First Generation College Student Advising Community

Welcome!  This community was first formed as interest group in April 2001 to identify and address issues pertaining to first-generation college students (first gens). Ongoing discussions focus on the definition of terms, ways of identifying first-generation students, and concerns particular to these students. 

This community welcomes your input.  If you are interested in joining our LISTSERV to engage in discussions concerning first-generation college students, click here, or to join our Facebook page and network with other first-gen advising professionals and share ideas, research, and more, click here.

We are launching a few initiatives to our FGAC Steering Committee master schedule in hopes of continuing to engage members.
1) FGAC Spotlight - highlighting instances of academic advisors, educators, and student affairs professional's involvment and engagement through campus programs and initiatives, and professional development in support of First Gen College Students. 
2) Community Engagement - A FGAC member is leading the charge to engage other first-gen professionals who are interested in professional development opportunities including mentorship for academic advisors new to the field and seasoned academic advisors who are looking for leadership opportunities. Please take a few minutes to fill our community engagement survey. We want to hear from you!

Online Discussions

Past Online Event Discussion Recordings: are located on NACADA's Advising Communities Division's homepage. Login to your NACADA member profile to view a full listing of past Advising Community online event recordings.

November 2023

First Gen Friday Series - National First-Gen Celebration Day Open Discussion
Friday, November 10, 2023, at 11:00 AM CT

Event Description: In recognition of November 8th: National First Generation Student Celebration Day, what are you doing on your college campus to be a wall breaker or a bridge builder? Attend an open discussion on ways first-gen advising professionals participate as bridge builders or wall breakers in an attempt to stop the systemic institutional gatekeeping issue academic advisors witness on college campuses today. First-gen advising professionals are encouraged to discuss and share ways their office and campus community celebrate this day and inspire ideas for others to consider during next year’s celebration. Register here

Facilitators:

  • Sandra Avalos, Kansas State University
  • Wanda Reyes-Dawes, Manchester Community College
  • Zach Desjardins, University of Albany SUNY
  • Shannon Sousa, Massachusetts
  • Kristen Caudle, University of Missouri
  • Madeline Goldman, Virginia Commonwealth
  • Jackie Thomas-Miller, Purdue University
  • Wynter Green-Allen, Baruch College
  • Dan Birch, University of Calgary
September 2023

First Gen Friday Series - Carrying the Weight: The True Cost of First-Gen Achievement Guilt
Friday, September 15, 2023, at 11:00 AM CT

Event Description: First-Generation College Students (FGCS) are the pioneers and trailblazers of higher education for their families. Higher education has its own unique culture, language and history which can be difficult for many first-generation college students to understand. Every semester FGCS travel through unknown territory, navigating the “hidden curriculum” while possibly carrying significant guilt for leaving their families and other responsibilities at home. This guilt manifests itself in low-retention and academic persistence rates, a poor sense of belonging both in the collegiate environment and at home with their family, and lack of engagement in the campus community. This presentation will draw on intersectionality, appreciative advising techniques, the role of advisors as cultural navigators, and personal anecdotes to uncover where this “guilt” comes from to illuminate how First-Gen Advising Professionals can help FGCS navigate the complexities of a “double life”. First-Gen Advising Professionals’ intentionality in addressing this pervasive guilt can help integrate first-generation college students into the culture of higher education and empower them to take greater agency in their own academic and personal journeys. With the support of inclusive institutional policies and First-Gen University Professionals, FGCS can graduate on-time, discover their true potential, and inspire and elevate the many generations to come. Register here

Facilitators:

  • Sandra Avalos, Kansas State University
  • Zach Desjardins, SUNY Albany
  • Shannon Sousa, Northeastern University
  • Susan Aguiar, Emmanuel College
August 2023

First Gen Friday Series - Networking/Mixer for TRIO SSS & First-Gen Professionals
Friday, August 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM CT

Event Description: An advising and networking open discussion covering an overview of TRIO Student Support Services. Advising professionals will share approaches to serving first-gen students in TRIO SSS and other federally funded programs and identify student challenges and successes in these programs. Also, identify student challenges and successes in these programs. Register here. 

