Missouri Western State University is committed to #GriffsGoingFirst

Engaging, encouraging, and empowering first-generation college students is a passion of the Dean of Students team at Missouri Western State University (MWSU). First-generation student initiatives are housed within the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) at MWSU and have been an area of focus for the 2022-2023 academic year. For this academic year, we have strived to increase campus and community awareness by working toward completing the following: establishing a common definition of first-generation at MWSU, developing and implementing a social norming campaign for #GriffsGoingFirst and implementing #GriffsGoingFirst into the campus experience.

Being a first-generation college student can be stressful at times due to stereotypes, confusion over the definition of first-generation, and/or embarrassment of being first-generation.

MWSU proudly celebrates and supports our first-generation students, faculty, and staff members. For the 2022 First-Generation Celebration, Missouri Western State University will host numerous events to commemorate the first-generation community. The fun will begin on November 3 when the Office of Marketing and Communication, Assistant Vice President Dean of Students, and Director of Student Development will host a presentation that will give the presenters the opportunity to present to our first-generation students about how they can utilize their first-generation experience in their story. The presentation, “Who Tells Your First-Gen Story” will allow the participants to generate conversations the week prior to our First-Generation Celebration. This presentation will talk about how every first-gen student has a story and their story matters. Their identity as first-generation college students is crucial to their college experience (their story that they will someday tell). This will be a space for first-generation students, faculty, and staff members to come together, enjoy free tacos, and grow the community at MWSU.

November 8th First Generation Celebration

On November 8, we will be doing numerous events to celebrate our first-generation Griffons! The Center for Student Involvement team is giving out $5 Starbucks gift cards to first-generation students so they can invite a faculty, staff, or mentor to coffee. That evening, the Center for Student Involvement will take first-generation college students to our local axe-throwing venue to have our first-ever “AXE the STIGMA” event where students can enjoy free axe throwing and learn to embrace their identity as first-generation college students. Being a first-generation college student can be stressful at times due to stereotypes, confusion over the definition of first-generation, and/or embarrassment of being first-generation. At Missouri Western State University, we encourage our first-generation students, faculty, and staff to embrace their first-generation identity! Being a first-generation college student is an accomplishment. Our first-generation college students are brave, perseverant, and driven. The “AXE the STIGMA” event isn’t just throwing axes, it is throwing away the old mindset that being first-gen is a barrier but instead embracing it as a part of the student’s story they are writing on their journey to graduate. Engaging, encouraging, and empowering first-generation college students is a passion of the Dean of Students team at Missouri Western State University. MWSU is dedicated to enhancing the holistic collegiate experience for all students through applied learning experiences, training, and interactive events such as the 2022 First Generation Celebration.