The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on First-Generation Undergraduate Students’ Participation in Campus Activities

This chapter, which is part of a larger study focused on the role of campus involvement in first-generation undergraduate students’ leadership and academic achievement, presents findings on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on first generation students’ current and future participation in campus activities. The average student reported being only occasionally involved in campus activities. Overall, students expressed having fewer campus participation opportunities during the pandemic. Traditional age first-generation students (18–23) felt the pandemic affected their involvement more so than adult learners (24+), who were less likely to be involved even before the pandemic. Campus involvement is important for student success; thus, university administrators need to be cognizant of ways to encourage first-generation students to become involved in campus life.