About

In November 2019, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences launched the First-at-LAS Academic Success Program to support first-generation college students. Designed to promote their academic success both inside and outside the classroom, First-at-LAS reflects the college’s strong commitment to serving first-generation college students (FGS) and aligns with its mission to recruit and graduate a diverse student body.

First-at-LAS encourages strong student outcomes and prepares students for life after college through innovative programs guided by data and research, and strategic partnerships with LAS faculty, academic advisors, and career coaches. The program emphasizes:

• Academic Success: Cultivating habits of excellence both inside and outside the classroom to boost academic performance and foster a transformative, productive college experience.
• Network Building: Helping students establish connections and engage with key campus figures who can support their learning and growth.
• Family Engagement: Promoting conversations and understanding about the college experience to involve families in supporting students’ journeys.

Through this work, First-at-LAS is elevating LAS’s profile as a leader in the FGS conversation and serving as a model for higher education institutions.

In First-at-LAS, we use definitions from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and TRIO when referring to first-generation college students:

• NCES defines first-generation college students as students with neither parent nor guardian having any post-secondary experience.
• TRIO defines first-generation college students as students with neither parent nor guardian having graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.

First-at-LAS and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences use the same definitions to describe first-generation college students. In data collection and analysis that is performed in the college, first-gen students are treated as two distinct populations based on these definitions. Respective definitions are noted in available data.