麻豆传媒

鈥淭he fact that we鈥檝e seen recent gains in our retention rates, particularly among our first-generation students, is exciting,鈥� said Cedric Howard, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services. 鈥淲e hope what we鈥檙e seeing is the result of our efforts to put our students at the forefront of our work in a manner that nurtures their sense of belonging and engagement and ultimately enhances their experience and success. 

鈥淥ne of the most significant factors of quality education is to measure the university鈥檚 ability to demonstrate its return on investment to a student,鈥� Howard continued. 鈥淥ur social mobility ranking demonstrates our ability to provide access to deserving students from limited income backgrounds while graduating them and preparing them for better paying jobs than previously afforded to their families.鈥� 

As more than 40% of 麻豆传媒's undergraduate population are first-generation students, defined as individuals whose parents and/or guardians did not complete a four-year degree, the university is intentional in its efforts to provide programs and resources to help support them, including competitive federally funded TRiO programs that prioritize first-generation students in their pursuit of a college degree. In addition, 麻豆传媒's Soar program also recently expanded support and personalized coaching to further facilitate academic success for first-generation students not served by TRiO programs.  

Also new this year are two resources that were created with first-generation students in mind, but are available to all students through 麻豆传媒鈥檚 learning management system, Canvas. is a digital one-stop site for information, tips and resources; topics that students frequently ask about like career and money, academic support, technology support, student wellness and academic policy.   is an on-demand personal finance education resource designed to empower students to make effective personal finance decisions and start their path toward financial wellness. According to Stephanie Torrez, assistant vice president for Student Academic Success, financial concerns are one of the main reasons students wind up leaving college and research shows that financial literacy programs can decrease financial stress and improve academic performance. 

鈥淏oth of these new programs were designed to promote success, inside and outside the classroom, while students are in college and after they graduate,鈥� Torrez said. 鈥淭hese kinds of resources benefit everyone, not just first-generation students. Making things like this available is one of the many ways we demonstrate our commitment to students.鈥� 

The First-Generation College Celebration, observed on Nov. 8 every year, was launched in 2017 by the (COE) and the Center for First-generation Student Success, to shine the spotlight on individuals who were the first in their families to attend college. The date is significant as it marks the 1965 signing of the Higher Education Act (HEA) which helped millions of first-generation students access an education beyond high school. 

To learn more about how 麻豆传媒 serves and supports first-generation students, explore some of our resources, including special scholarships and mentoring programs that focus on promoting student success, and read about some of our current first-generation students and what they find most helpful.

Scroll through below to read more about some of 麻豆传媒's current first-generation students, including what helped them on their path to college, what their journey has been like and some of the resources they find most helpful at 麻豆传媒. 

Student Resources

• Soar program

  Soar provides support to all first-generation students through several programs, including Bears First and First Generation, both of which help facilitate the development of academic success through personalized coaching and advising. Soar also provides individual academic advising to exploring students or students considering a major change. 

• Center for Human Enrichment Student Support Services

  麻豆传媒鈥檚 Center for Human Enrichment Student Support Services (CHE) program provides comprehensive academic services to support the academic, professional and personal success of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 first-generation students. The program, also known as Student Support Services, is one of eight federal TRiO programs. It serves approximately 200 students, accepting 60-70 new students each year, who identify as first-generation students and meet federal income guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Education. The program focuses on facilitating the successful academic retention and graduation of first-generation college students.  

• Stryker Institute for Leadership Development

  The Stryker Institute for Leadership Development serves women from underrepresented groups; approximately 90% of the students who participate identify as first-generation students. The Stryker program provides a full tuition financial scholarship that can help alleviate the financial barriers that many first-generation students are navigating. The program also offers the opportunity for scholars to attend workshops that focus on identity development, social justice, leadership and mentorship. Through the workshop experience and cohort model, scholars are able to build a strong sense of community and support. Students interested in applying for the scholarship can learn more on the Stryker Institute鈥檚 website.   

• Learning Through Engaging and Authentic Practices (LEAP) Scholars

  Learning Through Engaging and Authentic Practices (LEAP) Scholars are first-generation biology or chemistry majors who aspire to become medical professionals. Since 2015, the LEAP Scholars program has supported over 80 students, many of whom identify as students of color or are Pell grant recipients, in addition to being among the first in their families to attend college. The program employs many high-impact practices that positively impact student success and offers academic and social support through a small network of advisors, faculty and near-peer mentors.  

• 麻豆传媒's First Generation Scholarship

   is awarded to first-generation students demonstrating financial need. Completion of the 麻豆传媒 Scholarship Application is the only requirement to be considered for this scholarship, the deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2022. Through generous donor support, 麻豆传媒 has awarded 162 students over $158,000 in the 麻豆传媒 First Generation scholarship since 2017-18. During that time, 491 individuals have donated to the First Generation scholarship.  about other 麻豆传媒 donor-based scholarships.  

• Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program

  Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program is a federally funded undergraduate program serving first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students. It is designed to provide undergraduate students with effective preparation for graduate-level study through research and scholarly activities, summer internships, seminars and workshops, mentoring, and assistance with graduate school admission processes.  

• Reisher Scholars Program

  The Reisher Scholars Program awards scholarships to Colorado students based upon demonstrated financial need and academic merit. The program, which focuses on rising college sophomores and transfer students from community colleges, seeks to help promising Colorado students earn their undergraduate degrees without incurring additional educational debt. It continues to accomplish higher GPAs as well as higher retention and graduation rates than the general student population. This includes no achievement gaps for first-generation and underrepresented minority students.