By Lela Gallery ’24
Staff Writer
The Center for First-generation Student Success recently named Mount Holyoke College a First-gen Forward Institution, a national honor recognizing the College’s commitment to advancing first-generation college student success.
Sarah E. Whitley, senior director of the Center for First-generation Student Success, welcomed the College into the 2020-21 cohort of First-gen Forward Institutions. “Through the application process, it was evident that Mount Holyoke is not only taking steps to serve first-generation students but is prepared to make a long-term commitment and employ strategies for significant scaling and important advances in the future,” Whitley said.
An initiative between the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and The Suder Foundation — a program with the goal of increasing the graduation rate of first-generation college students — the Center for First-generation Student Success was launched in 2017 to improve how institutions deal with first-generation college student experiences and outcomes by focusing on innovation and advocacy.
The Center’s First-gen Forward recognition program is the first in the United States to acknowledge the efforts of higher education institutions.
Associate Dean of Students for Community and Inclusion Latrina L. Denson told Mount Holyoke’s communications department that she was delighted that the College received acknowledgement for its focus on first-generation and low-income students.
“Being part of a national network of higher education institutions who share our vision and drive will help further our impact on first-generation and low-income student success,” Denson said.
As a part of this recognition, Mount Holyoke and 76 other higher education institutions received access to the center’s research and resources, as well as opportunities for professional development and community building.
Select faculty and staff are also given various opportunities to engage with other institutions who are likewise creating environments that improve the experiences and outcomes of first-generation students. Members of these cohorts participate in monthly phone calls, virtual professional development, goal setting, annual reporting and more.
To improve first-generation student experiences, the Division of Student Life organizes with Mount Holyoke’s campuswide programmatic initiatives, which are led by First-Generation College Student Network in collaboration with the student organization First-Generation and Low-Income Partnership (FLIP), and offers support for FLIP students.
Students who are considered first-generation are those who will be the first in their immediate family to attend a four-year university and attain a college degree, while low-income students are those who come from a household whose income is relatively low compared to other households in the same size of their home area or region. In their organization’s description, FLIP usually categorizes first-generation students as those “who don't have common knowledge of or much assistance navigating the college experience.” However, they lack solidified definitions of either first-generation or low-income students, as “individual experiences can change the meaning for each of us.”
Established in 2016, Members of the First-Generation College Student Network unite across campus to serve FLIP students. They are passionate about helping fellow students overcome challenges in a higher education environment. The network also includes administrators, faculty and staff whose work influences the retention, persistence and matriculation of first-generation college students.
FLIP strives to build community among students within an institution where other students might benefit from their parents attending college or having an easier time paying bills. By sponsoring events, FLIP aims to orient students in navigating the college experience and help raise awareness of both challenges and resources.