University to Celebrate First-Generation College Students Throughout Week of Nov. 2

First-generation college students at SUNY Plattsburgh will be celebrated and recognized with activities throughout the week of Nov. 2, leading up to National First-Generation College Celebration Day Nov. 8.

On campus, the celebration week kicks off with the “Voices of First-Generation College Student Panel Discussion,” where panelists discuss opportunities, challenges and successes of being first-gen students as part of the Black Solidarity Day Social Justice Teach-in Monday, Nov. 2 from 1 to 1:50 p.m. in the Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center.

National First-Generation College Celebration Day was launched in 2017 when the Council for Opportunity in Education joined forces with FirstGen Forward to celebrate first-generation students’ accomplishments. They chose Nov. 8 — the anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965, legislation signed into law on that date by then-President Lyndon Johnson as part of his Great Society domestic agenda.

Expanded Access to Higher Ed

Legislation expanded access to higher education through federal aid and programs like TRIO Student Support Services, which at SUNY Plattsburgh falls under the umbrella of the Office of Access and Opportunity Programs, found at: https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/student-support/student-support-services/index.html.

Lauren Gonyea, assistant director of access and opportunity programs, said that the first-generation celebration at SUNY Plattsburgh evolved over time, from a one-time, one-day program in 2018 to the week-long first-gen event it’s come to be.

“I wrote a successful grant to make it more of a campus-wide celebration leading up to National First-Generation College Celebration Day Nov. 8,” Gonyea said. Since that time, Gonyea organized a First-Gen Planning Committee with stakeholders from across campus to assist with planning events and promoting the celebration, she said.

‘Phenomenal’ Committee

“The committee is phenomenal,” she said. “When we had our meeting this fall, everyone was eager to contribute and said they want to do more in the spring to support our first-gen student population.”

First-generation college student is defined by law in the TRIO section of the Higher Education Act as someone whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree. At SUNY Plattsburgh, one in four students are first-generation.

Ashley Durocher, director of SUNY Plattsburgh’s TRIO SSS program and a first-generation college student herself, said these students “share something powerful.”

“We are navigating new territory, often without a roadmap but with something driving us to dream bigger. We learn to be resilient, resourceful and savvy. We stumble, take detours, find our footing and keep moving forward, forging paths not just for ourselves, but for our families, communities and future generations,” Durocher said.

Jayda Harris, a graduate of the criminal justice program and current graduate student in the clinical mental health counseling program, will discuss those issues as part of the “Voices of First-Generation College Students” panel at the Black Solidarity Day teach-in Nov. 2.

‘Roller Coaster of Emotions’

She said her experiences have “been a roller coaster of emotions, but overall, it has been very rewarding.”

“The hard work that I have put into my education has paid off, and as for my family, knowing that in the future I can be a provider has been something that I look forward to, especially when it comes to my mother,” said the resident of Queens, N.Y., by way of East Orange, N.J. “My mom has been my role model all my life, and I hope that one day I can ease all her stress the way she does for me every day. So ultimately, everything I do is for her.”

Durocher said she entered college with the big dreams and wonderment of a 17-year-old. She wanted to create a different future but didn’t have the guidance on how to navigate that journey.

“I wanted to beat the odds, not simply to say I had done it, but because even then, I could see the bigger picture and the possibilities higher education could create,” she said. Her path wasn’t a linear one.

“There were transfers, changes in majors, competing responsibilities, moments of self-doubt, unexpected opportunities and achievements. There were also mentors who made me feel seen and heard in ways I hadn’t experienced before,” Durocher said. “Those experiences shaped who I became and how I understand the importance of showing up for others.”

Part of showing up also includes celebrating those experiences and accomplishments, and Durocher and Gonyea hope the university’s First-Generation College Celebration Week does that.

Celebration Week Offerings

In addition to participating in Black Solidarity Day on Nov. 2, the week will include a return of the popular first-gen faculty/staff pods Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the Cardinal Lounge, where students will sit with first-generation faculty and staff and share their experiences of being part of the first-gen collective.

“The faculty/staff pods activity is a great way to humanize the faculty,” Gonyea said. “First-gen faculty and staff talk about their own experiences, and students come away realizing that they’re not so different or alone.”

First-gen students can also connect with other first-gen Cardinals on Nov. 3 at a “fry bar” set up near the Nest in the ACC Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. 1 p.m. outside the Nest, “Cookies and Community: Things I Wish I’d Known Burghy Coloring Campaign” will be give students the chance to stop by, visit with fellow first-gens, share stories and grab a cookie.

‘Prioritize and Thrive’ Session

Also on Wednesday, from noon to 12:50 p.m., they can head to Feinberg 103F for “First-Gen Focus: Prioritize and Thrive” to learn how to navigate prioritizing tasks, managing time and finding balance through everything college life throws at you. This program is also available through Zoom.

On Thursday, Nov. 5, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Alumni Conference Room of the ACC, first-gen students can join the Global Education Office for “Study Abroad and Exchanges for First-Gen Students” to learn more about study abroad opportunities, resources and programs available.

Gonyea said later Nov. 5, they’ll bring UFirst Federal Credit Union in for a financial literacy luncheon for a select group of first-gen students.

“They’ll learn about budgeting, managing expenses, credit and other financial tools,” Gonyea said. The UFirst luncheon is by invitation only and will be held 3 to 5 p.m. in Chapter One, Sibley Hall.

First-Generation College Celebration Week wraps up Friday, Nov. 6 with registration for winter session and spring semester courses with assistance from academic advising and access and opportunity programs staff from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Feinberg 108. While registering, first-gen students can celebrate with refreshments and giveaways.

“To me, being first-generation isn’t simply about being the first to reach a milestone,” Durocher said. “It’s about recognizing the work that often goes unseen, honoring where we come from while discovering who we can become and making sure we don’t leave behind others who want to rise.

“I’m incredibly proud to be first-generation,” she said. “It has shaped how I lead, how I advocate and how I see the potential in every student who walks through our doors.”

For more information, including a full schedule of events for First-Generation College Celebration Week, visit https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/student-support/first-generation-students.html.

— By Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs; File Photos