{"id":186321,"date":"2023-11-02T09:29:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T19:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=186321"},"modified":"2023-11-02T09:29:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T19:29:41","slug":"celebrating-1st-gen-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/11\/02\/celebrating-1st-gen-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s first-generation college students"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"group
UH<\/abbr> Manoa First-Gen Forward committee members<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

About 24% of college students nationwide identify as a first-generation student, meaning they are current or aspiring students who are the first in their family to attend a college or university and pursue a four-year degree. At the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa, the number of first-generation students is estimated to be higher than the national average. According to a recent survey administered by ‘Bow, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u02bbs AI<\/abbr>-powered chatbot, 50% of the 1,940 undergraduate students who responded identified as first-generation.<\/p>\n

Related Â鶹´«Ã½News<\/em> story: UH<\/abbr> Manoa recognized for helping 1st-gen students<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Designated as a First-Gen Forward Institution by the Center for First-Generation Student Success<\/a> in 2020, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa will join other institutions nationwide and hold a First-Generation College Student Celebration<\/a> on November 8, recognizing the identity, potential and achievements of first-generation students. The event at the Queen Liliʻuokalani<\/span> Center for Student Services 11 a.m.\u20132 p.m. aims to empower and connect first-generation students with invaluable resources and a supportive community to help ensure their success in higher education.<\/p>\n

“First-generation students are trailblazers, leading the way in unfamiliar territory for their families to be successful in the higher education system, even if it is one that isn\u2019t built for their success,” said Jennifer Barnett, associate director of the Office of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity<\/a> (SEED<\/abbr>). “Ensuring that we understand their strengths and challenges helps us to better support our students.”<\/p>\n

According to Barnett, first-generation students are known to be determined, motivated and resilient, but need the guidance and support to face unique challenges as the first in their family to go to college. Many of them come from historically underrepresented student populations.<\/p>\n

With support from the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success<\/a> (OVPSS<\/abbr>), UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa applied to become a First-Gen Forward Institution to strengthen and enhance the campus’ efforts to create connections and a welcoming environment for its first-generation students.<\/p>\n

“The current designation gives us an opportunity to understand and engage this special population with the added support of the Center for First Generation Student Success and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators,” Barnett said. <\/p>\n

More on the event<\/h2>\n

The First-Generation College Celebration will feature various programs and activities, including:<\/p>\n

\"students<\/p>\n