![\"20160517-FIRST\"](\"http:\/\/wpmu.library.oregonstate.edu\/oregon-multicultural-archives\/files\/2016\/05\/20160517-FIRST.png\")
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On May 17, 2016 six OSU students shared their stories of being FIRST. At OSU, this past fall term, 27% of students self-identified as being “first”, which most commonly means a first generation college attendee. While being “first” can have a variety of meanings, students who are “first” share many things in common as revealed through the student panel. The panel consisted of a variety of topics including a discussion of backgrounds such as small high school and community college experiences; whether or not they had parental, high school counselor, and\/or teacher support; the process of navigating the college application process; the challenges and barriers of identifying campus resources and services, including access to financial aid; what their “first” identities mean to them; and the importance of “firsts” finding community at OSU. After the 45 minute student panel, the audience, which included about 30 attendees, had the opportunity to ask questions.<\/p>\n
How It All Began and Plans for the Future:<\/p>\n
In the fall of 2015, two OSU faculty, Allison Hurst and Rebecca Olson, who were first in their families to attend and graduate from college, approached Susana Rivera-Mills, Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies, to begin having conversations about how the university could better reach out to and serve “firsts.” During winter term 2016, a panel of faculty who were the first in their families to attend college,\u00a0guided by two moderators who were also first-generation college students, spoke about their experiences in higher education. After this, Rivera-Mills formed a committee to begin the planning process for another panel, a student panel with a similar format and purpose: to share stories to raise awareness of the issues and challenges facing “firsts” and to build a sense of community among “firsts” to ensure that they have the resources, services, and support they need to succeed. The committee has plans for a Celebrating FIRST event once per term.<\/p>\n
Student Panel Information:<\/p>\n
Date: May 17, 2016
\nLocation: OSU’s Native American Longhouse Eena Haws
\nLength: 01:13:01 (45 minute student panel and 28 minute audience Q & A)
\nPanelists: Racheal Croucher, Danielle Warner, Philip Rakowski, Kayla Davis, Christopher bertalotto, and Jesseanne Pope
\nModerator: Racheal Croucher<\/p>\n
Student Bios:<\/p>\n
Click Here for the Video Recording of Celebrating FIRST!<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On May 17, 2016 six OSU students shared their stories of being FIRST. At OSU, this past fall term, 27% of students self-identified as being “first”, which most commonly means a first generation college attendee. While being “first” can have … Continue reading