9. Prioritize parental engagement in recruitment programs dedicated to students of color, first-generation students, and students with lower incomes.

Here’s what the federal government can do:

• The U.S. Department of Education should collect, conduct, and disseminate research on effective strategies for engaging parents in recruitment programs for students of color, first-generation students, and students with lower incomes.

Here’s what state government can do:

• State legislatures should fund culturally informed recruitment programs targeted at increasing applications from students of color, first-generation students, and students with lower incomes in state higher education institutions.

Here’s what institutional leaders can do:

• Higher education institutions should develop culturally informed parent orientation programs for prospective students of color, first-generation students, and students with lower incomes, as well as prioritizing language accessibility.
• Higher education institutions should have dedicated staffing to serve as family liaisons or coaches to address the questions or concerns that families of first-generation students, students of color, and students with lower incomes may have.

First-generation students are often central figures in their families, providing financial and social support, caregiving for siblings, and help with language barriers. First-generation students represent 54 percent of undergraduate college students,^[i] and the median income of their families is $49,000 less than that of continuing-generation students. ^[ii][iii]