First-Generation College Students

Check out our online mission statement to learn more about FGCS@Michigan

First-generation students discuss struggles, opportunities on campus Taubman sophomore Wendy Zhuo moved herself into college her freshman year. She bid farewell to her parents and hopped on a train from Boston to Ann Arbor. When she arrived, four suitcases in tow, she had no idea where she was. Eventually she called a taxi, which then dropped her and her belongings a...

Hello Friends!
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the creation of First-Generation College Students @ Michigan. When our student organization was first conceived in 2007, we met informally in Mason Hall and held dinners at Dwight Lang's house. Today, we are an organization with over 600 students in our listserv, we have an official First-Generation Student Gateway space, and our dinners are sponsored by the university and attracts hundreds of first-gens. We are so proud of what this organization has become an even more proud to have had your support throughout the decade.
Today is Giving Blueday, and we wanted to ask if you'd like to continue to give back to FGCS@Michigan. Our donation link is attached below. We definitely couldn't have done any of this without your support.
Thank you and first-generationally yours,
First-Gen E-Board

https://leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/?t=c5db1005-3d80-47d4-b0c0-48573531d6d6 #!/give/basket/fund/314356?keyword=first

Victors for Michigan I just made an online donation to support via Leaders & Best. Every gift matters

"The University of Michigan will launch a new financial aid program for in-state students that offers a "Go Blue Guarantee" of free tuition for up to four years for students with family income of up to $65,000."

http://record.umich.edu/articles/u-m-unveils-tuition-guarantee-michigan-students-need

"The initiative, which encourages instructors on campus to identify themselves via T-shirts, buttons and other means as the first in their families to graduate from a four-year institution, starts next week during Santa Cruz's Student Success Week... Systemwide, some 800 faculty participants are expected to wear First-Gen Faculty shirts and share their experiences with their students across nine undergraduate campuses during the first week of classes this fall."

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/06/02/u-california-plan-links-first-generation-students-similar-professors

U California plan links first-generation students with similar professors U of California plan forges connections between students and professors who were the first in their families to attend a four-year institution.

"My first year in college, I felt so alone that I began to look for “community” through student groups and organizations. However, I felt that my language to be inadequate for both activist circles and classroom environments. Because of this, I felt more and more willing to change, erase my identity and assimilate to the college culture. In doing so, I slowly learned the language and what was acceptable."

"But I was silent, participating in the “white-washing” of academia. I was being a model first generation college student of color, being invisible and never rocking the boat."

http://www.classism.org/assimilation-and-the-first-generation-college-student/

Class Action » Assimilation and the First Generation College Student Going to college as a first generation student of color is more than just getting the money and applying for the right scholarships. It’s also about fitting in, trying to relate to your peers and constantly assimilating to a new culture.

"It cannot continue to be up to us to transform the unknown into resources and confidence. We don’t know the rules of the game but we are expected to abide by them and succeed...The opportunities may seem equal, but there are inequalities that need social and psychological intervention so that first-generation college students can be as successful as their continuing generation counterparts."

https://www.newuniversity.org/2017/05/02/the-unnoticed-struggles-of-first-generation-students/

The Unnoticed Struggles of First Generation Students Colleges and universities are viewed as instruments for social mobility, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic factors. However, their focus on independen

Want to learn more about how to best support first-gens? Check out these short videos.

http://www.heritage.edu/institute

Institute for Student Identity and Success

"Every person deserves the chance to get a degree that will help them get the job they aspire to and to contribute their skills to the world...Being a first generation college student is not something to be ashamed of, it is an accomplishment."

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/generation-college

What It's Like Being A First Generation College Student The path to college isn't already paved for many students.

University of Michigan Professor Susan Dynarski discusses strengths of being a and how it continues to inform her work.
Full video at: http://ns.umich.edu/features/dynarski/

University of Michigan Faculty Focus: Susan Dynarski

New first generation poster for the 2016-17 academic year. Print and post in and around campus if you'd like.

http://firstgen.studentlife.umich.edu/ Our new First Generation Student University of Michigan web-site - with a few new additions (photos/videos) highlighting April events - first-gen symposium, first-gen dinner and first-gen graduation (400 people in attendance).

