(Why) Should Social Work Be Concerned About First-Generation College Students?

This article presents an argument for attention to the experiences of first-generation college students in the context of social work. The needs of first-generation college students are explored as well as their strengths in connections to families and community. Attention to firstgeneration college students is important to social work for at least two reasons: because of who first-generation students are and because of the values held by social work as a profession. The social work values of social justice, the dignity and worth of each person, as well as the value of human relationships provide a framework for social work to consider the needs of firstgeneration college students.