On Nov. 8 of each year,\u00a0college\u00a0campuses nationwide\u00a0celebrate\u00a0the resilience and determination of first-generation college students.\u00a0The First-Generation College Celebration marks the anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Higher Education Act, which has helped millions of first-generation students fulfill their dream of\u00a0earning\u00a0a\u00a0college education. Many\u00a0first-generation\u00a0students are\u00a0trailblazers in their families, and one key characteristic of this group of students is the persistence they bring to overcoming challenges, creating\u00a0their\u00a0pathways to knowledge, and\u00a0seizing control of\u00a0their destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, at Fort Hays State University (FHSU), on November 7th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., we hosted a come-and-go event to celebrate our first-generation students, faculty, and staff. Those who stopped received a complimentary FHSU First Gen t-shirt. In addition to snacks, activities included a photo booth, first-gen trivia, and first-gen word search. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key first-gen\u00a0recruitment and retention\u00a0strategies\u00a0at FHSU\u00a0center on\u00a0critical\u00a0investments, including\u00a0the Access to Academic Opportunity Grant (AAOG)\u00a0and the First-to-Finish\u00a0Living\u00a0and\u00a0Learning\u00a0Community.\u00a0The AAOG\u00a0grant aims to navigate\u00a0the\u00a0financial barriers that many of these students face. However, the grant is not only about funding; it also emphasizes mentorship. The idea is to create a robust support system where seasoned upper-level\u00a0students and alumni guide newcomers, sharing insights that could ease their transition to higher education.\u00a0Stories from last year\u00a0indicate\u00a0a\u00a0rising tide of peer support networks\u00a0that continue to form\u00a0within FHSU and the\u00a0growing sense of community\u00a0among first-generation\u00a0students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First-to-Finish\u00a0Living and\u00a0Learning\u00a0Community\u00a0(LLC)\u00a0students live together in Victor\u00a0E. Village and take classes together. Fall semester classes include a student success\u00a0class\u00a0and a leadership class\u00a0titled\u00a0Discovering Leadership. The LLC focuses on helping the students grow in their leadership capacity by\u00a0focusing on the CORE (confidence, optimism, resilience, and engagement) leadership model. The class\u00a0helps students learn about the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with their\u00a0leadership\u00a0development. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt has been amazing to watch these students flourish at FHSU. From the welcome weekend until now, you can tell they have the confidence to ask for help when needed, find their stride, and grow in the FHSU pride. I believe this success is due to many faculty and staff at the university supporting these students and helping them find the resources they need to be successful,\u201d shared Jaden Rahe, director of student engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ashton Dawley is an excellent example of how our first-generation students are making the most of their college experience. He has taken advantage of opportunities in the ceramics department, enabling him to work with renowned artists and practice ceramic techniques that are highly complex. Ashton is exceptionally talented. Given his experience at FHSU thus far, Ashton has decided to become a college professor. He is focused on being the first in his family to earn a bachelor\u2019s degree and then a master\u2019s and doctorate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our student affairs professionals are committed to driving institutional transformation by enhancing academic and co-curricular opportunities for first-generation students. Our team participates in several state and national events dedicated to advancing the first-generation college student experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the spring,\u00a0First-to-Finish\u00a0and\u00a0first-generation\u00a0FHSU\u00a0students\u00a0get to\u00a0attend\u00a0the\u00a0annual\u00a0Ad Astra\u00a0First\u00a0Generation\u00a0Conference\u00a0on a Kansas college campus. This conference\u00a0brings first-generation students from universities and high schools across Kansas together for a\u00a0shared experience with\u00a0the\u00a0desired outcome of\u00a0improved\u00a0persistence to graduation and a better-prepared Kansas workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another cornerstone element of FHSU\u2019s first-generation college student initiative involves collaborating with NASPA\u2019s FirstGen Forward program. This is a nationwide network dedicated to championing first-generation students. The FirstGen Forward Network features best practices and insights that can help institutions like FHSU better serve their first-gen populations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term \u201cfirst-generation\u201d often sparks conversations about privilege and access, touching on the shifting demographics of students entering higher education. As tuition costs continue to rise and the demand for a skilled workforce grows, the implications of supporting first-generation students have never been more significant. As a regional public university, Fort Hays State University has always focused on access and has a long history of supporting a wide demographic of first-generation students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stories from these students reveal a nuanced landscape of aspirations, anxieties, and resilience. These students may not have access to the kind of college guidance many peers take for granted. Yet, they enter the halls of academia with dreams that often depend not just on their success in college but also on the prosperity of their families and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The data surrounding first-generation college success is telling. Research has shown that first-gen students often experience higher dropout rates than their peers. While numerous barriers exist \u2013 financial stressors, lack of familial support in navigating college life, and unfamiliarity with the academic culture \u2013 universities like FHSU focus on structural changes to improve these metrics. With the launch of the FirstGen Forward initiatives, institutions are equipped to analyze and implement strategies that truly enhance the first-generation college experience, embracing and leveraging the struggles and strengths of these students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a world that often emphasizes individual success, the narrative of first-generation college students serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in community and collective perseverance. Each story unravels a tapestry of hope, determination, and shared dreams, culminating on this special day of recognition on November 8. FHSU students like Ashton and countless others embody the spirit of being first-generation: they challenge the status quo and redefine success for themselves and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, the real success of FHSU’s endeavors will be seen in\u00a0our enrollment and job placement\u00a0numbers,\u00a0familial pride,\u00a0and\u00a0stories we tell about the\u00a0bright futures\u00a0that\u00a0await students like\u00a0Ashton. Each degree conferred will be more than an\u00a0institutional data point; it will be a testament to the sacrifices\u00a0and\u00a0barriers overcome. As FHSU and similar institutions continue to invest in first-generation initiatives, the vision is clear: create a future where today’s first-generation\u00a0student\u00a0inspires the next generation of leaders, dreamers, and pioneers to follow their paths to the promise of higher education and a brighter tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This commitment to first-generation students is not just about celebrating a demographic\u00a0but crafting a narrative of success, empowerment, and unwavering support. It\u2019s about the\u00a0community that rallies around these students, inspiring hope and igniting dreams that extend far beyond the classroom walls. Together, through\u00a0targeted first-generation strategies, universities\u00a0like Fort Hays State\u00a0are laying the groundwork for an inclusive educational landscape \u2014 where every student\u00a0can thrive and succeed, regardless of their background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tisa Mason is president of Fort Hays State University.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On Nov. 8 of each year,\u00a0college\u00a0campuses nationwide\u00a0celebrate\u00a0the resilience and determination of first-generation college students.\u00a0The First-Generation College Celebration marks the anniversary of the signing of the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37698,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[12323,55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-life","category-opinion"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Mason-Tisa-040A6662.jpg?fit=750%2C1050&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=83219"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83220,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83219\/revisions\/83220"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=83219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=83219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=83219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}