The Importance of Retention Programs in Higher Education
By: Marlenne Perez
Have you ever looked at higher education through the lens of a first-generation student? Higher education is a completely new and foreign environment, especially for marginalized students who come into the system knowing. As a rising fourth-year at UC Berkeley, I have seen and lived the point of view of a first-generation student needing support. I’ve also seen the other side of life in academia that my privileged peers live in–the side where the students’ parents attended universities, and their parents have close connections with counselors and advisors. I’ve seen students have their parents call the financial aid office when there is a charge on their account, but all of these experiences I’ve had to navigate on my own. What’s different between these students and first-generation students is the fact that college and higher education have been taught to be important to them at a young age.
Coming from a mixed-status household, all I was taught to do by my parents was to survive. Their main priority wasn’t to get me into college, so when I applied and got into my dream school, it became a challenge to understand and navigate the institution as I didn’t have the support that other students had.
I was extremely thankful to have found a program called NAVCAL within my first year at UC Berkeley. NAVCAL is a near-peer mentorship program that helps students from various backgrounds navigate UC Berkeley with the support of their student mentor and facilitator. In this program, I was taught the basics of enrollment, what classes I should take, how to meet with advisors and allies, etc. I also learned important career and leadership skills that supported me in learning what a letter of recommendation was and how it should be used. I have fostered a network of support and allies, and I come back to the program to share my knowledge with the new freshman admits and transfer students.
I would not be at UC Berkeley without the support of my community. Coming from a household where education was not a priority, it was difficult to feel that I belonged in higher education. Leaving students to fend for themselves causes a decrease in the retention of these marginalized students. Higher education was not built with people of color in mind, but is now fully capable of supporting their new demographic of students.
It is unfair to assume that students would thrive under the same educational circumstances as classes while marginalized students hold other identities that prevent them from performing the same as their privileged peers. Every university needs the funding to create and support programs like NAVCAL. This will increase the graduation and retention rates in the school, contributing to the cycle of knowledge among the community. By reforming Prop 13 and making sure huge corporations start paying their fair share in property taxes, public schools could be properly equipped with the resources they need to meet their marginalized students halfway. Retention programs in the state of California are crucial to reflect the actual population of students who are attending these schools. I was able to learn everything I needed to make sure I would set myself up for success, and without NAVCAL, I wouldn’t have the opportunities and skills I have to support myself and my community.