The First-Generation@Scripps program is designed for students who are the first in their family to attend a four year college. First-Gen guides Scripps students through their first year and beyond through exposure to faculty, resources, and workshops. The program also strives to bring awareness to issues surrounding first-generation students, faculty, and staff at Scripps.

History

The inaugural First-Generation@Scripps program was launched in Fall 2010 as a pre-orientation program. The three-day pre-orientation program focused on acquainting first-generation college students with resources available at Scripps. In Fall 2013, we welcomed our fourth cohort while also preparing for the graduation of our inaugural class.“The First Generation at Scripps program was very helpful in the adjustment to college life. It made so many things about the college experience that seemed far over my head (talking to professors, financial aid, finding an on-campus job) realistic and manageable. By the end of the program I knew what resources were offered by what offices and when to utilize them. Also, it was great coming to campus on the first day of orientation and seeing some familiar faces.” – Program participant

Purpose

The mission of the First-Generation at Scripps program is to provide support to students who are the first in their families to attend a four-year institution through a pre-orientation program for first-year students. Additionally, the program offers a series of educational and social events, activities, and workshops for all first-gen students at Scripps focused on the following themes:

• Help with transition;
• Build community;
• Get connected;
• Promote self-advocacy;
• Thrive

Signature Programs

• Pre-Orientation: A three-day pre-orientation is provided for all first-year first-generation students to help them gain knowledge about resources available at Scripps and helps them to connect with students, faculty, and staff who can mentor them in their transition to college This pre-orientation program is supported by a partnership between the Office of Admission and Student Affairs.

• Workshops: A variety of educational and social programming is offered throughout the school year to specifically meet the needs of first-gen students. These workshops are often crafted in direct response to what first-gen students share they want and need to best support their transition and success. Highlights of some of the programming includes: open house, preparing for summer options, lunches with faculty, dinner with the cohorts, time management, transitioning home for break, and choosing a major.

• Mentor Program: Within the first couple weeks of the fall semester, incoming first-generation college students are matched with returning students that identify as first-generation. The mentoring program is intended to assist the program in providing support to students who are the first in their families to attend a four-year institution. The mentor program is an informal effort to enable both individuals to build new skills, prepare for advancement and other growth opportunities, build self-esteem and self-confidence; and in so doing, contribute to the fulfillment of personal professional development and goals. While the mentor program is required for the first-semester, it is the aim of the program that the mentor to mentee relationship will continue beyond the first semester.

• Newsletter: The newsletter was created with the purpose of highlighting areas of diversity and achievement in the first-gen community as well as in the larger community of First-Generation students in higher education. Additionally, the newsletter provides opportunity to highlight the support students have at Scripps in faculty, staff, and other community members. The vision for the newsletter is to create content that is relevant and engaging. The hope is to foster constructive discourses between first-geners and allies alike: to reshape conversations at Scripps to be more inclusive, more aware, and open to the voices of those who have never been included in the conversation.

• First-Gen Student-Faculty Lunches: In an effort to improve the communication between faculty members and First-Gen students at Scripps, we have launched the “First-Gen Student-Faculty Lunches”. The lunches are open to students from all class years, faculty from multiple disciplines, and staff members from a wide range of departments.

• Co-Intern Office Hours: The First-Generation @ Scripps Program has Co-Interns that actively engage in creating programming for first-gen students. Additionally, the co-interns hold office hours in the Dean of Students office every week. Students are encouraged to drop by if they have questions about the program or just want to say hello!
  Evelyn Gonzalez: TBD
  Clarisse Salazar: TBD

• Faculty Liaison: The first-Generation @ Scripps Program also has a faculty member that serves as an advisor and liaison to the program. Additionally, the faculty liaison works to bridge partnerships between FGS initiative and faculty support and involvement.

First Generation Interns

• Clarisse Salazar (Bio and Pic)
• Evelyn Gonzalez (Bio and Pic)

Newsletters

*Insert Archived newsletters