New strides are being made toward a brighter future for first-generation students, as Colorado Mesa University (CMU) has recently earned official recognition as a First-Generation Serving Institution by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE).
Announcing its new designation on Nov. 8, which was also National First-Generation Day, the university extended its celebration of first-gen students into a week-long event, honoring the resilience and perseverance of students who are the first in their families to attend college.
Nearly 50% of students attending CMU are first-generation students, something that prompted the university to seek the designation earlier in 2024.
With such a dense population of students being the first to make academic endeavors in their families, often without much foundational support, CMU offers a multitude of resources, such as TRIO Support Services, Upward Bound, the First-Gen Club and the First Gen+ Support Center.
“The new designation is really the ability to be recognized on a state-wide basis for who we support,” said Paige Cadman, Director of the First-Gen+ Support Center. “Having 50% students that are first-gen is huge. Because we have such a large population, I want to make sure students who identify as first-gen know they have a place where they can go.”
The newly named First-Gen+ Support Center has allowed for CMU to offer a wider umbrella of resources towards students who need it, serving first-generation students as well as those coming from low-income households and those with disabilities.
CMU’s dedication to serving first-gen students goes beyond just those who are already on campus. TRIO Upward Bound offers support towards high schoolers seeking to break generational boundaries as they prepare for college life.
“We work with students throughout their high school years to not only equip them with the practical skills they need to succeed in college (budgeting, choosing a major, finding jobs, etc.), but we also teach students to be their best advocates,” said Director of TRIO Upward Bound and Chair of the campus First-Gen Task Force Shelby Burroughs Pryzgoda.
Upward Bound offers preparatory support to students at Central High School and Grand Junction High School, and 86% of those students choose to attend CMU because of the opportunities offered to first-generation students.
“It’s my vision that we will see a thriving local community with individuals who not only have the degree and career they love, but the skills to give back to their own families and inspire other youth in the community,” Burroughs Pryzgoda added. “For instance, we have a student in Upward Bound whose parent was so inspired by their daughter’s passion for education that they actually went and earned their GED and plan to enroll in college as an adult!”
Stories like this exemplify the ripple effect that support extended towards students can have on entire families and communities. The resources and support structures offered at CMU don’t just help to empower the direct student body, but also foster a culture of growth that reaches into families and communities.
The involvement of both faculty and family in students’ educational experience underscores how impactful these support structures can be, as first-generation students not only bring change for their own futures and personal careers, but also pave the way for future generations to follow.
“I think this new designation makes people feel seen,” said Cadman. “If you’re a first-gen student, you’re not just changing your future, but changing your generational future. It affects you, and your kids and your kids’ kids.”
Earning this recognition as a First-Generation Serving Institution offers much more than a new title for CMU. It also serves as a testament to the work being done by staff, faculty and alumni to prepare students to face the unique challenges and experiences that come with being a first-generation student.
This new step for CMU’s future and reputation emphasizes the commitment of the university to ensure that first-generation students not only succeed academically but thrive in all aspects of their college experience.
CMU will continue to take steps to create an environment where every student, regardless of their background, has the tools and support to achieve their highest potential academically, making lasting changes into their futures.
