First-Gen OWU
What is a First-Gen Student?
- First-Gen – First-Gen is short for First-Generation and means neither parent has a four-year college degree. Students often come from working-class families and strive to be the first in their family to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree
- Class – Class is a relative social ranking based on income, wealth, education, status, and power.
- Working-Class – People who tend to work in manual or service occupations and do not have college degrees.
- Working-Class Culture – Working-Class Culture values hard work, authenticity, loyalty, honesty, practicality, and togetherness. We come from all different racial groups, ethnicities, regions, and ages, and have our own ways of speaking and joking around.
- Solidarity – Solidarity is when people of different classes show respect for–and work together to improve–the lives of working-class people.
Data on First-Gen Students at OWU
- OWU consistently ranks among the “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” and “Top Performers on Social Mobility.” More Information
First-Gen Advisory Board
The First-Gen Advisory Board (FGAB) strives to foster and deepen institutional support for first-generation students at OWU. Through programming to raise awareness for first-gen student experiences, our group celebrates the unique perspectives and accomplishments of first-gens while building community among first-gen students, staff, faculty, and everyone in solidarity with us. We work with staff and faculty across campus to provide support for offices and faculty seeking to better serve first-gen students, working-class students, and low-income students and improve student outcomes. Our work is intentionally designed to make sure students not only graduate from OWU, but also thrive.
First-Gen OWU on Instagram
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