Supporting First-Generation Introductory Anthropology Students: Lessons from a Regional Midwestern University

First-generation college students (students whose parents did not complete a bachelor’s degree) are a growing population within U.S. colleges. These students often belong to historically underrepresented populations including racial and ethnic minority groups and those with lower socioeconomic status. This paper discusses a project to redesign introductory anthropology courses to be more “first-generation friendly.” Changes discussed include creating a welcoming classroom climate, providing clear expectations and feedback, integrating Universal Design for Learning, rethinking course content, and creating plans for critical self-reflection. We conclude by discussing the impact of our changes and plans for future work.