Join the University of Minnesota and colleges across the United States as we celebrate the presence and experience of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff on campus!
In 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the Center for First-generation Student Success launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration. The national First-Generation College Celebration Day takes place on November 8, the anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Follow @UMNFirstGenProud on Instagram and Facebook. Tag #UMNFirst and #CelebrateFirstGen.
Ways to Celebrate First-Gen Week
Celebrate as an Individual
- Use positive language to combat the use of deficit language surrounding first-generation college students.
- Share your first-generation story or listen to the stories of others.
- Educate yourself about the experiences of first generation college students and the research that relates to their college journey.
- Facilitate listening sessions by administration, faculty, and staff about first-generation students’ experiences and needs on campus.
- Wear the U of M First Gen Proud/Supporter button the day of the event.
- Post a First Gen Proud/Supporter sign on your office door.
- Connect with other first-gen students, faculty and staff
- Acknowledge the first-generation students that you interact with and explain why we are celebrating this day (signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965).
Celebrate in the Classroom
- Incorporate first-generation faculty experiences into classroom discussions.
- Acknowledge that first-generation students may be in your class and explain why we are celebrating this day (signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965).
- Host a panel discussion in your class featuring first-generation members of your campus community to discuss their college experiences.
- Connect with other first-gen faculty and staff in your department or college
Celebrate as a Department/Unit
- Host a breakfast, luncheon, or snack break for first-generation students to celebrate their success. Invite first-generation leaders, faculty, and staff to attend.
- Partner with campus offices, bookstores, local eateries, and gas stations to add gift card raffles to your celebration events.
- Host a campus event or rally featuring notable first-generation alumni, faculty, staff, students. Empower first-generation student leaders to get involved in planning or to emcee the event.
- Host panel discussions or forums featuring first-generation members of your campus community to discuss their college experiences.
- Coordinate a positive language campaign to combat the use of deficit language surrounding first-generation college students.
- Distribution first-generation swag to promote your celebration events and continued opportunities.
- Review your communications materials to see how first-generation students are welcomed and their stories highlighted
- Use the #UMNFirst stories to share on social media
- Host first-generation alumni networking and career development events.
- Meet students where they are, literally! Set up stations in commuter student parking areas to offer breakfast-on-the-go or car winterization kits to students just to brighten their day and feel encouraged and encouraged.
- Designate a campus athletics event as “first-generation” and recognize players, coaches, attendees who are first-generation. Offer a discount to attend.
- Offer resume and interview workshops to offer tips on how to best frame first-generation status in the hiring process.
- Send a letter or postcard home to the families of first-generation students to acknowledge the university’s support of their attendance and to highlight successes.
- Train campus student leaders such as peer mentors, tour guides, and orientation staff on how your campus welcomes first-gen students.
Celebrate as a Student Organization/Group
- Host a campus event or rally featuring notable first-generation alumni, faculty, staff, students. Empower first-generation student leaders to get involved in planning or to emcee the event.
- Distribution first-generation swag to promote your celebration events and continued opportunities.
- Use the #UMNFirst stories to share on social media
- Ask students in group to share their first gen stories
- Host first-generation alumni networking and career development events.
- Host a letter-writing campaign to remind state legislators, boards of trustees and state higher education agencies of the needs of first-generation college students.