Hobart and William Smith Colleges
IN-26: Innovation C

The HWS First Generation Initiative (FGI) has continued to advance its efforts to develop, expand and sustain programs designed to ensure that first-generation students are well-prepared to engage fully in all aspects of campus life. Key objectives include ensuring that our first-generation students are well-prepared to engage in many aspects of campus life—i.e., social and co-curricular, as well as academic; as a group, have visibility on campus; successfully persist to graduation; and fully avail themselves of the resources and opportunities that HWS offers, both during and after their undergraduate years.

FGI students are offered the opportunity to have a faculty or staff mentor to provide advice and guidance; this is in addition to their academic adviser. As part of the initiative, there are a number of information sessions for first-generation students that are specific to financial aid, career and internship opportunities, study abroad, residential education, etc. Each fall, there is an annual mixer for students, faculty and staff to get together and discuss their experiences about being first-generation with one another. In addition to the mixer, HWS students are able to meet during Orientation, throughout Homecoming and Family Weekend, and have also launched a Facebook page, which highlights “Trivia Tuesdays” and “First Generation Fridays.”

In addition to FGI, first-generation students also find support through programs and scholarships such as the newly established Bozzuto Family First-Generation Endowed Scholarship. In addition, the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation has been helping local HWS students who are the first in their families to attend college reach their academic goals debt-free.