First-Generation Student Services

A First-Generation college student is defined as a student whose parents did not complete a 4-year college or university degree.

Union College like many colleges and universities across the country has recognized that there is a need to better support First-Generation students. Today, 43% of incoming first-year students of private not-for-profit 4-year institutions identified as First-Generation. Making First-Gens an even more important member of the campus community to provide service and support for. At Union, First-Gens make up roughly a little under 22% of each incoming class and that makes them a demographic of students who can slip through the cracks without direct support being provided. Thus far, two programs have been created to directly support and connect First-Generation students here at Union.

• The Bridges First-Generation Mentorship program answered a need at Union College to better support First-Gen students and help meet them where they are. First-Gen students across the country struggle to make the initial transition to 4-year colleges, so this program has improved retention rates for Union College's First Year First-Gen students. The Bridges Program has been a need at Union College but was only addressed in pockets, where now there is a program directly designed to support and mentor this demographic of students. So far, the program is providing great advice on navigating Union College and specific tactics that helped make the professional staff on campus (the mentors) successful. This helps give the program’s mentees insight that they wouldn't receive from family back home as they will be the first in their family to earn a college degree. Mentors are employees of the college who have at least a Bachelor's degree, but they do not have to identify as First-Gen. And without including any academic component to the program Bridges students have been achieving higher academically than First-Gen students outside of the program. The Bridges Program has built a community for First-Gen students, faculty, and staff at Union and created pride in being First-Gen.
• Mentees and Mentors are matched up and are required to meet a minimum of three times a term.
• There are two programmatical meetings a term that the mentees are required to attend, while mentors are encouraged to attend if their schedule permits.

The "First-Gen Experience" Pre-Orientation takes place two days before the regular Pre-Orientation sessions begin and is designed to help this particular student demographic get settled in and learn more about Union's campus and what it has to offer. With a good mix of fun activities and informational sessions, the incoming First Generation students should leave this pre-orientation experience with a sense of belonging and a wealth of knowledge of what resources are at their disposal during their first year and beyond. All participants of the "First-Gen Experience" will automatically be enrolled in the Pre-Orientation session of their choice free of charge.

National research shows that orienting and connecting First-Generation students to their campuses and resources increases their academic success, social success, and sense of belonging.

At Union, we already provide two strong programs the Bridges First-Generation Mentorship Program and the First-Generation Experience Pre-Orientation program but there is more work that could be done to connect students to resources and campus partners that could increase the success of students. The First-Generation Faculty & Staff Directory will now provide an opportunity for students to reach out to campus community members who are interested in supporting and being a resource to First-Gen students.

• Now, this helpful tool can further the support of First-Generation Students at Union. Please view the directory here.

When navigating this directory please be mindful of each sheet as it divides the members of the directory by Faculty & Staff and whether they identify as First-Generation or not. Also, notice that some directory members are not comfortable with students reaching out to them via email so keep that in mind.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Niamaya Canady - x6933 -canadyn@union.edu.