Also featured in this article:
- Resources UNC provides first-generation students
- Current UNC first-generation students share their stories and what they find most helpful
The University of Northern Colorado has a lot to celebrate during the sixth annual national First-Generation College Celebration this November. Not only did UNC have its highest fall-to-fall retention rates for first-generation students in over a decade this year, the university was also recently ranked number one in social mobility in Colorado according to CollegeNet’s Social Mobility Index, an indicator that the institution educates a high number of students with family incomes below the national median at lower tuition and graduates them into good paying jobs.
“The fact that we’ve seen recent gains in our retention rates, particularly among our first-generation students, is exciting,” said Cedric Howard, UNC’s vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services. “We hope what we’re seeing is the result of our efforts to put our students at the forefront of our work in a manner that nurtures their sense of belonging and engagement and ultimately enhances their experience and success.
“One of the most significant factors of quality education is to measure the university’s ability to demonstrate its return on investment to a student,” Howard continued. “Our social mobility ranking demonstrates our ability to provide access to deserving students from limited income backgrounds while graduating them and preparing them for better paying jobs than previously afforded to their families.”
As more than 40% of UNC's undergraduate population are first-generation students, defined as individuals whose parents and/or guardians did not complete a four-year degree, the university is intentional in its efforts to provide programs and resources to help support them, including competitive federally funded TRiO programs that prioritize first-generation students in their pursuit of a college degree. In addition, UNC's Soar program also recently expanded support and personalized coaching to further facilitate academic success for first-generation students not served by TRiO programs.
Also new this year are two resources that were created with first-generation students in mind, but are available to all students through UNC’s learning management system, Canvas. Success at UNC is a digital one-stop site for information, tips and resources; topics that students frequently ask about like career and money, academic support, technology support, student wellness and academic policy. iGrad is an on-demand personal finance education resource designed to empower students to make effective personal finance decisions and start their path toward financial wellness. According to Stephanie Torrez, assistant vice president for Student Academic Success, financial concerns are one of the main reasons students wind up leaving college and research shows that financial literacy programs can decrease financial stress and improve academic performance.
“Both of these new programs were designed to promote success, inside and outside the classroom, while students are in college and after they graduate,” Torrez said. “These kinds of resources benefit everyone, not just first-generation students. Making things like this available is one of the many ways we demonstrate our commitment to students.”
The First-Generation College Celebration, observed on Nov. 8 every year, was launched in 2017 by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the Center for First-generation Student Success, to shine the spotlight on individuals who were the first in their families to attend college. The date is significant as it marks the 1965 signing of the Higher Education Act (HEA) which helped millions of first-generation students access an education beyond high school.
To learn more about how UNC serves and supports first-generation students, explore some of our resources, including special scholarships and mentoring programs that focus on promoting student success, and read about some of our current first-generation students and what they find most helpful.
From First-Gen to College Advisor
Oliver De La Cruz
Ever since Oliver De La Cruz was a child, his parents drilled a concept into his mind – after high school, he was going to continue his education and go to college.
“My parents worked a lot of labor jobs, and they didn’t want that for me,” De La Cruz said. “Their influence drove me to pursue higher education."
De La Cruz quickly found out, though, that the idea of going to college and actually attending a university was very different, and at times, intimidating. He is a first-generation student, so he had a lot to learn about the college environment.
“It was pretty scary because I was totally new at it,” De La Cruz said. “I didn’t know anything about college, I didn’t know how much it cost, I didn’t know what I wanted to study, I didn’t even know what the terms ‘major’ and ‘minor’ meant. That’s how new I was.”
Through trial and error, De La Cruz eventually learned how to manage the college experience, and once that happened, he was on a path to earning not just one, but three degrees. He started off getting his associates degree at Aims Community College, then he received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism at UNC in 2016 and his master’s in Communication in 2019.
“Both of my parents are proud of me. Especially my mom, she always brags about me to all of her friends,” De La Cruz said.
Knowing how rewarding and valuable higher education is, and not as terrifying as it first appears, De La Cruz now helps current first-generation UNC students through his work as a success coach and advisor in the Soar program. Soar provides students involved in specific programs and first-gens academic personal support by teaching them skills necessary to make self-motivated academic decisions.
“We’re here to help out students, we’re not here to make them feel any less just because they’re first-gen students,” De La Cruz said. “The primary role is to serve students so if they have any questions, we are here to help with anything.”
De La Cruz and his colleagues meet with first-generation students four times throughout the semester first to get to know them and find out what their goals, passions, interests and values are, then to check in and see how they’re progressing.
