The summit is an opportunity for students and educators to promote access to higher education for first-generation college students.
WHAT: The second annual "I'm First-Gen" Summit, hosted by First Generation Transition & Mentoring Programs and TRIO Student Support Services, both housed within the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DDEI), and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Texas Tech University.
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday (March 7)
WHERE: Red Raider Ballroom, Student Union Building, Texas Tech University
EVENT: The second annual "I'm First-Gen" Summit is an opportunity for students and educators to promote access to higher education for first-generation college students. Through presentations, panel discussions and a keynote address, the summit aims to educate almost 250 area high school students, college students and educators on the experiences of first-generation college students, while contributing to their access to resources and increasing their retention and graduation rates at the post-secondary level.
The daylong event will begin with breakfast and a welcome video message from Carol Sumner, DDEI vice president, followed by breakout sessions with four tracks: high school students, 9th-10th grade; high school students, 11th-12th grade; college students; and high school/higher education professionals. Speakers will include Texas Tech faculty and staff from various colleges and non-academic departments, including the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Education, University Advising, the Office of LGBTQIA, Student Financial Aid & Scholarships and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Texas Tech first-generation students also will share their stories during the breakout sessions.
Marisel Herrera, director of Training and Development at Arizona State University's First-Year Success Center, will deliver the keynote lecture during lunch. Herrera will speak on first-generation student success.
The afternoon will include a campus tour for high school student attendees and additional breakout sessions for those in the college student and professional tracks, followed by a final session led by Herrera on success coaching.
CONTACT: Arthur Valiant, director, First Generation Transition and Mentoring Programs, Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Texas Tech University, (806) 834-7413 or arthur.valiant@ttu.edu
