EMU recognized for commitment to first-generation college students

Selected for inclusion in the FirstGen Forward Network

FirstGen Forward recently announced Eastern Mennonite University as one of 80 new members of the FirstGen Forward Network for 2024-25. To be selected as a network member, EMU displayed a demonstrated commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.

“We are extremely honored to be selected as a member of the FirstGen Forward Network,” said Shannon Dycus, vice president for student affairs, equity, and belonging at EMU. “We know at least 35% of our current undergraduate students are the first in their family to complete college. We have missed wonderful opportunities to celebrate the personal, familial and communal successes in all of these accomplishments. Our hope in defining this community of learners is to be attentive to students and families who do not arrive to campus with existing knowledge of higher education, financial aid and all the other places where jargon and processes create barriers instead of support.”

The FirstGen Forward Network provides a three-phase approach to scaling holistic first-generation student success by engaging and empowering higher education institutions to transform the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes, and build more inclusive institutional structures. To date, 429 institutions of higher education, including two statewide systems, have entered the network, representing 49 states and the District of Columbia.

“We are pleased to welcome EMU into the FirstGen Forward Network,” said Dr. Sarah E. Whitley, executive vice president of FirstGen Forward. “Through the application process, it was evident that EMU is not only taking steps to serve first-generation students but is prepared to make a long-term commitment and employ strategies that foster an environment of success for this important population.”

In this first phase of the network, selected institutions participated in the FirstGen Forward Network Virtual Kick-off on June 6, 2024. As a network member, interested faculty and staff are afforded opportunities to engage with peer institutions also working to create environments that improve the experiences and success of first-generation students, and will participate in monthly calls, professional development, goal setting, blog development, annual reporting, and more.

After successful completion of the Network Member phase, institutions may progress to the second phase, First-gen Forward Network Leader, in which institutions receive an evidence-based and research-supported framework of actionable priorities supported through monthly workshops; diagnostic tools providing critical institutional insight; robust data sharing as part of the national Postsecondary Data Partnership; guidance of expert coaches along each step of the experience; and more. Ultimately, all network institutions strive for national leadership as a FirstGen Forward Network Champion.

“Being named as a network member in the FirstGen Forward Network is an exciting opportunity for EMU to join a dedicated community of professionals prepared to share evidence-based practices and resources, troubleshoot challenges, generate knowledge, and continue to advance the success of first-generation students across the country,” said Maurice Jones, CEO of FirstGen Forward. “We are excited to see a groundswell of activity from the Class of 2024 network members and know EMU will be a significant contributor.”

See the full list of FirstGen Forward Network members here.