FirstGen Forward Welcomes New Cohort of Network Leader Institutions.

The FirstGen Forward Network is elevating a new group of institutions from Network Member status to the Network Leader phase.

WASHINGTON, DC (February 10, 2026)— FirstGen Forward today announced the selection of six new higher education institutions to advance to the Network Leader phase of the FirstGen Forward Network. These colleges and universities were chosen based on their demonstrated commitment to advancing the outcomes of first-generation students through effective, sustainable student success initiatives and institution-wide approaches.

“Our Network Leader institutions are moving beyond intention to action—embedding first‑generation student success into institutional strategy, using evidence to guide decisions, and strengthening practice across campus,” said Stephanie Bannister, President of FirstGen Forward. “They demonstrate that first‑generation success is a long‑term institutional responsibility, and we’re proud to partner with leaders committed to sustained, measurable impact.”

The FirstGen Forward Network is a three-phase approach that allows institutions of higher education to advance outcomes for first-generation students through establishing communities of practice, gaining knowledge of resources, and establishing peer networks. To date, more than 470 institutions of higher education have been accepted into the Network, representing 49 states and the District of Columbia.

“After seeing such exciting Network progress and leadership, FirstGen Forward is pleased to welcome these institutions as new Network Leaders,” said Dr. Martina Martin, Vice President of the FirstGen Forward Network. “These six institutions not only invest in serving first-generation students but are also making a long-term commitment to achieving and sustaining a standard of excellence in how first-generation students are served.”

FirstGen Forward recognizes the following institutions for their advancement to the Network Leader phase:

• East Stroudsburg University
• Michigan Technological University
• Northern Illinois University
• Suffolk University
• University of San Diego

“The collective diversity of our FirstGen Network institutions is one of its great strengths,” added Bannister. “This community consists of higher education institutions of different types, MSI status, size, and locations, allowing us to tailor a personalized approach to achieve first-generation student success and build best practices for other institutions to employ.”

With the addition of this new cohort, the FirstGen Forward Network has welcomed more than 75 Network Leader institutions. Additionally, more than 30 of these institutions have since advanced to the Network Champion phase, representing institutions that have successfully addressed systemic barriers to first-generation student success and have become exemplars across the field.

“Our inaugural Network Leader cohort, 2021-22, achieved a 58.4% four‑year graduation rate for bachelor’s‑seeking, first‑generation students,” Bannister said. “This cohort marks the strongest outcome for first‑generation cohorts in five years, increasing to a higher graduation rate than students who first enrolled prior to the pandemic.”

To help meet their goals, Network Leaders gain access to diagnostic tools that provide critical institutional insight, customized solutions, turnkey toolkits, robust data reporting, and one-to-one expert guidance throughout the process. This phase offers institutions the flexibility to shape their knowledge to meet specific needs while aligning with evidence-based outcomes essential for advancing the success of first-generation students.

The FirstGen Forward Network benefits from significant investment and support from external partners who help offset the costs of its initiatives. Key supporters include The Suder Foundation, TIAA, Ascendium Education Group, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, T.L.L. Temple Foundation, Woodward Hines Foundation, Moody Foundation, and ECMC Foundation.

“I’m deeply grateful to the supporters and partners who continue to invest in this work and in the institutions serving first-generation students,” Bannister said. “Together, we are strengthening the conditions first-generation students need to thrive in college and beyond. With more than 8.2 million first-generation undergraduates—over half of all undergraduates nationwide—their success is inseparable from our country’s future. Working alongside our Network Leaders and collaborators, we will continue to build and scale the practices, tools, and partnerships that help institutions deliver lasting, measurable impact for first-generation students.”

For more on the FirstGen Forward Network, or to learn more about the organization, visit firstgenforward.org.

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