The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is among 12 First-gen Forward Institutions that have been elevated to Advisory Institution designation for their continued commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students.
The Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and the Suder Foundation, announced Nebraska’s membership in its inaugural cohort of First Forward Institutions in 2019.
With this new Advisory Institution designation, the university will become a regional community leader and work in a co-advisory role with the University of Memphis to offer leadership support to a new Midwest cohort of First Forward institutions, which will include the universities of Creighton, Governors State, Marquette, Eastern Illinois, Wisconsin Green-Bay, Independence Community College, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
“We are excited to take on this new role and share what we have learned and developed at Nebraska with other cohort members in our region,” said Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate education. “We also look forward to continuing our important work with NASPA.”
As members of a First-gen Forward Advisory Institution, select faculty and staff will participate in workshops, monthly phone calls, virtual professional development, goal setting and annual reporting with other advisory members.
“We have created a special and supportive community of first-generation students, faculty, staff and first-gen allies at Nebraska, and I am eager to share our strategies for successful programs with other institutions,” said Ashlee Young, assistant director of the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community.
Goodburn and Young are co-coordinators of First Generation Nebraska, which develops, implements and assesses programs and events with an emphasis on first-gen student belonging, networking and engagement; faculty and staff support of first-gen scholars; and first-gen alumni and community engagement.
Faculty and staff interested in First Generation Nebraska campus events and opportunities to share their first-gen story can join the FGN email list.
