First-gen Forward Soars to New Heights at Boston College

Boston College is poised to take first-generation students to new heights this fall. These new heights include strategic partnerships across the campus and external partnerships that demonstrate Boston College’s commitment to students who are the first in their family to attend college.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Education announced that the Boston College Learning to Learn program will receive a five-year, $1.7-million federal Student Support Services grant. Learning to Learn is the institutional voice for first-generation students and supports the intellectual, social, and holistic development of students as they pursue their education and achieve their dreams. Learning to Learn Director Dr. Rossanna Contreras Godfrey said, “Leaning to Learn offers critical, comprehensive services that enhance academic success and significantly increases the likelihood that more students will graduate.” This support is indicative of the support all students at Boston College enjoy.

As part of its commitment to first-generation students, Boston College sponsored a virtual six-week “BC F1RST College Transition Program” for 15 percent of its incoming first-generation student population. The Office of Residential Life, in partnership with Learning to Learn, created the “BC F1RST Living Learning Community,” a residential community that supports the development and transition needs of first-generation students at Boston College.

Leaning to Learn offers critical, comprehensive services that enhance academic success and significantly increases the likelihood that more students will graduate.

Also new this fall are several Career Center initiatives that will provide first-generation students with exclusive early access to employers at the upcoming Career Fair, and another will assign dedicated career coaches and mentors to students who identify as first-generation.

The internal commitments of the University are met with an equally strong commitment to the development of external programs and partnerships that will enable first generation students to thrive at Boston College. In the spring, the Office of Undergraduate Admission announced a partnership with QuestBridge that will enable underrepresented students to take advantage of the programs and services Boston College has to offer. Perhaps the most notable of commitments to first-generation students is the recently announced establishment of the Pine Manor Institute for Student Success, which is focused on recruiting and graduating more underrepresented and first-generation students. Boston College has earmarked $50 million of its endowment to support the activities of the Pine Manor Institute for Student Success, believing that these programs, partnerships, and initiatives represent an excellent opportunity for our students to live out our motto “Ever to Excel” and to achieve new heights.