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Offering more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees, ����ɬ���� is in the position to support each student’s success. One group with unique challenges here is first-generation students.

First-generation students , yet only 27% earn a bachelor’s degree, compared to 82% of students with two parents who earned bachelor’s degrees or higher. Many first-generation students face financial constraints, limited support systems and higher dropout rates, making university support essential to their success.

����ɬ���� was recently recognized for its outstanding work with students in this category by as the newest class of .

“First-generation students often face a range of holistic challenges, from financial barriers to limited family support. That’s why it has been incredibly rewarding to collaborate with partners across the ����ɬ���� system to develop resources that empower these students and support their success,” Melanie Jones told ����ɬ���� Today. Jones is the director of Student Success Programs in University College.  

“When they’re faced with a challenge, sometimes it can be even more challenging to overcome it,” Kelly Cichy, Ph.D., interim executive director of Student Success Initiatives in University College, said. “But our first-generation students are also resilient.”

Today, ����ɬ���� holds the FirstGen Forward program’s highest status, Network Champion, serving as a national example for universities evolving to meet the needs of their students.

“As one of only 32 institutions in the country to have been recognized as a Network Champion, ����ɬ���� has displayed a commitment to actively adopt the continuous improvement model and align their efforts with institutional priorities to guide first-generation students to completion,” Stephanie J. Bannister, Ph.D., vice president of FirstGen Forward, said in a statement

This honor highlights the time and effort the university has dedicated to expanding as an institution, placing it alongside other recipients such as Ohio State University, Baylor University and Florida International University.  

“We are extremely honored to be selected as a Network Champion in the FirstGen Forward Network,” Liz Piatt, Ph.D., interim dean of University College, said. “We appreciate their recognition of our strong commitment to first-generation student success.”

Since its acceptance into the program in 2021, ����ɬ���� has worked with FirstGen Forward to establish itself as a leader in providing empowering and advanced approaches to first-generation academics.

“We focused on the data side of first-generation students, understanding who our students are and how to access data and information. We focused on teaching and mentorship, developing professional resources for faculty, especially to support first-generation students,” said Cichy. “Now, we’re in the process of developing a survey for all our first-generation students to better understand their experiences in and outside of the classroom.”

����ɬ���� joined the organization in 2021 as a Network Member, working to strengthen the university’s support for first-generation students.

“Achieving unprecedented FirstGen student success will have a life-changing impact across generations, as college completion is a significant contributor to education, workforce and life success for the families of graduates,” Maurice Jones, CEO of FirstGen Forward, said in a statement.  

In 2023, after demonstrating its continued progress, the university advanced to Network Leader, gaining resources to enhance student success and amplify its role in first-generation support, ultimately leading to its promotion to Network Champion.

Learn more about University College and I Am First.