5 Things to Know About the First-Generation Experience at CofC
First-generation college students face unique challenges, and the College of Charleston is here to help! The College invites you in celebrating its first-generation students for National First Generation College Week, Nov. 3-8!
Watch this “First-Gen” documentary featuring first-generation students at the College of Charleston as they inspire and provide advice for others! The film was directed and edited by first-gen CofC student, Jakob Highducheck.
All CofC students experience “firsts” during their time on campus – from the moment they move into a dorm room to the moment they cross the Cistern. But, for first-generation college students, the “firsts” are even more prominent.
At the College of Charleston, we recognize the unique challenges that first-generation students face and are dedicated to making the CofC experience smooth, nurturing and fulfilling for FG students.
From navigating financial aid to academic guidance to building a supportive community, FG students will find encouragement and assistance from FG champions all across campus.
What is Considered a First-Generation Student?
At the College of Charleston, a first-generation college student is any student whose guardian(s) have not completed a four-year degree.
Below are five things to know about the first-generation college student’s experience at the College of Charleston!
The College Celebrates Its First-Generation Students!
First-generation students are a vital piece of the College of Charleston community, providing unique insight and achievements.
To that end, the College celebrates National First Generation Day (Nov. 8) annually to honor students, faculty and staff who are the first in their families to attend college. It commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which expanded educational opportunities for low-income and first-generation students.
But why stop there? This year, the College is celebrating National First Generation College Week, Nov. 3–8. Here are just a few of their featured events:
Welcome Bash
Monday, Nov. 3
Kick off First-Generation Week with a celebratory event – including a mixer and tabling – to welcome students and recognize them for their unique journeys and achievements!
At the FG Mixer, held in the Robert Scott Small Building, room 235, from 12–2 p.m, FG students will connect with one another and faculty and staff, building a community through shared experiences. The first 25 students to attend will get first-generation swag bags!
In addition, there will be tabling in Cougar Mall from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., where FG students can connect and learn about campus resources specifically designed for them.
ASRO First-Generation Drop-Ins
Tuesday, Nov. 4, & Wednesday, Nov. 5
10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Lightsey Center, Suite B-12
The Academic Success and Retention Office is excited to host drop-ins for first-generation students looking for guidance or support, or even help creating a success plan! It’s a great opportunity for FG students to get answers to their questions about navigating college and to connect with people who understand their journey.
First-Generation Students Are Not Alone at the College!
As unique as the FG experience is, it’s not rare! In fact, at the College of Charleston, there are at least 5,118 students who identify as first-generation! So, join the club!
The First Generation Students of CofC club is a student-led organization dedicated to fostering a welcoming community for first-generation students and connecting them to one another and to valuable campus resources and support services.
“I am so proud of myself for putting myself out there and joining the First-Generation Students of CofC club,” says the club’s vice president Addie McDaniel, adding that the club holds two events a month: one social gathering and one educational/informational event. “Come out and join the First-Gen club, you will not regret it!”
Indeed, there is a strong community of FG students here to welcome, support and advise one another. From emotional wellness, social wellbeing, academic success and living in Charleston: The advice on this webpage is from FG students, for FG students – and it’s a great place to start!
First-Generation Faculty and Staff Are Here to Help!
The Cougar community is full of first-generation faculty and staff who are excited to support FG students and help them embrace the journey, overcome obstacles and celebrate their success.
“What has surprised me is that we have so many faculty members here at CofC who were also first-generation students and are so happy to just talk to you and exchange advice and experiences,” says McDaniel, a sophomore early childhood education major.
Indeed, all you need to do is refer to the First-Generation Faculty & Staff Directory to see just how many CofC faculty and staff are out there ready to connect. The directory provides contact information and quotes of faculty and staff from various areas of campus so students can reach out, ask questions, share experiences, get advice and build their support network. It even has lists of faculty and staff who can speak to experiences of specific individuals, including students who are parents, international, LGBTQ+, military and veterans and AALANA.
RELATED: Find out how faculty and staff can join the directory!
In addition, faculty and staff gather via Zoom from 12–12:30 p.m. on the third Friday of every month for First-Gen Fridays. Whether they identify as FG or not, all faculty and staff are welcome to come to these virtual lunch-and-learn meetups to share ideas, ask questions and help build a collective vision for FG success at the College.
First-Generation Students are a Priority at the College!
Resources and support for FG students are abundant across campus, with the Academic Success and Retention Office leading many of the initiatives.
The ASRO provides academic coaching, outreach, workshops and monthly correspondence.
“We’re here for all things first-gen,” says Alexis Carr, ASRO’s retention and graduation specialist. “We do a lot of success planning with them, and they get monthly emails from me with helpful tips and resources and ways to connect to campus.”
The ASRO also provides online resources and support, including via the First-Generation Hub site and the First-Gen College 101 Guide, a digital, interactive notebook that includes all kinds of helpful tips, reflective activities, insider advice and campus resources specifically for FG students.
Indeed, there are plenty of valuable resources across campus that FG students can use as they transition into college life – including the First-Year Experience program and which McDaniel has found particularly helpful.
“Since my parents had no experience in college or how to navigate through college, I was kind of going into everything blind. I feel like the First-Year Experience program here not only helped me navigate the basics of college and college classes, it also helped me branch out and connect to other freshmen who I am still friends with now,” she says, adding that the Center for Student Learning has also been a game changer. “The CSL is such an essential resource on campus for students who are struggling in their classes. The CSL has helped me in so many of my classes and help me be the great student I am!”
The Future is Bright for First-Generation Students at the College!
The vision for first-generation students is always expanding at the College of Charleston, with the ASRO planning initiatives and collaboration across campus.
“I’ve been working with New Student Programs to hopefully get some first-gen sessions put on the orientation schedules in the summer, and then I’m hopeful for a first-gen to be incorporated into the First-Year curriculum to be approved for next year,” says Carr. “So, we’ve got things in the works!”
And, to find out what else they can do, the ASRO is collecting data for FG students through surveys and other methods.
“The survey helps in relaying the thoughts and concerns and ideas – and all the things – for our first-gen students,” says Carr. “That we can better assess their values and needs.”
In the meantime, the College is here to welcome, encourage and guide its first-generation students.
“My advice to other first-generation students is that you belong here,” says McDaniel. “Never doubt yourself! You are capable of amazing things, and your future is so bright!”
The “First Gen” documentary above was directed by Jakob Highducheck and written/created by Honors College graduate Molly Maloney ’24 for her Bonner Leader Program senior project. The film contributed to the creation of the First Generation Students of CofC club, which Maloney co-founded, and the First-Gen Hub, which now hosts the film online to continue supporting first-generation students into the future.
Highducheck is a passionate storyteller and advocate for change. A Fulbright alumnus, Phi Beta Kappa KIPS Scholar, Bonner Leader and Honors College Fellow, the biology/environmental sustainability double-major aspires to direct films for National Geographic. Through his company, Shaka Film Productions (Instagram, YouTube), he continues to direct inspiring films and video projects.
