I’m a First Initiative

The Office of Institutional Diversity defines First-Generation as:

If you are an HMC student, faculty, or staff member for whom:

  • Neither parent/guardian graduated from a four-year college. This means that you are part of the first generation in your family to attend a four-year college/university to attain a bachelor’s degree.
  • Neither parent/guardian completed a four-year college degree in the United States.
  • Only one parent/guardian completed a four-year college degree in the United States.

The goals of this initiative are:

  • To create awareness of first-generation students, staff and faculty on campus.
  • To provide a sense of connection, access and encouragement for first-gen students by sharing faculty and staff stories and first-generation resources.
  • To foster connection and community among first-generation faculty and staff through online resources and gatherings.
  • To provide resources including research literature, current articles and educational opportunities for campus departments and organizations to build on these connections for outreach and student success.

Programs Include

First Gen+ Conversations

Dinner conversations to build community; with purposeful topics and guided reflection to help develop personal tools to work through issues and barriers that First-Gen+ scholars may encounter in college. Conversations are led by Dr. Lisette Sanchez, (she/her/ella), a bilingual and bicultural psychologist, insightful writer, and dynamic speaker. Workshop topics include navigating family expectations and guilt associated with being away at college, imposter phenomenon and more.

First-Gen+ Socials and Study Hours

In collaboration with FLISHMC, socials and study hours are held to support the First-Gen+ community with a space to connect, decompress, discuss issues related to college and personal development and support each other as scholars.

First-Gen+ Support

First Gen+ Scholars can meet with OID Associate Dean, Veronica Clairmont to discuss concerns, questions or barriers that they may be experiencing in college. A personal development plan may be created and could involve being connected to other campus and TCCS resources to help students reach their personal, professional and academic goals.

Schedule a First-Gen Support appointment.