What First-Generation Students Can Expect at Wichita State

Wichita State University boasts nearly half of its student body identifying as first-generation college students (more than 45 percent). In honor of First Generation College Celebration Day, which takes place annually on Nov. 8, as well as the university’s month-long celebration, we want to shed some light on our robust first-gen student population.

What is First Gen?

Being a first-generation student means your parents did not graduate from college with a four-year degree. Why is this significant? According to the Pew Research Center, about 70 percent of adults ages 22-59 with at least one parent who has a bachelor’s degree or more have completed a bachelor’s degree themselves. On the opposite side, only 26 percent of those without a college-educated parent have a bachelor’s degree. Pew goes on to dive deeper into the research of how this creates a wealth gap between these two demographics.

Why It Matters at Wichita State

In 2019, Wichita State University was selected as a First Forward Institution. This means Shocker Nation demonstrates a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of its first-gen students.

How do we do this? Wichita State offers a variety of first-gen student organizations, events, and resources as a way to keep these students connected and provide them opportunities.

F1RST GEN Shockers

F1RST GEN can be broken into both student organizations, as well as faculty and staff departments tasked with providing a positive experience for students. F1RST GEN also has arguably to best t-shirts on campus!

The First-Generation Student Organization (FGSO) is the main (but not only) student group specifically geared for first gen students. Its mission is to be a platform to meet, share experiences and advocate for first-gen Shockers.

The First-Gen Coordinating Council (FGCC) is comprised of Wichita State professionals with the following mission:

• Create awareness related to the needs and success of first-gen students.
• Encourage involvement and support from faculty and staff members.
• Review data and outcomes in order to make recommendations for systemic change that leads to better experiences and outcomes for first-gen students.

Wichita State University’s F1RST GEN webpage goes more in-depth to the many resources offered to students. For further information, be sure to reach out to FGShockers@wichita.edu.