Lee University celebrates First-Gen Week on campus
Photo by Student Reporter Shayna Ryan
On Nov. 8, higher education institutions across the country celebrated first-generation college students. Lee University kicked off its week of events for First-Gen Week on Monday with a celebration day virtual panel.
During this discussion, moderated by Dr. Quintin B. Bullock, president of Community College of Allegheny County located in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, first-generation college students and graduates shared insight into their experiences.
“Monday’s kick-off begins with a social media blast, highlighting our first-generation faculty on campus in the hopes of inspiring our current first-gen students,” said Jeni Turner, coordinator for the McNair Scholars Program.
On Tuesday, the First-Gen Week Festival will be held on the Pedestrian Mall from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., with various activities and booths celebrating first-generation college students. This event will be followed by a Latte in the Library at 7 p.m. with Dr. Shane Brown, director of the Teacher Education, Field Experiences and Certification programs.
“First-Gen Week is a time for us to set aside and say we see you, we hear you, and we are here for you,” said Brown.
A Career Fair will be held in the SMC Great Room on Wednesday from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., where students are invited to explore post-graduate career options. At 12:15 p.m., a graduate student panel will be held virtually. During this panel, three Lee alumni will speak about their post-graduate paths and success.
Alanis Burton, a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Garrett Mikulka, a PhD student in English at Indiana University and Kati Coats, who is enrolled in the Nashville College of Law, will speak at the panel.
“On Thursday, the Making It Real: Integrating Career Prep into Your College Experience seminar will be held at 4 p.m. in the SMC. Our hope is to equip students to use this time to prepare for their future,” said Turner. “Both Tuesday and Thursday, the Financial Aid office will conduct FAFSA opportunities for students to complete this important document as a way of supporting our campus and our first-gen students.”
On Friday, the First-Gen Champions Institute virtual discussion panel will be held from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. This virtual experience will allow first-generation students to discuss what it truly means to champion first-generation success and how to put those ideas into practice. To register for the virtual discussion, click here.
In 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation Student Success launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration. Given their initial success, the two organizations made it an annual celebratory event.
The celebration of first-generation college students aims to highlight disadvantaged students. A new Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Federal Reserve Board found first-generation college graduates are not on equal footing with their peers who have college-educated parents.
“Among household heads who have at least a bachelor’s degree, those who have a parent with a bachelor’s degree or more education, have substantially higher incomes and more wealth than those who are the first generation in their family to graduate from college,” said the Pew Research Center’s study. “Adults with college-educated parents are much more likely than others to have graduated from college themselves.”
According to Brown, First-Gen Week provides an opportunity for awareness and further education.
“We can support [first-generation college students] by simply being educated on the challenges that First-Gen students often face. Knowledge truly is power, and we can never fully advocate for First-gen students if we do not understand their specific needs. We also need to understand that First-Gen is not a one-size-fits-all situation,” said Brown. “My time in education over the last 20 years has confirmed that fair is not always equal. There is no magic button to push for all learners. Each one must be given what they need to be successful. First-Gen students are no different.”
“I love that Lee celebrates this week and encourages First-Gen students to be successful, and provides them with an atmosphere to do that,” said Brown. “It speaks volumes to our students about how much we care about them as people.”
