- Toolkits
- Are You Ready to Talk?
- Beyond the Line
- Blocking Gender Bias
- Edgy Veggies
- First-Gen Ascend
- Fishbowl Discussions
- Measuring Mobility
- Peaceful Politics
- Plot the Me You Want to Be
- RaceWorks
- Rethinking Stress
- Space Reface
- Team Up Against Prejudice
- United States of Immigrants
- Kit Companion: Map Your Identities
- Kit Companion: LARA
- Collections
- Action Areas
- About
firstgenascend
You Are
A university faculty or staff member who wants to support first-generation and low-income students
The Problem
Many students who are the first in their families to attend college (“first-gens”) have trouble adjusting to university culture
The Solution
A brief panel discussion that acknowledges first-gens’ unique strengths and needs helps them adjust and earn better grades
The Result
First-gen students reap the benefits of a college education, increasing social mobility and equity
How to Do This Activity (3 hours)
1. Invite first-year students to attend a student panel discussion
2. Select a moderator and diverse panel of speakers
3. Train panelists to discuss their social-class backgrounds
4. Host the 45-minute panel discussion
5. Compare grades of first-gens and continuing-gens* who attended the panel
6. Share your story (optional)
*First-gens are students whose parents did not complete a four-year degree. Continuing-gens are students with at least one parent who completed a four-year degree.
OPTIONAL: If you want to evaluate the impact of this toolkit, you will need participants to complete the pre-toolkit survey before doing the toolkit activities and the post-toolkit survey after doing the activities.
Content Developers
Savannah Pham
Niles Wilson
Sarah Lyons-Padilla, Ph.D.
Alana Conner, Ph.D.
M. Amedeo Tumolillo
Design Lead
Juli Sherry
Funders
