Washington State University was recently promoted to a Network Champion of FirstGen Forward, an organization dedicated to improving the educational outcomes of first-generation college students. This elevation heralds the university’s progress in supporting and empowering students who are working to become the first in their immediate families to complete a college degree.
Finding scholarship opportunities, devoted mentors, and a sense of community are all vital to ensuring student success, particularly for first-generation students. These issues are central to WSU’s efforts, which are yielding results.
This past fall, WSU welcomed 1,634 new first-time, first-generation students – the most since the fall of 2019 – alongside 754 first-generation transfer students. That brought the total number of first-generation undergraduates at WSU to 7,470, or 34.9% of total undergraduate enrollment. WSU retained 76.3% of full-time, first-time, first-generation students who enrolled in the fall of 2024, the highest rate since 2016.
In the next five years, WSU will fortify programmatic and structural efforts that increase the likelihood that first-generation students are retained year-to-year and ultimately obtain a degree in their chosen field of study. The Pullman First-Gen Center, where students receive support and resources as well as connect with their peers, will remain an integral part of efforts moving forward. The university will also continue to expand initiatives systemwide, informed by years of work on the Pullman campus.
“The faculty, staff, and students who support our first-generation students do a tremendous job, and it’s an incredible honor for the university to be recognized in this way,” Romando Nash, vice provost for Student Affairs, said. “From the moment a student steps on one of our campuses, we want to make sure we’re doing everything possible to support and encourage them, giving them the best possible chance to succeed and go on to a fulfilling career and life post-graduation.”
The First-Gen Experience
In addition to its own programs, WSU leads the state in providing numerous TRIO Student Support Services programs. Federally funded TRIO programs across the Pullman, Tri-Cities and Vancouver campuses provide tutoring, workshops and research opportunities to first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities, as well as veterans, or those pursuing careers in teaching or degrees in STEM fields.
WSU also manages the College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP, which provides financial and academic support for students from families that are migrants and seasonal farm workers.
The community found within CAMP and TRIO were invaluable to Jose Talamantes, a junior pursuing a career in sports management. Talamantes works for these programs and became friends with many of the students he assists in his roles. Doing so helped him overcome the sense of homesickness common among new students.
“You’re away from home for the first time, and so finding a sense of community is so important,” Talamantes said.
Talamantes, a first-generation student from Wenatchee, transferred from community college closer to home after visiting Pullman for Experience WSU. His cousin, who was already enrolled at WSU, encouraged him to participate. Talamantes said he’s hoping to be an example for his four younger siblings.
Workshops are a particularly valuable resource for first-generation students, Talamantes said, particularly those focused on resume-building and applying for internships. An avid soccer fan, he’s currently working toward an internship with the WSU Women’s Soccer team, and is hoping to find a job with a professional sports organization after graduating next spring.
Ongoing initiatives
WSU has also undertaken several additional projects since joining FirstGen Forward in 2017. Among these is the creation of a “First Gen Playbook”, a reference guide for faculty to use in designing and teaching courses. The university has also vastly improved its ability to use data to better understand the educational outcomes of students thanks to collaborations between Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Institutional Research, and the Enterprise Systems Group.
“Recognition as a FirstGen Forward Network Champion affirms the progress we’ve made, and it also sharpens our focus on what comes next,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Chris Riley‑Tillman. “Retention is central to student success, and for first‑generation students that means intentional, coordinated support—from inclusive teaching practices to spaces like the Pullman First‑Gen Center where students can find community, guidance, and encouragement throughout their academic journey.”
The university will continue to bolster inclusive teaching practices as well as expand collaborations between colleges to open up more mentorship and financial support opportunities. Existing programs, including those offered through the Pullman First-Gen Center, will also be expanded to increase the amount of support and resources available to students.
Across WSU, there are colleges and departments making strides to support first-generation students’ transition to college, find passionate mentors, and prepare to enter the workforce. These include the Office of Academic Engagement, Carson College of Business’ Carson EDGE, Murrow First from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, and the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences’ Community Scholarship.
More information on the suite of programs supporting first-generation students is available on the Office for Access and Opportunity website.
