Ten Steps to Building a #FirstgenForward Campus

When you find your institution in the midst of implementing a #FirstgenForward mindset, the work can feel overwhelming, all consuming, and you might begin to question what progress looks like. 

At Kansas State University, we are in year two of working through the Office of First-generation Students to scale outreach and success programming for first-generation students. We learned 10 valuable lessons in year one that help guide our work as we move into sustaining a #FirstgenForward university culture.

1. Remember collaboration has to be owned and stretches to reach all parts of the university. Hone the mission of your office or program and own the work of driving first-generation student success. A listening tour is a great way to kick-start collaboration and develop buy-in.
2. Look for little, sustainable wins. You don’t have to have 10 large scale signature events, perhaps start with one or two. An easy place to begin is one per semester - First-Generation College Celebration and a graduation recognition event.
3. Leverage existing resources or “low hanging fruit.” Connect your first-gen students to existing resources such as first-year seminar offerings, academic coaching, tutoring, mentoring, and other already established high impact practices.
4. Build a first-gen asset based mindset and reinforce that high impact practices built for first-gen students work to the benefit of all students. Teaching and learning collaborators are a great place to begin! An easy way to begin is by partnering workshops to focus on first-gen pedagogies and engaging and supporting first-gen students.
5. Foster community among first-gen students: Empower current student leaders to develop their leadership skills through different engagement opportunities; starting a first-generation student organization; speaking on student panels; representing the first-gen voice at recruitment events; and providing opportunities for first-gen students to build community around their unique experiences. At K-State, our First-gen Lounge provides a designated space the first-Friday of each month for a “#FirstgenFriyay!” to encourage community building and support first-gen identity and pride.
6. Involve first-gen faculty and staff to be part of your culture of change movement. Our first-gen faculty and staff serve as mentors, make referrals, provide ideas, and remain engaged with our initiatives. They are our best ambassadors!
7. Build collaborations with partners who also serve a segment of first-gen populations: Host convening or bi-semester meetings with partners and find ways to streamline activities and events with the purpose of increasing student participation and maximizing resources.
8. Scale up existing programs to offer support to more first-gen students. Develop a menu of options for all first-gen students to participate in and disseminate the information through just-in-time messaging, meeting your students where they are.
9. Foster professional development opportunities across campus. We host two webinars a semester where campus partners have the chance to learn, explore and/or contribute to the narrative of identifying as first-gen. The Center for First-generation Student Success at NASPA is a great resource!
10. Tell your campus first-gen story every chance you get! Use social media, your web presence, or leverage other media to tell the first-gen story developing in your campus. You may utilize student testimonials, spotlight student achievements, and advertise events.  These stories reinforce the value of building a #FirstgenForward campus.