Forward Together
We are thrilled to announce Forward Together: FirstGen Mississippi! This convening will be hosted on the campus of Jackson State University located in Jackson, MS on April 21, 2026.
Forward Together:
FirstGen Mississippi
This one-day, high-impact convening is designed specifically for leaders, practitioners, and faculty at Mississippi’s community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This institute will explore evidence-based strategies for institutionalizing first-generation student success, leveraging data for decision-making, and aligning efforts with institutional mission and community needs.
Designed as both an informative and reflective experience, the convening creates space for institutional self-assessment, peer dialogue, and leadership-informed decision-making. Senior leaders will hear directly from peers, examine institutional readiness and alignment, and gain clarity on the benefits and expectations of engaging with FirstGen Forward—including coaching, tools, and access to a national peer network.
Objectives:
Establish Strategic Relevance: Position first-generation student success as a critical institutional priority, grounded in statewide context and institutional realities.
Communicate the Value of Engagement: Articulate the benefits, expectations, and supports associated with participating in FirstGen Forward, to make informed decisions about engagement.
Facilitate Leadership-Informed Decision-Making: Create space for senior leaders to hear directly from peers, ask critical questions, and consider the leadership commitments required for sustained impact.
Move Toward Action - Guide institutions toward clear next steps, scheduling follow-up conversations, or engaging in further internal exploration.
Support Institutional Self-Assessment: Provide structured opportunities for institutions to assess fit, readiness, and capacity for engaging in coordinated first-generation student success work.
Schedule
| Tuesday, April 21, 2026 |
| 8:30 – 9:30 AM | Arrival, Registration & Networking Breakfast |
| 9:30 – 10:15 AM | Welcome, Vision & Statewide Imperative |
| 10:15 – 11:00 AM | Senior Leaders Panel: Why We Chose to Engage |
| 11:00 – 11:20 AM | What Participation Looks Like |
| 11:20 AM – 12:05 PM | Breakouts: Institution Conversations |
| 12:05 – 12:50 PM | Networking Lunch (Guided Table Discussion) |
|
12:50 – 1:30 PM | The Mississippi First-Gen Landscape & What Institutions Gain |
|
1:30 – 2:15 PM | Mini-Workshop: Identifying Your First-Gen Opportunity |
| 2:15 - 2:20 PM | Break |
| 2:20 – 2:55 PM | Institutional Readiness & Action Mapping |
| 2:55 – 3:30 PM | Pathways to Participation & Closing Commitments |
Acknowledgement
Forward Together: FirstGen Mississippi Convening is made possible through the generous support of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation, whose investment positions Mississippi as a national leader in advancing first-generation student success. Aligned with the state’s Ascent to 55% goal, this work centers on first-generation student success as a strategic imperative for institutional leaders and a critical pathway to increasing postsecondary credentials, degrees, and access to family-sustaining employment. This convening brings together presidents, senior leaders, and campus teams for a leadership-centered, data-informed, and equity-driven conversation grounded in Mississippi’s higher education context, while fostering collaboration with education and workforce partners to strengthen pathways from college completion to meaningful work for first-generation students across the state.
Contact us!
Thank you for your time and commitment to first-generation student success. Please contact Network@firstgenforward.org should you have any questions.