First-gen students’ success is a win for everyone
Dr. Rick Muma, president
Being the first to do anything requires bravery in the face of the unknown. For nearly half of Wichita State University undergraduate students, that courageous step was being the first in their families to attend college.
Without family members to help guide them on the nuances of financial aid, degree plans, course schedules, how to buy books for class, or where to find tutoring or other academic support, first-generation students often start off at a disadvantage. Even something as simple as joining a club or campus organization might be overwhelming to someone who has never been exposed to so many opportunities.
However, I’m continually impressed by our first-gen students’ tenacity, resourcefulness and determination; and I’m honored that they’ve trusted Wichita State to be part of their journey. Our aim is to make their campus experience run a little smoother and reduce some of the anxiety that comes with being the first in their family to attend college.
We have several initiatives on our campus to help ease the extraordinary burden that many of these pioneering students carry, including our efforts around increasing need-based financial aid, our F1RST Generation Coordinating Council, and support programs specifically aimed at this unique population.
As November is officially First-Gen Month at Wichita State, we’re taking the opportunity to highlight the first-gen journeys that some of our students, faculty and staff have taken. Among them are Dr. Bobby Berry, assistant dean for diversity and outreach for the College of Applied Studies, who says being first-gen allowed him the opportunity to create his own narrative; Jacey Arnett, a senior in health sciences, who says supplemental instruction has been the key to her success; and Eduardo Avila, a senior in human resources, who says his father’s support has helped him persevere through college. Read all of our first-gen student profiles at wsu.news/FirstGenHighlights.
Supporting these first-gen students is a responsibility to our students and community that we take very seriously, and it’s a critical part of our mission to be an economic driver for our state. By creating a campus culture that welcomes and supports first-gen students, we’re making a generational investment in Kansas; and we’re setting families up for success so that the future children of our first-gen students will be better prepared to attend and graduate from college.
So how does that help our state? We know that individuals holding bachelor's degrees will earn, on average, more than $900K over their careers when compared to individuals having only a high school diploma. Doing the math, that means that 100 additional degree-holding graduates will add $90 million to their communities’ economies over their lifetimes.
The connection is clear: Investing in the success of first-gen students is an investment in the future of our state. As we navigate November's celebration, let's recognize that by supporting these trailblazers, we are actively shaping a brighter future for themselves, their families and the entire state of Kansas.
Go Shockers!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rick Muma
President of Wichita State University