Utah Valley University’s efforts toward elevating the success of first-generation students has been recognized nationally, as UVU was recently named a First-Gen Forward Advisory Institution by a national group monitoring the success of such students.

This new status typically takes two years to reach, but a national collective of student affairs administrators in higher education — known as NASPA — has “recognized our level of engagement with students and the full support of our executive level,” said Marcy Glassford, the director of First-Year Experience and Student Retention at UVU. “We were in the first cohort of institutions last year and received the unusual request to become an advisory institution after just one year of participation, so we are thrilled with the progress of our program and the recognition it is receiving.”

Just last year, UVU received the NASPA “First Forward” designation, given to only a small number of institutions who have demonstrated a commitment to improve the educational outcomes of first-generation college students, Glassford said. At UVU, the First-Generation Student Completion Initiative is also known as “I Am First.”

In addition to the recent NASPA honor, the UVU I Am First program has been invited to be an inaugural member of the First Scholars Network, which is funded and directed by the nationally-known Suder Foundation. Again, Glassford said, only a small number of institutions are selected for this network.

“Our focus is to create support programs and provide scholarships for UVU first-generation students,” Glassford said. “Data indicates that the top-10 degrees chosen by first-generation students are associate degrees, and research indicates that many first-gen students don’t believe they can obtain a bachelor degree. At UVU, first-generation student retention and graduation is approximately 5% lower than our general student population, and so the I Am First program is focused toward improving the success of our students. Success can be completing a certificate to a two-year degree, or four-year degree.”

Roughly 37% of all undergraduates at UVU and 25% of new freshmen students are first-generation, Glassford said. 

The First-Generation Student Completion Initiative has received multiple donor fundings since its inception, as well, to increase scholarship offerings, Glassford said. She also pointed to the support of administration and faculty as reasons behind the program’s success.

“UVU saw early on that our first-generation students were struggling with staying in school and/or completing their degrees. With the initial support of President (Matthew) Holland, we received the institutional funding to move our efforts forward and programming monies to implement the vision from our strategic planning. This support has continued under President Tuminez’s leadership,” Glassford said. “We have also been very well-received by faculty in our efforts, and many have volunteered to mentor our students. And our students have welcomed our programming and support in a positive way and have been highly engaged.”