Around 40 percent of students at the University of Memphis are first generation students, meaning that neither of their parents have earned a college degree, and many of these students lack a support system equipped with collegiate experience to help them navigate the nuances of college life.
In order to alleviate these burdens, the University has created a program that acts as a one stop shop for first generation college students.
Victoria Maher, the First Scholars’ program graduate assistant, was also a first generation student.
“These students usually don’t have much of a support system,” she said. “They don’t know what to expect.”
Maher suggests that parent trust their students while they both figure out the college experience. “The parents must try to understand and meet the students halfway. They have to trust their kids,” she said.
With all this confusion in mind, The U of M created a four-year-program to deliver support to “first gen” students throughout their college experience called the First Scholars program in 2012. This comprehensive program accepts 20 students each year to obtain social, academic, and leadership skills. The students also receive an annual $5,000 scholarship for a total of $20,000 during their four-year experience.
The staff of First Scholars created a framework that that is broken down into classifications to ensue college success. During freshman year, the First Scholars are connected to campus by living with other First Scholars, taking a common course that is taught by first gen faculty, attending a retreat prior to their first semester and matched with a First Scholar mentor.
The students then begin to optimize their college experience during their sophomore year by building on to what they have already learned. First Scholars attend another retreat, begin to apply leadership development skills and participate with other First Scholars around the country in a national service project.
As a junior, the students expands career and community opportunities by adding to what has already been learned, but also participating in professional development workshops and meeting with the program coordinator to develop a plan for success.
Finally, as the scholar approaches graduation, the senior is now in the transitioning to the future phase. The student uses everything that has been learned and begins to prepare for life after college by attending workshops, retreats and connecting through social events with other First Scholars.
First Scholar Hollice Whitehead, a junior, said: “Everything was a surprise. It was all unknown. Finding classes, applying for scholarships, everything was new.”
Whitehead said that being a first generation student was hard, but the First Scholars program helped.
According to Maher, first generation students are less likely to graduate.
“To make things easier connect and meet people,” she said.” Take it all in. Learn from your mistakes. You only get one college experience, make the best of it.”