Facilitators:

  • Sandra Avalos, Kansas State University
  • Anthony Webster, Eastern Michigan University
  • Chimene Boone, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Apryl Scheffler-Martin, Kalamazoo Valley Community College
  • Moises Olavarrieta, Pepperdine University
  • Zachary Desjardins, University of Albany SUNY
May 2023

May the Wellness Be With You: Tips & Strategies to Avoid Burnout and Create a Wellness Advising Culture
Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 1:00 PM CT

Event Description: In collaboration with NACADA's Well-Being and Advisor Retention Advising Community - In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we encourage academic advising professionals to attend an open discussion on common stressors that lead to advisor burnout. May the force be with you, as we reflect on the academic year and share practical wellness tips and strategies to promote a culture of wellness in our advising offices.

Facilitators:

  • Sandra Avalos, Kansas State University
  • Olivia Miller, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Shannon Sousa, Northeastern University
  • Wanda Reyes-Dawes, Manchester Community College
  • Zach Desjardins, University of Albany, SUNY
  • Moises Olaverrieta, Pepperdine University
  • Chanda Walter, South Dakota State University
  • Becky Helms, Troy University 
  • Melissa Cumbia, Virginia Tech
May 2023

May the Wellness Be With You: Tips & Strategies to Avoid Burnout and Create a Wellness Advising Culture
Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 1:00 PM CT

Event Description: In collaboration with NACADA's Well-Being and Advisor Retention Advising Community - In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we encourage academic advising professionals to attend an open discussion on common stressors that lead to advisor burnout. May the force be with you, as we reflect on the academic year and share practical wellness tips and strategies to promote a culture of wellness in our advising offices.

Facilitators:

  • Sandra Avalos, Kansas State University
  • Olivia Miller, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Shannon Sousa, Northeastern University
  • Wanda Reyes-Dawes, Manchester Community College
  • Zach Desjardins, University of Albany, SUNY
  • Moises Olaverrieta, Pepperdine University
  • Chanda Walter, South Dakota State University
  • Becky Helms, Troy University 
  • Melissa Cumbia, Virginia Tech
April 2023

Creating a “Toolkit” of Resources for First Year, First Generation College Students
Friday, April 28, 2023, at 1:00 PM CT

Event Description: In collaboration with NACADA's First-Year Students Advising Community - Join the First Year and First Gen advising communities as we come together to create a “toolkit” of information and resources that seek to meet the needs of First Year Generation College Students. The purpose of this event is to bring the Advising First Year Students and First Generation College Students Advising Communities together to discuss what resources are currently available to serve First Year, First-Generation College Students. During this event, we will share and discuss tools that institutions currently utilize to meet the needs of First Year, First Generation College Students during their first year of college. We will also work together to create a “toolkit” or document of resources that can be altered easily to meet the specific needs of First Year, First Generation College Students at each attendee’s institution. 

Facilitators:

  • Sandra Avalos, Kansas State University
  • Kelci Kosin, Columbia College Chicago
  • Claude Taylor, Monmouth University, NJ
  • Moises Olavarrieta, Pepperdine University
  • Comfort Suminda, University of Hawai'i at Hilo
  • Kasey Swanke, University of Notre Dame
  • Wanda Reyes-Dawes, Manchester Community College

 

Fill out our First Gen Advising Community Survey 

 We would like to hear from you! Fill out our FGAC survey. Member's feedback is encouraged throughout the academic year as we continue to meet the goals of this community. If you are interested in being involved and serving on the steering committee, please contact Sandra Avalos at (savalos@ksu.edu).

Want to Contribute an Idea to our Community?

Fill out our Communication Member Engagement Survey to learn how members are reaching us and what other better ways we can engage and serve our members. Communications subcommittee will  review and monitor the responses and make appropriate considerations and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.

To learn more about current Chair, Sandra Avalos, please read Bio! 

