Shaping your #Firstgen Experience at #NASPA2020

Here is your first-gen guide for the 2020 NASPA Annual Conference!

First-gen Pre-Conference Workshop

Access Granted: Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities for First-generation Students

Saturday, March 28, 2020 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, in Hilton Austin Grand - Salon F

Led by Whitnee Boyd, Coordinator of Special Projects, Texas Christian University; Dawn Bruner, Director of Parent & Family Relations, University of Rochester; Jessica Bowers Chukwu, Assistant Director of Student Success Initiatives, Rice University; and Carli Rosati, Assistant Director of Student Success Initiatives, Rice University.

As first-generation college students are increasingly present across higher education, completion rates for this population lag behind continuing-generation peers. This achievement gap is due to systemic barriers preventing success coupled with too few intentional opportunities to support this population. This workshop will partner national data and evidence-based practices with approaches being used at multiple institutional types to shift high impact practices into tailored first-generation solutions that result in improved student outcomes.

*Additional registration required; simply add PC 08 to your cart.

Center Sponsored Programs

Creating Fly-in & Drive-In Programs Supporting First-Generation Students Pre-College

March 30, 2020 at 4:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Governor's Salon B

Led by Brett Bruner, Dean of Student Engagement, Arkansas Tech University; Taylor Kriley, Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Fort Hays State University; and Juli Dunn, Senior Associate Dean of Students, Whitman College.

The transition from high school to higher education can be a challenging one for many first-generation college students. Higher education institutions have an opportunity, though, to re-imagine this experience by creating a more holistic and supportive environment to support first-generation college students as they prepare for the college transition process. Fly-in and drive-in programs provide expenses-paid on-campus experiences for first-generation students to prepare for the college application and decision-making processes. This panel will provide perspectives on three different fly-in and drive-in programs that have been designed to support first-generation student success.

Who Are #FirstGen Graduate Students & How Should We Support Them?

March 31, 2020 at 10:15 a.m., Hilton Austin Grand Salon F

Led by Sonja Ardoin, Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University and Maria Erb, Co-Director of Diversity and Student Success, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This session will explore varying definitions of first-generation graduate students, highlight existing structural barriers in graduate or professional education programs, and offer suggestions on how to support students through their graduate or professional school experiences. With the goal of increasing diversity of graduate student populations and preparing a diverse workforce across fields (Holley & Gardner, 2012), facilitators will share practical, scale-able suggestions for creating first-generation graduate student supports.

First Among Equals: Creating New First-gen Focused Faculty Initiatives

March 31, 2020 at 11:20 a.m. Hilton Austin Governor's Salon B

Led by Elizabeth Burbatt, TIP Scholars Coordinator, Ferris State University and Jody A. Maloney, Academic Advisor, Ferris State University

Knowing first-generation college students make up 20% of Ferris State University's student population, faculty, and staff sought opportunities to engage with first-gen students and develop skills to both support and advocate for this population. Thus, first-generation specific professional development and engagement opportunities such as our FG Celebration, faculty/staff book groups, a semester long faculty learning community, a campus-wide workgroup, first-gen focused website, staff center trainings, and student panels were created. In this presentation, we will provide information on creating collaborative, inexpensive, and impactful opportunities to engage faculty, staff, and students around first-gen topics.

A full guide of #firstgen sessions can be found here.

Center Highlighted Sessions

First-generation Student Success: A Landscape Analysis of Programs and Services at Four-year Institutions led by Sarah E. Whitley, Ph.D., senior director, Center for First-generation Student Success

March 30, 2020 at 2:45 p.m., Hilton Austin Grand K

First-generation Student Success at Community & Technical Colleges: An Analysis of Programs and Services led by Sarah E. Whitley, Ph.D.,  senior director, Center for First-generation Student Success

March 31, 2020 at 9:10 a.m., Hilton Austin Grand G

Engaging with the Center for First-generation Student Success led by Deana Waintraub Stafford, assistant director, Center for First-generation Student Success and Sarah E. Whitley, Ph.D., senior director, Center for First-generation Student Success

*Date and time to be determined.

Center Reception

The Center Networking Reception is an opportunity for practitioners and scholars working specifically with first-gen initiatives, to create community and connect with the Center. We hope you will join us on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 from 7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m., in the Governor's Salon A in the Hilton Austin.

Invitation-Only

First Scholars^Ⓡ Initiative Network Meeting

This is an invitation-only opportunity for pre-selected institutional partners.

Center Advocacy Group Meeting

This is an invitation-only opportunity for Center Advocacy Group members.

First Forward 2019-20 Cohort Workshop

This First Forward Workshop is only open to the representatives from the 2019-20 First Forward institutions. All interested participants must also register to attend the 2020 NASPA Annual Conference.

This half-day facilitated workshop offers a unique professional development opportunity taking a deeper look into content area surrounding first-generation student success. Participants will also begin the annual review process, including reviewing institution goals, assessing progress, as well as exploring possible next steps.

 *The 2020-21 First Forward Cohort will kick off on Sunday, June 28, 2020, ahead of the 2020 First-generation Student Success Conference.

Exhibit Hall Hours

• Monday, March 30, 2020 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm in the Convention Center, Expo Hall 1

• Tuesday, March 31, 2020, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm in the Convention Center, Expo Hall 1

Engagement Lounge Hours

• Sunday, March 29, 2020 from 7:15 am - 4:30 pm in the Convention Center, Ballroom G

• Monday, March 30, 2020 from 7:15 am - 5:00 pm in the Convention Center, Ballroom G

• Tuesday, March 31, 2020 from 7:15 am - 5:00 pm in the Convention Center, Ballroom G

To register for the 2020 NASPA Annual Conference, click here.