Supporting TU’s first-generation community

By Kyle Hobstetter on November 7, 2022

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Towson University will join the rest of the country in celebrating first-generation students in the now-annual First-Generation Celebration Day.

The Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity are hosting a celebration inside the University Union Ballroom from 12–2 p.m.

There will be food, music, resources and prizes available, and the event is not just open to first-generation students. The entire TU community is welcome to join and learn more about the first-generation experience.

In fall 2022, Towson University enrolled 16,861 undergraduate students, with 16% (2,682) identifying as first-generation. 

Towson University is continuing to help them acclimate to college life. In fact, there are many faculty and staff members who identify as a first-generation college student, including Vernon Hurte, the vice president of student affairs.

“As a first-generation graduate myself, I know the difference it makes being a part of a university community that recognizes the unique experiences of first-gen students,” Hurte says. “TU remains committed to supporting and creating space for these outstanding students who make positive contributions to this community every day.”

Along with this event, TU has different departments and programs that were designed to help first-generation students:

FASFA Help and FASFA Week

The Financial Aid Office offers support throughout the term to help students navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) form process to help secure funding for extra expenses.

The Student Government Association will also be hosting a special FASFA Week with programs designed to explain the financial aid process. Events include:

• Tuesday, Nov. 8: Gen One FASFA Booth — 12–2 p.m | University Union Ballroom E
• Wednesday, Nov. 9: Let’s Talk Money workshop — 4–5:30 p.m. | Library Floor 3
• Thursday, Nov. 10: FASFA Application Help — 12–3 p.m. | Library Floor 3

Generation One Program

Offered in collaboration with the Student Success Programs and Counseling Center, Generation One is a program providing TU’s first-generation college students with tailored mentoring and guidance to foster academic and personal accomplishment.

It connects students with similar experiences, to share strategies for difficult situations and provide encouragement whenever needed.

The last Gen One meeting of the year will be on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. in University Union Room 343. It will be a destress-themed program to check in, ask for and receive any resources needed to finish the term strong, and gain some destress tools and activities.

The SAGE Program 

 

Students Achieve Goals through Education (SAGE) program resources are used to foster academic achievement, personal development and campus-wide involvement among new students from diverse backgrounds.

The SAGE program’s original mission has expanded to include any entering freshman who wishes to participate. Participants are assigned a peer mentor and take part in various activities to improve, among others, academic, budget management and decision-making skills.

The program also provides a unique, on-campus residence program as part of Housing & Residence Life’s residential learning communities. The SAGE Learning Community offers first-generation, first-year college students peer-to-peer mentorship living arrangements.

H.E.R. (Honestly Encouraging Respect)

H.E.R is a space for female-identifying students of color to discuss real-life topics and build community.

Facilitated by Student Success Programs, H.E.R. meets bi-weekly, with the next meeting taking place on Nov. 28 in University Union Room 343.  

Man 2 Man

In a partnership between the Counseling Center and Student Success Programs, Man 2 Man serves as a support group that provides a confidential space for male-identifying students of color to develop a better understanding of themselves and others in the context of gender, race, culture and social pressure.

Man 2 Man meets every Monday inside University Union Room 323. Read more about the creation of the award-winning Man 2 Man program.

The College Readiness Outreach Program (CROP)

The College Readiness Outreach Program (CROP) connects 9^th-graders from Baltimore City public high schools with TU students who serve as mentors. The program also provides a series of college readiness workshops.

Local, underrepresented students are provided opportunities through CROP to build a solid plan for matriculating successfully through high school then college. TU students volunteer to facilitate individual or group sessions sharing their experiences, encouraging academic persistence and helping students rethink what success means for them.

Students who are interested in becoming CROP mentors can email Student Success Programs to learn more.