RUME 27
2025
Alexandria, Virginia
“Everyone wants everyone to do as well as they can”: Norwegian First-Generation College Student Experiences in First-Year Mathematics Courses
Page: 1251
First-generation college students’ (FGCS) success in higher education is a growing area of research in the United States (US), but is infrequently recognized in the Norwegian education system; there is a need to investigate how FGCS are successfully navigating first-year mathematics courses to best support FGCS’ pursuit of a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degrees in the US and Norway. This study analyzes six interviews from Norwegian FGCS enrolled in first-year mathematics courses for navigational strategies employed to support their success in mathematics. The preliminary results highlight that the structure of the mathematics courses and the accessibility of resources at the university supported a community of collaboration between peers and instructors. The culture of teamwork across students positively influenced FGCS' success in first-year mathematics courses. We highlight the perspectives of each participant and provide directions for future research to gain a further holistic understanding of supporting FGCS thriving in STEM fields.