
F1RST GEN HILLTOPPERS
F1RST GEN HILLTOPPERS
Who Are First-Generation Hilltoppers?
We are excited that you are interested in the Climb With Us! As a First Generation student, you are already demonstrating your resilience and resourcefulness, but we all know the climb can be steep. Think of the resources and engagement opportunities on this page as climbing tools that can help you reach the Top and benefit you even after graduation. |
First Generation
Students Enrolled
of WKU Students
are First Generation
First Gen Faculty
and Staff Advocates
How Do I Prepare for WKU?
What F1rst Gen Programs Are Available?
High School Summer Camp
For high school students who will be first-generation college students. Live and eat on campus, meet other first-gen students, and sample the college experience. More information and the interest form link is on the camp webpage.
Living Learning Community
The F1rstGen LLC is for incoming first-time, first-year WKU students. Students who are unsure of their major are preferred. More information and link to housing application is on the LLC webpage.
Mentorship Program
At the beginning of each semester, students will be matched with a student, faculty/staff, or alumni success coach who can provide guidance and encouragement. You may prepare for your profession or grad school; develop career or study skills; and much more.
Make It Count
All students are welcome at our workshops and social events. See the Upcoming Events list for details. First-gen students can track participation in events and other
selected activities in Suitable to earn points toward completion grant eligibility.
National First Gen Celebration Week
Join us as we raise awareness for the first generation experience each November. Our National Celebration activities include the First Gen Alumni-in-Residence program in cooperation with the WKU Alumni Association and the academic colleges.
F1rst 2 the Hill Academy
Begin in your second year, continue till you graduate! Participants in this cohort
program receive career skills training, mentors, scholarship opportunities, and more.
There is NO cost for participants. Sign up at the end of your first year.
Student Spotlight
Htee Shee Paw
Why did you get involved with the First Gen Program?
In 2009, we moved to America to escape war and ethnic persecution. Growing up, I witnessed
the immense sacrifices my parents made to provide my two brothers and me with a better
life. My mom worked as a nurse, and my dad served in the military before we moved.
They instilled in us the importance of education, perseverance, and faith. College
was challenging, and at times, I felt like an impostor. During my freshman year, when
I had college-related questions, there wasn't anyone I could immediately turn to for
help. The larger college environment made it harder to connect with others, and I
struggled with the lack of structure and the uncertainty of navigating higher education.
Read more...
What Other Resources Are Provided?
Click on the column headers to sort the list.
Terminology | Definitions and Tips |
---|---|
Provost | Chief academic officer of the university, Dr. Bud Fischer. Reports directly to the President. |
Faculty | University employees who teach classes, conduct research, and perform services such as advising student groups and working on committees. Tip: If in doubt, call them Professor. Call them Doctor if they have earned a Ph.D., Ed.D, or other doctoral level degree. |
Office Hours (aka Student Hours) | The time a faculty person sets aside to be available to students outside of class. Tip: Use office hours to get to know your professor. Don't wait until you have a problem! |
First-generation WKU Student | Neither of the student's parents/guardians has a four-year, or higher, college degree from an accredited university or college in the United States. |
Registrar | Maintains all academic records, current and past. This includes registration for courses, grades, degree programs, approving graduation eligibility, and transcripts. |
College | There are five academic colleges within Western Kentucky University: PCAL, OCSE, CHHS, GFCB, and CEBS. Each academic college is led by a Dean. |
Academic Standing | A "C" average (GPA 2.0) or better is required to be in "good" academic standing. You must be in good academic standing to receive federal financial assistance. Tip: Some programs require higher than "C" average. Aim high, especially in your major! |
Dean | The leader of an academic college. At WKU this includes: PCAL, OCSE, CHHS, GFCB, and CEBS. Also, Dean of Libraries and Dean of Students. |
Drop/Add | The time during the beginning of a semester when courses can be dropped or added without a penalty. |
Plagiarism | Presenting someone else's ideas as your own. Tip: Don't do it! |
Syllabus | A document that outlines the essential information about a college course. Tip: review the course syllabus early and note important dates on your calendar! Return to the syllabus throughout the semester, as needed. |
Student Ombuds Officer | An impartial point of contact for students who have questions about university policies. |
President | The university's chief executive officer. Reports to the Board of Regents. |
Staff | Staff are university employees working in offices, taking care of buildings, and serving students across campus. "Faculty" and "Staff" are considered two separate classifications, but some staff members also teach courses. |
Advisor | A designated faculty or staff member who helps a student choose and register for classes and select an overall course of study. |
Blackboard | This is the Learning Management System (LMS) used by WKU faculty to house course information, assignments, and grades. Tip: How Blackboard is used by a particular faculty person can vary. Be sure to log in early and be familiar with each course! |
FERPA | The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects student information. This means that your information can only be shared with "non-essential" individuals, including your parents, with your written consent. |
Financial Assistance | Financial assistance or financial aid includes grants and scholarships (money you don't pay back), loans (money you pay back with interest), and money you can earn (stipends and work-study). Tip: Complete your FAFSA every year to help ensure that you receive the maximum amount of financial assistance. |
Major | The area of study that you choose to pursue. Each major includes a list of courses and a minimum number of overall course hours to take. (Note: The number of hours required for a specific major will count toward the requirement to have 120 course hours in order to graduate.) |
General Education | At WKU, the general education program is The Colonnade Program. General education is a part of all accredited four-year/Bachelor's degrees. The program is designed to ensure that each student has foundational skills, knowledge, and perspective to be an effective professional and better citizen. |
Matriculate | To enroll at a college or university as a degree-seeking student. |
You can read the spring 2024 Professional Learning Community (PLC) book online for
free courtesy of WKU Libraries. Read it all, or select the chapters and critical conversations of interest to you.
