Celebrate Being First-Generation on National First-Gen Day!  

Seton Hall University is proud to participate in National First-Generation Day which is an opportunity to celebrate the success of first-generation students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Seton Hall defines first-generation as the first in their family to attend college.

According to the Center for First-Generation Student Success, "November 8 was selected as the date for the annual National First-Generation College Celebration to honor the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The Higher Education Act ("HEA") emerged out of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. Much like other hallmark legislation of that era, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, HEA was intended to help level a playing field that for too long had been weighed against Americans from minority and low-income backgrounds. In addition to creating federal grants and loan programs to help students finance their educations, the legislation made key investments in institutions of higher education. Additionally, HEA ushered in programs, particularly the Federal TRIO programs, necessary for postsecondary access, retention, and completion for low-income, potential first-generation college graduates".

"Click here to learn more about the Higher Education Act of 1965, the creation of Federal TRIO programs, and the history of National First-Generation College Celebration" (Council for Opportunity Education, 2019).

Each year we have 25-30% of incoming students that identify as first-generation that we welcome to our Pirate family. Our President, Dr. E. Joseph, is also a proud first-generation college graduate and has long supported first-gen initiatives.

The many programs SHU offers to support our current first-generation students such as the Education Opportunity Program (EOP), the Resilience, Integrity, Scholarship, and Excellence (RISE) program and First-Gen Club on campus. The Upward Bound program guides first-generation high school students to ensure college access.

The First-Gen Club is hosting an event on Monday, November 8th to celebrate all first-gen students at 6pm in McNulty room 106. Join us to celebrate being first-gen!

If you wish to learn more information about any of these programs, please use the following links or email for additional information:

• EOP
• RISE
• Upward Bound
• First-Gen Club

Last year, Seton Hall was selected by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) for the First-Gen Forward Award which recognizes higher education institutions committed to first-generation student success. SHU is now considered a first-generation serving institution.

Most recently, Seton Hall has received a 750,000 grant to support first-generation students through the Opportunity Meets Innovation (OMI) Grant which will expand our outreach even further to first-generation students.

We are excited to celebrate all of our first-generation students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Please join us on November 8th in celebrating our first-generation community by tagging us in your posts about why you are proud to be first-gen. Take a photo and caption why you are proud and use the hashtag #SetonhallFirstGeneration

Happy First-Gen Day! Go Pirates!

References
https://firstgen.naspa.org/engagement/first-generation-college-celebrationhttps://firstgen.naspa.org/blog/why-celebrate-on-november-8

Categories: Campus Life, Education