Tarleton State University has been selected as one of only 18 institutions of higher education named to the newest class of FirstGen Forward Network Champions.
Network Champion institutions serve as national leaders in advancing first-generation student success and play a vital role in building and contributing to a growing body of knowledge and best practices in the field.
“We are both proud and honored to have been selected as a Network Champion Campus in the FirstGen Forward Network,” said Dr. Sherri Benn, Vice President for Global, Community and First-gen Initiatives. “We are quickly becoming a destination university for the upward mobility of first-generation families.”
About half of Tarleton State’s undergraduate students are first-generation (or first-gen), typically defined as students who are the first in their families to attend an institute of higher learning and complete a college or university degree. The university has demonstrated its commitment to first-gen student success with initiatives that include:
– Establishing a university division that is first-gen focused
– Integrating first-gen student success in the institutional strategic plan
– Conducting a First-gen Summit in which institutional stakeholders engage in conversations on first-gen student success
“Our commitment to first-generation student success, workforce readiness and an exceptional educational experience is unwavering,” continued Dr. Benn. “FirstGen Forward has been so instrumental in partnering with us to advance our strategic efforts and move the needle.”
The FirstGen Forward Network employs a three-phase approach — Network Member, Network Leader and Network Champion — to advance comprehensive support for first-generation college students. By engaging and empowering higher education institutions, the network aims to transform the first-generation student experience, improve academic and cocurricular outcomes, and promote more comprehensive institutional structures. To date, 429 colleges and universities, including two statewide systems, have joined the network, spanning 49 states and the District of Columbia.
“As one of just 32 institutions nationwide recognized as a Network Champion, Tarleton State has demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous improvement and the alignment of its efforts with broader institutional goals to ensure the success of first-generation students,” said Dr. Stephanie J. Bannister, Vice President of FirstGen Forward. “Not only is Tarleton State making significant strides in supporting its own first-generation students, but it is also contributing to the development and dissemination of evidence-based practices that serve as a model for institutions across the country.”
Advancing to the Network Champion phase marks a significant milestone, but it also reflects an ongoing dedication to improvement. Institutions at this level remain deeply engaged, focusing on strategic priorities that enhance first-generation students’ experiences and improve completion rates.
“With 54% of current undergraduates identifying as first-generation, achieving new levels of student success will have a transformational, multigenerational impact,” said Maurice Jones, CEO of FirstGen Forward. “College completion is a powerful driver of educational, workforce and life success. Being named a Network Champion is a prestigious recognition of Tarleton State’s leadership in this space and a signal that it will continue to shape the future of first-generation student support in higher education.”
To connect and learn more about first-generation efforts at Tarleton State, visit www.tarleton.edu/trio/first-generation/. To learn more about FirstGen Forward and the Network, visit www.firstgenforward.org.