“We introduce them to a lot of resources like the Tutorial Services, the Writing Center, Counseling Center and the Center for Career Readiness,” De La Cruz said. “We also introduce them to all of the clubs and organizations offered at UNC and the cultural centers so that they get connected both academically and socially.”
De La Cruz said the biggest takeaway he wants all the first-generation students he advises to know is that it’s OK to ask questions.
“At first, I was scared to ask questions too,” De La Cruz said. “I thought if I ask a question, this is going to sound silly, or dumb and people are going to think I don’t know anything. But you won’t know how to handle college until you ask.”
If it weren’t for De La Cruz’s drive and persistence, he wouldn’t be where he is right now – a college advisor with three degrees, who was once himself a first-generation student, helping others live out their dream too.
Scroll through below to read more about some of UNC's current first-generation students, including what helped them on their path to college, what their journey has been like and some of the resources they find most helpful at UNC.
Jordan Scadden
What is your year/major?
Graduate Student, MBA - Human Resource Concentration
Why did you choose to go to UNC?
I decided to go to UNC because they were one of the most affordable colleges and one of the most diverse colleges. When I first visited UNC, I did not think that I would like the campus or the area but when I came, I fell in love with the environment and the people. The campus was very welcoming and open, so I knew that was one thing that I was going to need when I was leaving home. Another big thing was how diverse this campus was, I came from a high school in Denver that was very diverse and coming to UNC made me feel that I could keep that with me. UNC had a lot to offer regarding education as well, which is why I decided to stay at UNC for my master's as well.
As a first-generation college student, was there someone or something that helped you realize your path to college?
As a first-generation college student something that helped me realize my path to college was simply seeing my mom proud. She has done so much for my sisters and I as a single mom to help us get to college. Even though she couldn’t obtain a bachelor’s degree, she has always encouraged my sisters and I to get our degrees so we can have more opportunities in the world. And that has helped us today. My older sister has gotten her master’s degree and is now a middle school teacher at the age of 24, my younger sister is now gradating with her bachelor’s degree in business at 21 and I will be finishing my master's in May at the age of 22. These accomplishments are really what encouraged me to start my path to college and continue past my bachelor’s degree.
What does it mean to be a first-generation college student?
Being a first-generation student means that there are many opportunities that are open to me. It means that there is a new look into life and a new look into opportunities that my mom never got. Being a first-generation student was scary at first because you are going into something blind and do not think that many other students are like you, but you are approached with so much support.
What is your professional goal after higher education?
One of my professional goals after higher education Is to work in the NFL. I’ve always enjoyed watching football growing up and continued loving it when I grew older. I think that being able to work in the logistics side of the NFL would be such a huge accomplishment, because I am a female wanting to work in a field that is dominated by males. One of my other goals is to simply help and support people, I love being able to help those around me and see a smile on their face when I do, which is why I essentially went into Human Services.
What has been most helpful to you since coming to UNC?
Since coming to UNC, the most helpful thing had been the members in the Soar office on campus. During my undergraduate year their staff really helped me adjust to life on campus and really helped me figure out my path in my education life and they continue to help me while I complete my master’s degree.
Muniratu Tanko
What is your year/major?
Criminal Justice, double minor in Sociology and Communications
Why did you choose to go to UNC?
I chose UNC mainly because of the cost of attendance and how the environment felt small and big at the same time.
As a first-generation college student, was there someone or something that helped you realize your path to college?
My college advisors played an important role in how I ended up applying for college. I realized that I wasn’t only doing this for me, but my family as well. My big sister, Adjara, also played a huge role in my decision to apply for college because I looked up to her and followed her path in going to college after high school.
What does it mean to be a first-generation college student?
Being a first-generation student to me means being resilient and willing to take a risk that people in your family aren't able to take for one reason or another. It means being chosen to break a cycle. It means not knowing how you're going to get it done but having faith that you’ll get it done.
What is your professional goal after higher education?
Working with young people in the criminal justice system is my primary goal. I'm not quite sure what I want to accomplish, but I do know that I desire to have a positive influence on people's lives, whether that be by running a charity organization or working for the UN.
What has been most helpful to you since coming to UNC?
Regarding my undergraduate career, Reisher, the Denver Scholarship foundation has been one of the most beneficial experiences. It has been a gift to be able to attend school without worrying about the cost. As a first-generation college student, I value and am grateful for the opportunity. It has also been beneficial to get more active in clubs and discover comfortable areas on campus.
Cody Field
What is your year/major?
Freshman, Psychology
Why did you choose to go to UNC?
