For the first time, Florida’s college access and success partners are coming together to celebrate first-generation college students to elevate their unique stories while offering tailored resources to support their college journey.
As part of the celebration, Florida College Access Network (FCAN) is leading a collaborative storytelling effort called First-Gen and Fearless to produce and share multimedia stories. The stories illuminate college-going experiences and the specific challenges of first-generation students. Through these stories students and graduates share their aspirations and advice for other students.
In Florida, twenty-seven percent of college students are considered first-generation, according to a national postsecondary survey by the National Center for Education Statistics. First-generation students can be defined as being the first in their family to attend college, students whose parents did not graduate from a two- or four-year college in the United States, or whose parents completed their degrees as nontraditional students over the age of 25.
In Florida, first-generation students represent a diverse group*:
- 68% of first-generation students are female compared to 54% of continuous-generation students.
- 41% of first-generation students are Hispanic or Latino, 28% are Black, 24% are white, 3% Asian, and 3% multiracial.
- 58% of first-generation students enter programs of study in high-demand fields such as healthcare, engineering, biophysics, computer sciences and business.
- 41% of first-generation students are of working age (between the ages of 26-64 years old) compared to 29% of continuous-generation students.
- 68% of first-generation students are the first sibling in their family to go to college.
- 55% of first-generation students receive federal financial aid for postsecondary education (which included Pell grants) compared to continuous-generation students.
*Source: US Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
“First-generation students are the trailblazers in their families; their stories are powerful and can help inform how we improve the education system,” said Braulio Colón, Executive Director of FCAN. “This effort aims to highlight their resilience while also connecting them with resources and support designed for them to succeed in college and beyond. We want to ensure they feel a sense of belonging and know where to turn for help.”
First-Gen and Fearless is a first step of many in a long-term commitment to elevate the voices of first-generation students and the tailored resources available to help them succeed. FCAN is actively developing opportunities to engage with statewide and national partners.
FCAN makes available a resource page and social media toolkit, ensuring that first-gen students have easy access to useful information.