Attending college as a first-generation student is akin to flying to the moon – the destination is unfamiliar, the journey is full of potential pitfalls, and it takes a dedicated team to reach the goal. Knowledgeable guides and recognizing educational landmarks can make navigating the challenges of “how to college” while mastering coursework less daunting. First-generation students comprise over 40% of undergraduates at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), and more than half of faculty and staff are also the first in their families to earn college degrees.
Creating spaces for faculty and staff to learn and grow both as first-generation scholars and in their support of students has led to regular workshops and reading groups hosted by the university’s 21st Century Pedagogy Institute (21CPI UCO: 21st Century Pedagogy Institute (21CPI)), which is responsible for faculty development and training. The campus’s Office of High Impact Practices collaborated with the Office of Retention and Outreach, challenging faculty to rethink their ideas regarding the potential of student researchers; this session was subsequently presented at the Council on Undergraduate Research conference, ConnectUR.
“I believe it is because so many UCO staff and faculty have personal experience with the first-generation journey that we approach our support of students with a sense of creativity and curiosity” said Liz Wallace, Director of Retention and Outreach at the University of Central Oklahoma, “we not only work to build the supports we wish we had in place, but we actively engage our students to guide us to meet their needs.”
UCO greets their incoming students with the opportunity to Start Strong, an optional “College 101” session offered at the beginning of each semester. Start Strong is a collaborative effort between the offices of Retention and Outreach, Student Advocacy, Academic Advisement, and the Career Development Center. The sessions are designed to familiarize students with first-line campus support, offer a safe space to ask questions, and build community. Through the session, students also meet the FirstGen Bronchos, a student initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the needs and the successes of first-generation college students. FirstGen Bronchos are an integral part of the activities and programming offered to first-generation college students at UCO. During National First-Generation College Celebration Week in November, FirstGen Bronchos hosted a meet-and-greet networking event, a journaling activity, and a first-generation student panel. FirstGen Bronchos president Zack Lewis serves as an advocate for students and is passionate about creating a sustainable pathway for them to complete their degrees. He has raised the visibility of first-generation students through a pinning ceremony incorporated into the annual First-Generation Recognition Reception, and he is actively working to launch a chapter of the Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for First-Generation Students at the University of Central Oklahoma.
To better meet the daily needs of first-generation students, the Office of Retention and Outreach sponsors the UCO Retention Ambassadors, undergraduate students who offer hands-on support with study skills, time management, and program management. Retention Ambassadors are housed in the Central Study Hub, a space for students to make friends and learn how to level up their college student skills. Retention Ambassadors understand the challenges and joys of being the first to figure out the journey and are honest about their own missteps and frustrations along the way.
Faculty and staff often feel constrained by increasing pressure to quantify the value of their work, and it can be easy to forget the power of co-learning and co-creating with students. One of the greatest benefits to everyone associated with higher education is the reminder that learning – and life – is an iterative process. By learning from first-generation students, institutions hold the potential to be the ground crew needed to help first-generation students reach the goal of graduation. Retention Ambassador Zeyda Hernandez, a junior forensic science and biology major, offers this reminder, “My academic journey is not just about earning a degree—it's about opening doors that were never opened for the generations before me, and proving what is possible through hard work, curiosity, and persistence.”
For more information on the University of Central Oklahoma's approach, please visit their website here.
