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 First-Generation@Scripps program was launched in fall 2010 as a pre-orientation program. The three-day pre-orientation focused on acquainting first-generation college students with resources available at Scripps. In fall 2013, the program welcomed its fourth cohort while also preparing for the graduation of its inaugural class.

“The First-Generation@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@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-generation students at Scripps, focused on the following themes:

• Helping with transition
• Building community
• Getting connected
• Promoting self-advocacy
• Thriving

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 help 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 Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.
• Workshops: A variety of educational and social programming is offered throughout the school year to specifically meet the needs of first-generation students. These workshops are often crafted in direct response to what first-generation students share about wants and needs to best support their transition and success. Program highlights include an open house, preparation for summer options, lunches with faculty, dinner with the cohorts, time-management advice, tips for transitioning home for break, and guidance in choosing a major.
• Mentor Program: Within the first few weeks of the fall semester, incoming first-generation college students are matched with returning students who identify as first-generation. The mentoring program is intended to assist in providing support to students who are the first in their families to attend a four-year institution. The mentoring 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 work toward the fulfillment of personal professional development and goals. While the mentoring program is required for the first semester, it is the aim of the program that the mentor-mentee relationship continue beyond the first semester.
• Newsletter: The newsletter was created with the purpose of highlighting areas of diversity and achievement in the first-generation community as well as in the larger community of first-generation students in higher education. Additionally, the newsletter provides opportunities to highlight the support that 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 discourse between first-generation students and allies alike: to reshape conversations at Scripps to be more inclusive, more aware
• Student-Faculty Lunches: In an effort to improve communication between faculty members and first-generation students at Scripps, these 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 who actively engage in creating programming for first-generation 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.
• Faculty Liaison: The First-Generation@Scripps program has a faculty member who serves as an advisor and liaison to the program. The faculty liaison also works to bridge partnerships between the program and the faculty, building support and involvement.

First-Generation Interns

Elizabeth Galvan

Hi! My name is Elizabeth, and I am from Renton, Washington. I am a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, as well as one of the First Generation @ Scripps Co-Interns this year! During my time at Scripps I have worked as a Peer Health Educator at the Sallie Tiernan Field House health and wellness center, a Peer Mentor Team Leader for the New Student Program, been on the Admission Advisory Board for the Scripps Office of Admission, and been a member of Cafe con Leche as well as the C3 comic book community. I also studied abroad at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England my junior year and had an amazing time traveling about the United Kingdom and Europe! Improving first-generation post-secondary access and attainment in low-income underrepresented communities is a huge passion of mine, especially more so as I have come to realize the stark differences between the communities I have come from and those which have come to be traditionally found in four-year colleges and universities across the board. Thus, quite a bit of what I have been involved with both in and outside of Scripps has revolved around providing resources and support to those who have not had the opportunity to receive them. Aside from this, when I have the time, I love playing video games with friends, watching telenovelas and anime, and listening to music on long bus rides while exploring the greater Los Angeles area. 

Diana Arreola

Hello!! My name is Diana, and I am a Computer Science major at Harvey Mudd College (I changed my major three times before picking this :O) , as well as one of the First Gen @ Scripps Co-Interns this year! My hometown is Boyle Heights, Ca, but now I live in Chino, Ca, 20 minutes away from campus. During my time at Scripps, I have worked in the Office of Student Engagement as an Office Assistant, worked at the Tiernan Field house as a Customer Associate, been a member of Scripps Code, and been a member of Cafe con Leche as well as Community Outreach Chair. I currently work at the Motley Coffeehouse as a barista, and a Undergraduate Research Assistant at HMC. One of my passions is making computer science education more accessible to marginalized students and emphasizing the intersection between computer science and social justice. Whenever I can, I love to spend my free time hiking, running, dancing to Chulita Vinyl Club, and eating hot Cheetos/ takis/ turbo flamas.  If I’m not laying on there grass in front of toll, you can find me in the Motley playing my jams.

Newsletters

May 2018 Newsletter

March 2018 Newsletter 

September 2017 Newsletter

November 2017 Newsletter

February 2017 Newsletter

January 2017 Newsletter

December 2016 Newsletter

October 2016 Newsletter

September 2016 Newsletter

April 2016 Newsletter

February 2016 Newsletter

December 2015 Newsletter

November 2015 Newsletter

October 2015 Newsletter