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| Bates College in Maine has "a
particular concern for recruiting first-generation students
from within the state--only 11 percent of our students are
from Maine, but many of these are first-generation
students," says James Fergerson, director of
institutional planning and analysis for the college. "We
also have a large number of first-generation students who come
from very low income families in developing countries,"
he adds. |
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| For
more information, contact Bryan McNulty,
director, communications and media relations, 207/786-6330, bmcnulty@bates.edu,
or Wylie Mitchell, dean of admissions, Bates College,
207/786-6002, wmitchel@bates.edu.
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| One of the largest universities in
the country, The University of Texas at Austin’s Class of
2009 is made up of 24 percent first-generation students. The
university makes a strong commitment to recruiting and
retaining first-generation students. It has developed the
First-Generation College Student Mentoring Program, which
pairs mentors with first-generation college freshmen,
"providing a supported and informed transition to college
life and ultimately guiding them to become successful
students." It also provides First Generation
Scholarships, which pay $2,500 per year. |
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| For
more information, contact Augustine Garza, deputy director,
Office of Admissions, 512/475-7454, augustin.garza@mail.utexas.edu;
or Bruce Walker, vice provost and director of admission,
512/475-7326, bruce.walker@mail.utexas.edu;
or Robert Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, The University of
Texas at Austin, 512/475-7847, rmeckel@mail.utexas.edu. |
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| Colorado College has created a
simple gold pin that says "First." Faculty, staff,
and alumni wear these pins to show their pride in being a
first-generation college student, says Darlene Garcia, program
coordinator and career coordinator for the college’s career
center. Students receive the pin at an end-of-the-year
barbecue prior to their graduation.
Programs for first-generation students cover topics such as
how to keep relationships strong with family and friends at
college and back home, living in two worlds, and finding your
voice in the classroom. Before first-generation students go
home for their initial winter break, they discuss how to
bridge the gap between living in two worlds, and how to talk
with family and friends without alienating them -- or feeling
alienated. |
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| For more information, contact
Darlene Garcia, coordinator of the first generation program
and career coordinator, 719/389-6893; or Matthew Bonser,
associate director of admissions, 719/389-6345; or Leslie
Weddell, college news director, Colorado College,
719/389-6038, leslie.weddell@ColoradoCollege.edu.
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| Though the University of Dayton
doesn’t track first-generation college students, UD has an
early college public high school on campus, The Dayton Early
College Academy, that enrolls mostly first-generation
prospective college students and serves as a pipeline for
recruitment. Nearly half of the students report that no one in
their family has gone to college. Most of the others had
family members who attended college but took only a few
courses. |
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| For more information, contact
Judy Hennessey, principal, Dayton Early College Academy,
937/542-5630, or Cilla Shindell, director of media relations, University of Dayton,
937/229-3257, shindell@udayton.edu.
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| Almost one-third (33 percent) of
Binghamton University's incoming class is first-generation
American, up from 24 percent about five years ago. Elizabeth
Carter, director of the BU Discovery program, recently
conducted a research study comparing responses from their
first-generation students with those from other students at
the university. First-generation students scored higher than
some of the other groups on being functionally independent
from their parents. They tended not to rely on their parents
for help with day-to-day tasks. "However, they were less
independent when it came to needing their parents' approval
and emotional support," said Carter. "And they were
really concerned about not wanting to upset their
parents."
Carter said the survey results will be very helpful in
addressing the specific needs of first -generation students.
"We would never want a first-generation student to say to
his or her parents, ‘I don't want to end up like you, I want
a better life.’ What we want to hear is, ‘Mom and Dad,
thanks for working hard to give me a good start in life, and
now I am going to take what you have given me and make it even
better.’"
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| For more information, contact
Gail Glover, director of media relations, Binghamton
University, 607/777-2174, gglover@binghamton.edu. |
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