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A student smiles and poses with a cookie that says "First Gen Proud"

What is First-Gen?

A first-generation university student is someone whose parents or guardians did not complete a four-year degree. You are still first-gen if you have siblings who have attended college.

If this sounds like you, you are among nearly half of ɫ��Ƶ students who are First-Gen Proud!

Being a first-generation student comes with particular challenges, but ɫ��Ƶ is ready to match your ambition and support you through your college experience.

ɫ��Ƶ is #FirstGenProud

Four first generation ɫ��Ƶ alumni smiling and holding up First Gen Proud t-shirts

First-Gen Proud Events

ɫ��Ƶ is proud to have secured the First-Generation College Celebration Grant to celebrate the achievements of our first-gen community. The grant was used to support this year’s First-Gen Proud Celebrations, a sequence of evolving events designed to support their academic and career efforts.

During an “Inclusion at Work: An Alumni Career Panel Series, First-Gen Voices” on Monday, Nov. 6, first-gen students learned about campus resources that are available to them and that ɫ��Ƶ’s alumni community is here to help them pave their way to their future.

A student smiling in a class for first generation university students

Our first-generation students then participated in “Life Design@ɫ��Ƶ: Explore Your Future Life and Career” on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Students left the program with a basic understanding of Life Design@ɫ��Ƶ and knowing who can support them in this approach to building toward their life goals and career. The students gained a stronger knowledge of the first step in the method, Who I Am, which is an essential stage in designing their career and life vision.

“First-Gen Proud Celebration: Walk Through Celebration!” was observed throughout Wednesday, Nov. 8. First-gen faculty, staff and students gathered to celebrate being First-Gen Proud. In addition, throughout the week, first-gen faculty, staff and students wore First-Gen Proud shirts. The back of the shirt said, “Ask me why I am First-Gen Proud.”