All universities implementing the First Scholars program are committed to improving graduation rates of first-generation students. To do so, they partner with First Scholars, sharing their ideas and experiences to continually refine the program so that all participating universities can benefit.
The start-up funding provided by The Suder Foundation allows universities to scale operations gradually, serving a growing number of first-generation student cohorts through the First Scholars program. As funding transitions to the university, First Scholars continues to provide leadership, tools, and support to help the university operate the program permanently.
A commitment from senior university leadership and good-faith efforts toward long-term sustainability are essential for the program to succeed.
First Scholars relies on ongoing data to continually refine its program. All affiliate universities commit to adopting the First Scholars evidence-based system and approach to selecting and supporting participating students.
Current First Scholars program affiliates include:
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University of Kentucky |
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The University of Alabama |
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale |
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The University of Memphis |
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Washington State University |
