More 4-year colleges offer 2-year degrees to reach new groups of students

Key Concepts

• First-generation college students: Students whose parents did not complete a four-year college degree.
• Low-income backgrounds: Students from families with limited financial resources.
• Messina College: A two-year, fully residential associate's degree program at Boston College designed for low-income and first-generation students.
• Associate's degree: A two-year post-secondary degree.
• Bachelor's degree: A four-year post-secondary degree.
• Hidden curriculum: The unwritten rules, norms, and expectations of college life that are not explicitly taught.
• Need-based financial aid: Financial assistance provided to students based on their demonstrated financial need.
• Residential program: A program where students live on campus.
• Sink or swim model: An educational approach where students are expected to figure things out on their own with minimal support.
• Scaffolding of support: Providing structured assistance to help students navigate challenges.
• Office hours: Scheduled times when professors are available to meet with students.
• Networking: Building relationships with others for professional or academic benefit.
• Formative experience: Experiences that shape a person's character and development.
• Jesuit university: A university founded and operated by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), often emphasizing a liberal arts education and service to others.
• Strivers: Individuals who are ambitious and work hard to achieve their goals.
• Rethinking college: A series exploring innovative approaches to higher education.

Messina College: A Supportive Pathway for First-Generation and Low-Income Students

This summary details the innovative approach of Boston College's Messina College, a two-year, fully residential associate's degree program specifically designed to support first-generation and low-income students, who statistically face greater challenges in completing higher education. The program aims to dismantle the "sink or swim" model prevalent in traditional higher education by providing comprehensive scaffolding of support.

Program Design and Student Profile

• Target Population: Approximately one in four college students are both first-generation and from low-income backgrounds, facing significant hurdles. Messina College directly addresses this demographic.
• Program Structure: It is a two-year, fully residential associate's degree program at Boston College.
• Guaranteed Pathway: Students who successfully complete the Messina program with a 3.4 GPA or higher are guaranteed admission into Boston College's four-year bachelor's degree program.
• Enrollment and Retention: Messina enrolled its first class in 2024, with an impressive 96% retention rate for the second year. The program enrolls only 100 new students annually, allowing for small class sizes.
• Academic Calendar: The academic year runs from July to May, providing first-year students with the summer to adjust to campus life and reducing the number of classes taken per semester.

Comprehensive Support Systems

Messina College distinguishes itself through a multi-faceted support system designed to address the unique needs of its students:

• Financial Aid: A generous need-based financial aid program significantly limits student loans to $2000 per year.
• Residential Experience: All students receive free housing, meals, textbooks, and laptops that they can keep. Founding Dean Father Erick Berrelleza emphasizes the critical role of the residential component in a student's formative experience, noting that much of learning occurs outside of class time.
• Addressing the "Hidden Curriculum": The program explicitly teaches students about the unwritten rules of college life, such as:
  • Office Hours: Loukenscia Roberson, a second-year student, initially misunderstood the concept of office hours, highlighting the need for explicit instruction. Professors like Brianna Diaz, a first-generation graduate herself, guide students on how to advocate for themselves, study effectively, and recover from academic setbacks.
  • Networking: Students are taught the importance and methods of building professional connections.
  • Balancing Work and Academics: Many Messina students have significant responsibilities outside of academics, such as working or supporting family.
• Personalized Support: Associate Director of Student Success Genevieve Green highlights the program's commitment to knowing each student intimately to tailor support plans. This includes understanding their individual strengths, challenges, and responsibilities, recognizing that they may not be accustomed to asking for help.
• Proactive Engagement: Attendance is closely monitored, and missed classes trigger a check-in call, demonstrating a proactive approach to student engagement.

Student Testimonials and Motivations

The transcript features several student stories illustrating the impact of Messina College:

• Loukenscia Roberson: Motivated by her mother's health issues, Loukenscia aspires to become a nurse to support others. She felt an immediate sense of belonging at Messina and is now taking nursing classes at Boston College's main campus, even tutoring first-year students.
• Michael Melo: Facing the death of his mother before his freshman year of high school, Michael worked extensively to support his family, impacting his grades. The hardships, however, motivated him to become a therapist and build his own legacy. He finds inspiration in interacting with peers and mentors who have navigated similar paths.

Broader Impact and Perspectives

The program's impact extends beyond individual students:

• Rethinking College: Messina College is presented as a model within the ongoing series "Rethinking College," suggesting a broader conversation about improving higher education accessibility and success.
• Expert Opinions:
  • Father Erick Berrelleza: As a former low-income, first-generation student, he advocates for providing a "scaffolding of support" rather than a "sink or swim" environment.
  • Professor Anthony Jack (Boston University): A first-generation graduate himself, Jack questions whether invitations to higher education are extended without adequate preparation for the occasion, emphasizing the need for institutions to do the "necessary work" to ensure full membership for all students.
• Financial Investment: Boston College invests approximately $40,000 per Messina student annually, a significant investment that not all institutions can replicate. This investment covers not only traditional campus services but also the additional support required for this specific student population.
• Enriching the BC Community: Genevieve Green states that Boston College needs the perspectives, identities, and lived experiences of Messina students. Father Berrelleza believes these students are already enriching the campus and have the potential to create significant impact for their families and future generations of college students.
• Passing the Torch: Loukenscia's tutoring of younger students exemplifies the program's ethos of mentorship and passing on knowledge and support.

Conclusion

Messina College represents a deliberate and comprehensive effort to address the systemic barriers faced by first-generation and low-income students in higher education. By providing robust financial aid, a supportive residential environment, and explicit instruction on the "hidden curriculum," the program empowers students to not only succeed academically but also to thrive personally and contribute meaningfully to the broader university community. The success of students like Loukenscia and Michael, and the program's high retention rate, underscore the effectiveness of this tailored approach in transforming lives and creating new legacies.