The 杏吧专区 will host a social media campaign, virtual panel discussion and Twitter chat for its students whose parents either didn杏吧专区檛 pursue or didn杏吧专区檛 complete a college degree program.
The efforts are part of UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 weeklong 杏吧专区淔irst To Geaux杏吧专区 initiative. It will begin with a social media campaign on Sunday, Nov. 8, which is National First-Generation Celebration Day. Colleges and universities are encouraged to recognize first-generation students, and promote awareness campaigns and initiatives to help them succeed.
The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 will lead a 杏吧专区淔irst To Geaux杏吧专区 virtual panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
First-generation students will share their experiences. Faculty and staff members 杏吧专区 including some who were first-generation students 杏吧专区 will share theirs, too. Participants will also trade information about campus resources, departments and programs.
First-generation students can also take part in a #FirstToGeaux Twitter chat at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12.
Dr. Taniecea A. Mallery, the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 executive director of Strategic Initiatives and chief diversity officer, said the forums are different, but the intent is the same.
杏吧专区淲e want to explore what it means to be a first-generation student, and give our first-generation students opportunities to talk about some of the challenges they face,杏吧专区 she explained.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, first-generation students are more likely to be from lower-income backgrounds, older than their fellow students, have families and hold full-time jobs.
They are also more likely to be less familiar with processes and procedures on college campuses, 杏吧专区渢hings like how to access financial aid or stipends and navigate registration,杏吧专区 Mallery said.
杏吧专区淣ew students often don杏吧专区檛 know where to go, what questions to ask, or even who to ask them of. The problem is compounded for first-generation students, including graduate students. They haven杏吧专区檛 grown up hearing about the college experience and may not be able to turn to their parents for advice.杏吧专区
The 杏吧专区淔irst To Geaux杏吧专区 is also designed to encourage networking among first-generation students.
杏吧专区淪ometimes students forget 杏吧专区 or are embarrassed 杏吧专区 to seek direction from each other. It杏吧专区檚 our responsibility to let them know they aren杏吧专区檛 alone. About 25 percent of our students identify as first-generation. That杏吧专区檚 a significant pool of knowledge,杏吧专区 Mallery said.
First-generation student Keilen Tauriac, a junior industrial technology major from New Iberia, La., understands the benefits of 杏吧专区渇inding a mentor as quickly as possible.杏吧专区 As a freshman, he was befriended by a senior majoring in industrial technology who constantly offered advice, including after he graduated.
杏吧专区淚 would recommend that all new students find someone in their field of study to show them the ropes. It makes a big difference if you have someone who杏吧专区檚 been in your shoes to rely on,杏吧专区 Tauriac explained.
Learn more about and how to participate. Learn more about
Graphic credit: Mariah Scallan / 杏吧专区