Book: At the Intersection: Understanding and Supporting First-Generation Students
Editors: Robert Longwell-Grice and Hope Longwell-Grice
WKU Libraries FirstGen Research Guide
This research guide is divided into the following categories: Best Practices for
Teaching, Background Reading, and Resources for Students.
FirstGen Forward Network
Click on the "Journal & Research" and " Engagement" links to see the extensive array
of information available. The Network also offers opportunities to attend conferences
and webinars.
Sample Syllabus Wording
Consider including a statement on your syllabus indicating your advocacy for first-generation
students. If desired, the following statement can be used verbatim or with adjustments
to better represent your voice and plans for students. For more syllabus tips, contact
WKU CITL or refer to Designing a Motivational Syllabus (Harrington and Thomas, 2018)
If you are a first-generation college student, at WKU this is defined as someone whose parents or legal guardian did not graduate from a traditional four-year college, then you may face a unique set of challenges or have questions that may not seem to apply to other students. I want you to know that this is completely normal and I am here to support you! If you have questions about our class or about WKU in general, please contact me or visit with me in office hours. Again, I am here to support you and am excited to see you succeed at WKU!
Faculty, Staff, and Students may request a t-shirt, F1rstGen sticker, and F1rstGen Family sticker by using the webform on this page.
Email Signature Graphics
Show your support for first-generation students by adding a graphic to your email signature. Click image to download.
Zoom Backgrounds
Show your support for first-generation students by using a first-generation advocate
Zoom background during your next meeting. Click image to download.
F1rstGen Leadership Team (faculty and staff)
Cierra Waller - CITL Student Success, F1rst 2 the Hill Academy (F2HA)
April McCauley - CITL Student Success, F1rstGen LLC
Destiny O’Rourke - TRIO-SSS
LaMario Moore - Intercultural Student Engagement Center
Cara Cordell - GFCB Student Success
Dr. Dawn Winters - PCAL Faculty, Department of English
Jeremy Logsdon - CEBS Faculty, School of Teacher Education
Tammy Dorris - WKU Online Student Services
pending - CHHS Student Wellness Navigator
Wayne Simpson - Career Development Center
Zach Marcum - Alumni Association liaison
F1rstGen Student Leadership
Alyssa Fisk - Ambassador, Event Planning Committee Chair
Camryn Douglas - Ambassador, Event Planning Committee
Htee Shee Paw - Ambassador, Promo and Marketing Committee Chair, Student Org Exploratory
Committee
Jessie Puii - Promo and Marketing Committee
Kania Sims - Event Planning Committee
Lejla Guhdija - Ambassador, Leadership Team Student Representative
Maahi Patel - Event Planning Committee
Makiyah Morrow - Ambassador, Student Org Exploratory Committee
Marquavis Baker - Ambassador, Mentorship Program Committee
Melanie Mora-Arce - Ambassador, Promo and Marketing Committee, Mentorship Program
Committee
Peter Aung - Ambassador, Student Org Exploratory Committee Chair, Leadership Team
Student Representative
Sandy Cruz - Ambassador, Promo and Marketing Committee, Leadership Team Student Representative
Talaya Guest - Ambassador, Promo and Marketing Committee, Event Planning Committee
Competencies
F1rstGen programming strives to build the following competencies. These competencies mesh the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies with the skills needed to excel as part of the WKU student body.
- Career & Professional Development
- Communication & Community Building
- Personal Development & Well-being
- Leadership & Service
- Academic Engagement & Achievement
FirstGen Forward Network Member
We are excited to be reaffirmed as part of the FirstGen FORWARD Network. This organization, previously known as the Center for First-Generation Student Success, is dedicated to raising awareness and opportunities for first-generation students nationwide. The First Scholars Network offers a national model for scaling holistic first-generation student success by engaging and empowering higher education institutions to transform the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes, and build more inclusive institutional structures.
Alumni-in-Residence Program received 2024 Circle of Excellence Award from CASE
The WKU Alumni Association and its partners in the Office of the Provost, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning and each academic college have been honored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) with a Silver award in the category of Leadership: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives for the First Generation Alumni in Residence Program launched in November 2023.
F1rstGen Programs Highlighted in the WKU Spirit Magazine
Interested in Learning More?
Larissa Frisby
Hometown Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Major Chinese and Biology
Do you have any advice for First-Gen Students?
Embrace the challenges you will inevitably face during your university journey. It took me numerous setbacks to recognize my limitations and learn the importance of reaching out for support.
"I am first gen, and my experiences in University have shaped my perspective on education and opportunity."
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