Short-Term Working Groups (swgs): A Novel Program To Improve Faculty – Student Engagement, Increase Belonging, and Improve Outcomes For First-Generation College Students.

Authors:

Keywords: first-generation college students, faculty-student engagement, belonging, curriculum development

Abstract: This PDW introduces the audience to a novel program, Short-term Working Groups (SWGs) that increases faculty-student interaction, increases a sense of belonging, and improves outcomes for first generation students. The Short-term working groups (SWG) program involves a faculty member engaging with a cohort of 7-10 students on a project that is broken down into 4 goal-oriented in-person sessions (1.5 - 2 hours each) throughout a semester. Students do not receive credit for it. Please see more details (vision and goals) about this program in the appendix. This program (SWGs) is the brainchild of one of the authors and has been implemented at our university starting with the Spring 2023 semester.