“There’s no one in our families to talk with us about their college experiences.”
generation students, B1st consists of an immersive week on campus just prior to regular first-year Orientation, followed throughout the academic year with monthly group lunches and other gatherings, both social and informational. The program is opt-in: Both this year and last, roughly half of eligible students chose to take part. During that initial August immersion, participants “live together and participate in pro-
grams designed to help them transition and feel at home here,” explains Jessica Perez, assistant dean of students for student transition and support. She co-directs the program with Julisa De Los Santos, interim director of the Office of Intercultural Education. “So by the time regular Orientation starts, they are feeling pretty good about being here.” During the 2017 pre-Orientation week, participants resided
in Small and Cheney houses, wood-frame houses a few doors apart on College Street. Faculty and staff led workshops on such practical topics as time management, student employment, and academic planning. There were visits to campus departments and resources, such as the session that introduced the group to the Harward Center. First-gens, says Perez, may “walk into a college not knowing
Spring 2018
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