Academic Advisors as College Culture Brokers: a Model for Serving First-Generation College Students

Abstract

An increasing number of first-generation students (students whose parents did not earn baccalaureate degrees) are attending college in the United States. First-generation college students struggle to understand the college culture and to succeed in college, whether that is defined by quantitative measures or qualitative ones. Their needs center on good information and meaningful relationship. In order to better serve first-generation college students, academic advisors can adopt the role of college culture broker. Cultural brokers move between cultures and connect people and information from one culture to people and information from another. The roles of a cultural broker include liaison, cultural guide, mediator/mentor, and change agent. The cultural broker model is applied to advising and implications for practice are discussed with focus on meeting first-generation college students’ needs for good information and meaningful relationship. Prior to outlining the model, first-generation characteristics, aspects of the college culture, and background regarding cultural brokering are provided.