Inaugural summit helps first-gen students identify resources and opportunities
For the approximately 15 percent of USC undergraduates who are the first in their families to attend college, navigating university life can sometimes be stressful, confusing or mysterious. A first-ever daylong summit at USC aimed to help make university life easier.
The First-Generation Student College Summit: Path to Success brought together first-generation students with key faculty and staff members and alumni — and each other — to discuss challenges, best practices and research relating to that unique group.
About 350 students attended the Feb. 6 event to share personal experiences, celebrate successes and connect as a community.
“I am first-gen,” said summit host George Sanchez, vice dean for diversity and strategic initiatives at USC Dornsife. “I see a part of me in you.”
Commitment to access
Three leaders who have helped first-generation USC students excel were honored at the inaugural First-Generation College Student Summit: Paths to Success. From left, Interim Dean Dani Byrd congratulated first-generation student Sabrina Enriquez, Associate Professor Lanita Jacobs and alumnus Sam Fisher, who received the Student Leadership Award, the Faculty Mentor Award and the Community Leadership Award, respectively.
The event underscored USC’s commitment to providing access through financial aid, mentoring relationships and diverse organizations while expanding opportunities for the unique and growing population of first-generation students.
USC Provost Michael Quick declared his personal identification as the first in his family to attend college.
“More and more diverse first-gen students are going to be undergraduates in this country. Universities need to have a vested interest in serving this wonderful population,” said Quick, recounting his own college years.
“You’re not unsuccessful because you’re a first-gen collegegoer. You’re successful because you’re a first-gen collegegoer.”
Inspired by the 2015 Ivy League First-Generation College Conference, the summit was created in response to a university-wide commitment to better serve first-generation students. A task force composed of USC administrators, professors and representatives, many of whom were also first-generation college students, worked alongside Sanchez to create the event.
The inaugural First-Generation College Student Summit: Paths to Success brought first-generation college students together with
faculty and staff to learn and engage around issues, best practices and research concerning this population.
According to Sanchez, first-generation students often feel isolated and unequipped for college, since their parents aren’t able to provide advice from first-hand experience. As a result, first-generation students tend to feel as if they don’t belong and can be reluctant to seek help from faculty and staff members who could provide them with valuable tools for success.
“The summit is a beginning point for all students whose parents didn’t go to college to feel like full members of the Trojan Family,” Sanchez said.
Alumni and professionals
On one panel, a group of accomplished first-generation alumni and professionals offered personal stories of inspiration, stressing the importance of being resilient and embracing the college experience as a community.
From left, USC Provost Michael Quick, USC Dornsife Interim Dean Dani Byrd and George Sanchez, vice dean for diversity and strategic initiatives.
“The summit is proof that there is a strong community of first-generation and other students looking for a family environment,” said student Natalie Reyes ’17. “This is the start of a stronger movement to increase resources and spaces so that everyone can succeed.”
Breakout sessions allowed students to meet with other first-generation alumni. Topics included “Build Connections to Build Success,” “From College to Career” and “Success Strategies for Transfer Students.”
During the “High-Impact Practices” session, students were encouraged to build their opportunities by seeking mentors and internships, studying abroad and participating in undergraduate research, community-based learning and writing-intensive courses — not to mention expanding their Trojan network.
Dongping Deng, an industrial and systems engineering PhD candidate, took advantage of networking opportunities.
“This provides us with a bridge to connect with panelists who have a lot of experience to share with us,” Deng said. “As a first-generation student and as the first-generation to travel abroad [from China] to study, it’s important to find communities that offer help for us to connect.”
Additional information on program resources can be found on the First Generation at USC website.