A commitment to success of first-generation college students
The University of Texas at Arlington has been selected as a new member of the NASPA First Scholars Network for displaying a demonstrated commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.
Powered by the Center for First-generation Student Success, the NASPA First Scholars Network offers a national model for scaling holistic first-generation student success by engaging and empowering institutions of higher education to radically transform the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes and build more inclusive institutional structures.
“We are extremely honored to be selected as a First Scholars Network member,” said Tasha Talton, Transition Programs and Services director and co-chair of the UTA First-Generation Taskforce. “Furthering our efforts and investments on behalf of first-generations students will impact the success of the institution in all phases of the college experience. I have vested interest in the success of other first-generation students, because I was the first in my family to graduate from college.”
As members of the NASPA First Scholars Network, UTA will have the unique opportunity to learn and share best practices among colleagues from across the nation and to access to new models and services that will benefit first-generation students within three years. According to the Center for First-generation Student Success, over one-third of college students nationwide identify as first-generation.
“There was a group of UTA staff that came together and acknowledged this would be such a great designation for UTA to strive for,” said Jennifer Luken-Sutton, director of TRIO Student Support Services and co-chair of the UTA First-Generation Taskforce. “There are so many people on campus that have been doing transformative work and helped us launch the University into this space. As a first-generation graduate from UTA, I’m excited to see UTA continue to transform itself.”
At UTA, there are several programs that demonstrate a commitment to the success of this student population from start to finish.
“TRIO Student Support Services is a long-standing first-gen resource on our campus. It provides tutoring, advising and academic coaching to students who are the first in their families to attend an institution of higher education,” Talton said. “At the Transition Programs and Services Department, we established the First-Generation Initiatives Program in spring 2021 to ensure there are intentional strategies for success on behalf of first-generation students throughout every phase and touchpoint during their time at UTA.”
In a four-phase approach, the NASPA First Scholars Networks allows institutions of higher education to advance student success through establishing communities of practice, gaining knowledge of resources and establishing peer networks. Ultimately, all network institutions strive for national leadership as a First Scholars Champion Campus.
“This recognition is important to UTA because it’s helping us build a stronger foundation that includes various aspects of the student experience,” Talton said. “It’s a win-win scenario and an opportunity we couldn’t miss.”