What commitments must First Scholars university affiliates make to participate in the program?
Commitment by university leadership (president and/or provost) to champion and co-invest in the program and eventually fund the program themselves.
Commitment to implement the First Scholars program model to serve selected first-generation students.
Commitment to use our outcome assessment framework for selection, development of the individual personal strategic plan, and tracking of student results.
Commitment to collaborate with like-minded universities in implementing and refining student success strategies to aid first-generation college students across the First Scholars national network.
What does The Suder Foundation provide through its First Scholars program?
A program model, tools, materials, training, and support.
Funding toward start-up and early-stage operating expenses such as coordinator’s salary, student activities, and follow-up assessments over a defined period of up to four years.
Four-year renewable scholarships of $5,000 each for an initial group of students.
Outside program evaluator to coordinate outcome assessment process and analysis across the First Scholars program site network.
Ongoing support and leadership in the form of continual program development, management, and refinement, along with strategic and tactical oversight.
Synergy of the First Scholars national network.
What are the university’s responsibilities?
Co-investment such as offering additional scholarships, assuming administrative staff salary, program office space/facilities, or access to existing campus programming/resources.
Gradual assumption of program operating expenses over a defined period.
Commitment by institutional advancement or development team to secure additional scholarship support and funding for operating expenses and growing the program.
Commitment to incorporating and maintaining consistent standards of the First Scholars evidence-based program model and success strategies.