Past First Generation Virtual Recordings

NACADA First Generation Advising Community Writing A Conference Proposal Workshop
Friday, February 11, 2022
Presented by Research Subcommittee, Team Lead Jackie Thomas-Miller
Handout
NACADA Region 5: "How To Write A Conference Proposal" presented by Sara Howard
Recording

Master Class Virtual Session for Student Affairs Professionals who work with First Generation Students sponsored by Circle of Change Leadership
Higher Education advising professionals who work with first gen students share a variety of strategies and best practices as well as professional development resources to use to position their students for personal, academic, leadership, and career success. 
Recording

Circle of Change Leadership Experience First Generation Student Spotlight Series
During the COC First Gen Career Conference in November, seven first generation student professionals participated in a video interview sharing their collegiate and professional experience and insights as a first generation student. 
Recording 

Insights From First-Gen Students Virtual Event Recording
Hosted by The Chronicle of Higher Education
Monday, December 13, 2021, 2 p.m. EST
Recording

The Lessons from Making First Gen a Priority Recording

Hosted by The Chronicle of Higher Education
Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 2 p.m. EST
Recording

First-Gen Scholars Book Publishing Webinar 
Hosted by UC Press & UC Collaborative of Humanities Centers & Institutes
Jan. 21, 2022 - 12 - 2 p.m. PST
Panel discussion to help first-gen scholars learn about the book publishing process.
Webinar Recording 
Webinar Resource Links:
https://aupresses.org/resources/finding-a-publisher/
https://newsletter.manuscriptworks.com/
https://osf.io/n8pc3/
https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691209678/the-book-proposal-book 


First Generation Symposium
Flying First, First-Generation Symposium 
Hosted by Rowan University
Wednesday & Thursday, Feb 2 -3, 2021 
Click here for more information about sessions, guest speakers
Symposium session recordings, Click Here

 

WNYAdvising Annual Conference
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 from 9 a.m. -3:30 p.m. EST
Virtual and FREE

Virtual First-Generation Symposium
Hosted by North Carolina Community College System and NASPA, Center for First-Gen Student Success
Friday, March 4, 2022 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST
For more information- contact

Send your ideas for our FGAC newsletter!

We want to include relevant information and news ideas from ALL members of the NACADA First Gen Advising Community to have a fair representation of topics. Please send us your content –articles, presentation summaries, event highlights, photos, and/or website links to first.gen.advising@gmail.com. Unsure of what to submit? Please look back at our previous newsletter in July and September under the News tab below.
 

Celebrate First Gen Students

The Center for First-Generation Student Success and the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) encourage colleges and universities to celebrate the success of first generation college students, faculty and staff on your campus in any way possible. Click here to learn ways to plan events, build relationships with colleagues, involve leadership and even post your plans to the website. If you are sharing your event on social media platforms, tag @COEtalk and @FirstgenCenter, and use the hashtag #CelebrateFirstGen

Are you a NACADA member and academic advisor who wants to share ways your college campus can celebrate first generation students during National First Generation College Celebration Day on November 8th? Do you want to learn more about this? Please email the Communications subcommittee at first.gen.advising@gmail.com with an example of how your campus or school celebrates first gen students. We will collect your submissions and find ways to distribute them to our membership on various communication platforms, our website or point you to resources or ways to collaborate on this topic. 

First-Gen Student Announcement:

On Tuesday, Nove. 30th a bipartisan resolution was agreed on by a team of Senators who helped steer S. Res. 437 to passage under unanimous consent to support the importance of November 8, better known as National First Generation College Celebration Day. This recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of First-Generation College Students around the country. Cheers to being first and making history!!  Click here to view the direct link to the legislation bill.

Current Chair

Sandra Avalos
Kansas State University

Current Term: 2022-2024

NACADA Presents First Gen Podcast Series

Podcast here
Please email the Communications Subcommittee if you have an idea for a podcast topic, would like to be a guest speaker or want to suggest a contact to reach who is interested in being featured. 

Meeting Minutes

Recordings