I chose to attend UNC because friends of mine were already up here, and I just really enjoy the campus. It’s gorgeous, especially in the fall, and all my classes aren’t that far away from my dorm.
As a first-generation college student, was there someone or something that helped you realize your path to college?
The main thing that made me realize my path to college was that I was tired of how boring my life was. Every day was the same cycle of nothing, and I wanted more. After seeing my friends up here in college, living their lives, I decided that it was finally time for me to do something with myself.
What does it mean to be a first-generation college student?
To me, being a first-generation student is something I take great pride in. None of my close family finished college, and none of my distant family have been in an environment where college is possible.
What is your professional goal after higher education?
I hope to become a counselor or a therapist after college, because there’s a lot of mental issues in the world, and I hope to be able to help people who are willing to seek out what they need.
What has been most helpful to you since coming to UNC?
Honestly, the Soar program has been the most helpful thing I can think of. They help me set goals and keep on track for success, as well as host fun events each week.
Tiffany Kouakou
What is your year/major?
Senior, Software Engineering
Why did you choose to go to UNC?
I chose to come to UNC for a few reasons, the first one being that it was close enough to home for me so I could still see my family often, which is something that was important to me. Another reason for me was that it was an affordable option with a good program for what I was interested in studying.
As a first-generation college student, was there someone or something that helped you realize your path to college?
Personally, my sisters were a big influence for me because they both went to college and had to navigate being first-generation as well so by the time, I was ready for college they helped me with things like doing my FAFSA and making sure that I was making the right choice school wise.
What does it mean to be a first-generation college student?
Being first-generation to me means that every ounce of work I put in is worth twice as much since I'm working against the odds. It means so much to me to succeed in my journey since I’m not only a first-generation college student but also a first-generation American and I know that everything that I do is making my parents proud since they had to go through so much to get my sisters and me to this point.
What is your professional goal after higher education?
Currently, my professional goals after college would be to get certified as a scrum master and digital marketing since those are two things I’m interested in, and then in the long run to hopefully work as a project manager.
What has been most helpful to you since coming to UNC?
The most helpful thing to me at UNC has been the SOAR office since I have an advisor that has helped with building my schedule when I need it, registering for summer classes at aims, and overall, just helping me when I feel like I need extra support.
Tina Le
What is your year/major?
Senior, Business Administration with an emphasis in Management
Why did you choose to go to UNC?
I chose to go to UNC because it has a good business program and has smaller class sizes compared to other universities. I like getting to know my classmates and professors and doing so in larger universities can be difficult. At UNC, the community is small enough that I am comfortable in getting to build relationships with the people I interact with.
As a first-generation college student, was there someone or something that helped you realize your path to college?
My family definitely played a large role in my choosing to go to college. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and they encouraged learning and education in my household. Therefore, I always knew I would be going to college. My older sister was also a role model for me growing up and seeing her thrive in college solidified my decision to further my education.
What does it mean to be a first-generation college student?
To me, being a first-generation college student means having a chance to pursue my dream. It is knowing the sacrifices my parents made for me to be here and walking the path my sister paved before me. It means being a role model for my younger siblings and younger cousins. Being a first-generation student means to have access to an education.
What is your professional goal after higher education?
After graduating college, I plan to go in HR management.
What has been most helpful to you since coming to UNC?
Joining the various clubs on campus has been the most helpful to me since coming to UNC. I have been able to meet so many wonderful people and interact with the faculty. This network of people has definitely made it easier for me to adapt and really grow away from home.
Rachel Godina
What is your year/major?
Senior, Software Engineering
Why did you choose to go to UNC?
I chose to go to UNC because I loved the campus, and they had software engineering as an undergraduate major which I like.
As a first-generation college student, was there someone or something that helped you realize your path to college?
My dad really inspired me to go to college. He grew up in a situation where he had to drop out of school at a relatively young age to support his family and couldn't go to college on top of that. He and my mom supported my dream to go into the computer field and that's how I ended up on this path.
What does it mean to be a first-generation college student?
Although my parents couldn’t go to college, I wanted to be a first-generation student to show my brother and sister that they can make it and be one as well. I'm the firstborn of my siblings so I felt like I had to be the role model for them to show my appreciation to them and my family.
What is your professional goal after higher education?
My professional goal is to start out in my field as a business analyst (or something similar) and maybe go back to graduate school if I'm looking for something more later in life.
What has been most helpful to you since coming to UNC?
My Soar advisor Adam has been a really big help. Adam, along with my academic advisor, Rosa, really helped me with both my classes and whenever I just needed someone to talk to.
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