First Generation Students

http://record.umich.edu/articles/sociology-lecturer-explores-first-generation-student-experience Happy to be part of a growing nation-wide movement of undergraduate, graduate and professional students who are first in their families to attend and/or graduate from college. "We may be the first, but we won't be the last."

Sociology lecturer explores first-generation student experience In 1972, sociology lecturer Dwight Lang became the first in his family to graduate from college. Today, as part of the First Gen College Students @ Michigan group, he advises students who are the first to do so in theirs. "I call first-gens risk takers and boundary crossers," Lang declares. "They've…

Brown University first-gen students. We're all part of a nation-wide, first-gen movement.

http://firstgen.studentlife.umich.edu/our-stories/ New web-site at the university of Michigan for and by first-generation students. "We may be the first, but we won't be the last."

Our Stories | First Generation Students

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/lsa/archives/ci.firstclass_ci.detail See current article on First Gens@Michigan in the 2015 Fall issue of LSA Magazine. We may be the first, but we won't be the last.

First Class College brings a mix of excitement and apprehension for everyone, but that is especially true for first-generation students. LSA’s First-Gens @ Michigan helps students manage the pressure and problems that come along with being first.

Early years of First Generation College Students@Michigan: April 2010 @ Dwight/Sylvia Lang's home.

Shapiro Library (aka the Ugli) now has a new College Success Collection on the first floor behind the Reference Desk! The collection contains a variety of books on such topics as adjusting to college life and developing academic skills. Here is a link to a list of titles: http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/Search/Home?showsearchonly=false&oft=false&type[]=all&lookfor[]=&bool[]=AND&type[]=author&lookfor[]=&bool[]=AND&type[]=title&lookfor[]=&bool[]=AND&type[]=subject&lookfor[]=&submit=Find&yop=after&fqrange-start-publishDateTrie-1=&fqrange-end-publishDateTrie-1=&fqor-publishDateTrie[]=&inst=aa&sublib=UGL&sublibColl=UGL+COLSC

Mirlyn: Search Results We’re still working on Search History. We hope to have it available soon. Once it’s here, it will provide a list of your recent searches and allow you to revisit them within a browser session.

We are very excited to announce that the Center for Campus Involvement (CCI) will be partnering with us for our Graduation Celebration!

Reserve your spot now for what is sure to be an inspiring evening. We already have over 100 guests!

It has come to our attention that the wrong link was on the invitation that we posted earlier. Here is the correct link: http://goo.gl/forms/U3pJo26os4

If you were able to RSVP before, then your information is still recorded.

REMINDER: Info due tonight at midnight for anyone running for an e-board position.

E-board elections will take place at the next meeting on Monday, March 23rd at 6:00pm in 3427 Mason Hall. Position descriptions and instructions for running are included in the latest first-gens e-mail.

We hope you will consider helping us to change this campus for future first-gens!

Thank you to everyone who came to the very first First-Gen Dinner! It was a success.

Instead of a regular meeting this week, First-Gens @ Michigan will be attending the First-Gen Dinner sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Equity, Inclusion and Academic Affairs.

As per the e-mail sent out a few weeks ago (with the RSVP information) this event is taking place on Tuesday, March 10th at 5:30pm in the Union Ballroom. We hope to see you all there!

REMINDER: Join us for our meeting tonight in 3302 Mason Hall at 7pm!

First-Gens on NPR Morning Edition today. We are excited to share our experiences with the whole country!

Fitting In On Campus: Challenges For First-Generation Students When students are the first in their family to go to college, they often feel out of place. Many say they need more help from their schools.

We will not be meeting this week. Enjoy the snow day!

Thank you to everyone who came out yesterday to decorate cookies! They are set out for the families in the Ronald McDonald House to enjoy.