On The Edge News

By Lulu Van Dort

On The Edge Staff Writer

Oct. 1, 2021

OSII hosted a Mix-N-Mingle for first generation college students on Sept. 7, along with other similar events throughout the week. 

There were muffins, free t-shirts, and buttons, for both first generation students and their friends. 

This is part of a larger effort on behalf of the college to expand outreach to first-gen college students this year. In fall of 2020, 15.7% of incoming freshmen were counted as first-gen students, meaning that Edgewood’s first-gen population is more than double the average for private colleges in the U.S. 

Laterrica Moore is a coordinator for multicultural initiatives at Edgewood and was the host for the event. Moore, having been a first-gen college student herself, said it’s important when professors and staff “go an extra mile” to support first-gen students.

More broadly, she hopes that the event will be an opportunity to raise awareness at the college. Moore noted that not everyone on campus is aware of what it means to be a first-gen student, and that even first-gen students themselves are unsure whether they themselves qualify as first gen.

One student, Moore said, “thought that just because their sister was here, they’re not a first-gen student, but that’s not the case.” According to Moore, “first generation can be defined as one who is among the first in their family to attend college and graduate with a four-year degree.”

Moore said that a club or organization at Edgewood would also give first-gen students a place to celebrate accomplishments in their college journey, offer emotional support and answer questions about academics or college life. 

“Most campuses have a first gen center or some kind of program that’s surrounded by the goal of supporting first-gen students,” Moore said. “That’s something we’re in the process of redeveloping and restructuring.”

First-gen students at Edgewood can look for future events on OSII’s Instagram or through Presence, the site where student organizations at Edgewood post updates and announcements.