PROGRAM OVERVIEW: INTRODUCTION

The goal of the First Scholars program is to transform these statistics.

We do this through:

• Comprehensive student support — The First Scholars program helps first-generation students navigate the pressures of college life, addressing their academic, social integration, personal development, and financial needs. Students receive individualized strategic plans based on their needs, which are identified using the results of an assessment called the Student Strengths Inventory™. This customized support will lead to greater retention and persistence toward graduation for our program’s participants.
• Rigorous program evaluation and analysis of outcomes — We collect data so that we can continually refine and improve the program for our scholars. In addition, we measure our scholars relative to non-participants based on a variety of factors, including academic performance, retention, persistence, and student engagement. This data-driven process allows us to identify and share effective strategies for retaining and graduating first-generation college students.
• Synergistic growth and impact through a national franchise model — First Scholars is a network of university affiliates. Universities benefit from their association with First Scholars and each other through: ongoing management support, toolkits, and resources; identification and exchange of effective practices; outside data consultants and program evaluation; and collaborative opportunities for network members. Aggregating data from our affiliates enables us to harness the power of our collective results, leading to growth and scaling of our program.