, students will be permanently entered into the FGEN student group the first time they apply. If new information is available when they apply to a different institution, or complete a FAFSA for the first time, their student group will be updated to FGEN if it is not already.
- A question was raised about how we will be discerning between different student groups and their First Gen status. For example non-degree students or Early College students don't matriculate.
- The goal is to collect as much information about First Gen status, as soon as possible, for as many students as possible. When looking at data reporting, we can parse out different student groups based on the data needed.
- Reporting needs will be reviewed with stakeholders in order to establish clarity on who and what is being counted.
Issue Summary - Description of Prior Definitions & Coding
This table shows historical First Generation coding specifications across UMS campuses. These are the definitions that the Shared Processing Center, and campus personnel, had been using to add students to the First Generation Student Group, prior to the new coding process (implemented for applicants to term Spring 2022 and later terms):
Resolution Summary - New Definitions & Coding Effective August 2021 for Applicants to Spring 2022 and Later
The First Generation Coding workgroup has established updated criteria for identifying FG students in alignment with UMS policy. This criteria was used to create an automated process that assigns students into the FGEN student group for undergraduate students who have an admit term of Spring 2022 or later. Students are added into the student group as soon as they have an EMPLID and information regarding First Generation status, and the student group is visible in their student center and can also be used for reporting. UMS Reporting will also maintain the UM_FIRST_GEN reporting flag, and update coding to reflect the change made for admit term 2220 and forward. Please Note: students will not appear in the student extract view with the UM_FIRST_GEN flag until they are No historical first generation data will be changed.
