Supporting and Building Community for First-Generation Graduate Students

Presented by Tiffany Simon BA, MEd, EdD, New York University

Reported by Jacqueline McDermott, PhD, Purdue University

While there are initiatives at the undergraduate level to support first-generation college students, there are fewer resources for first-generation graduate students. There can also be confusion in defining who exactly are firstgeneration graduate students.

The definition that NYU uses is based on parental education and is largely framed from TRIO program definitions. In this NAGAP conference session, Dr. Simon discussed how to define first-generation college and graduate students as well as resources that NYU has implemented to support first-generation graduate students.

Specifically, NYU established a first-generation graduate career certificate, and welcomes a more inclusive definition of first-generation student, including those students who might identify as a first-generation 1) undergraduate student, 2) graduate student, 3) student studying in the United States (international student), and 4) student who might not have someone alive in their family with a college degree.

Dr. Simon’s work includes:

• Pathways to PhD: A Master’s to PhD transition program with faculty mentoring and tailored programming for first-generation students;

• Bringing in first-generation faculty and administrators to connect them to students through panels/ workshops to talk about first-generation experiences;

• First-Generation Fridays (once a month): space where students can ask questions about challenges and connect with resources; and

• Engaging in the NASPA first-generation conference and National First-Generation to College Celebration Day in November.

There was also information sharing from the larger group of attendees who mentioned the following topics:

• A large percentage of first-generation students come from historically marginalized groups;

• Some institutions have developed a First-Generation Coordinating Council with a website dedicated to all students who are first-generation;

• Develop your definition of first-generation students on your campus (UG versus Grad; domestic versus international, etc.);

• Faculty partnerships are important (identifying firstgeneration faculty/staff, encouraging them to share their status and experiences, etc.); and

• The role of student’s families: Families tend to be supportive but they do not always understand the requirements of academia, especially graduate school.

Leaving this session, attendees are encouraged to ask questions to better understand what resources exist at your university to support first-generation graduate students. Start developing your action plan now! n