2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The SD-FIRST program at xxx is a support program geared towards first-generation students, and to creating an environment where they will thrive and find success – the first of its kind on the xxx campus. As the first in their families to attend college and complete a college degree, first-generation students and their support systems can lack firsthand experience navigating the higher education world, making the journey overwhelming. The SD-FIRST program aims to fill that void by removing some financial burden and giving students the academic and social tools they need to be successful, all while helping them navigate college.

On the xxx campus, nearly 1/3 of students in each incoming freshmen class are first-generation students. Moreover, of the xxx students who classify as low socio-economic status (42% of campus population), 80% of those are first-generation students. By comparison to “generational” students who have familial experience with college, first-generation students graduate at a much lower rate (at xxx, the 5-year graduation rate is 24% for first-generation students vs 49% for generational students). While xxx has many resources available for all students, first-generation students can face challenges of not knowing where to who to turn to for help on campus.

The goals of the SD-FIRST program are to increase recruitment, retention, and success of first-generation students by providing a robust, evidence-based support system that awards scholarships to students and connects them with other financial-aid opportunities to help alleviate financial burden and help scholars to remain focused on academics. The program also provides academic and social support to first-generation students, by raising awareness of important campus resources, helping them negotiate faculty/staff interactions, sharing opportunities for involvement in clubs and teams, providing a personal connection for overall support, and much more.

In Fall 2021, the program supported 16 incoming freshmen students, and another 10 incoming freshmen students in Fall 2022. Each student selected for the program is awarded a $5,000 scholarship each year for 4 years as long as the required GPA and program participation are maintained, and financial need is demonstrated. With plans to support another cohort for Fall 2023, SD-FIRST will provide academic, social, and financial support to a total of more than 35 students over 6 years! SD-FIRST scholars participate in one workshop or event each month throughout the year, meet with peer mentors and academic advisors, and maintain a close relationship with the program coordinator. The program values emotional intelligence – one predictor of student success – which is evaluated and monitored for the program participants, with a goal of increasing student emotional intelligence through specifically designed programmatic elements. Other on-going success measures of the program include a wide applicant pool, high average GPA and high level of need of the scholars, and the campus involvement of students in the program.