Class(ism) in Co-Curriculars? Investigating Low-Income and Working Class Students' Participation in Co-Curricular Activities

Abstract

Presented at the Minnesota College Professionals Association, this discussion focuses on the engagement of low-income and working-class students in higher education. Research suggests that students from lower social class backgrounds are historically underrepresented in higher education, less likely to feel a sense of belonging on campus, and less likely to persist toward graduation. This presentation examines intersections between students' social class and their participation in the types of co-curricular experiences that can enhance students' belonging and retention. In increasing their awareness of social class, student affairs practitioners can discover institutional and structural barriers preventing lower/working-class students from full participation in college.