ST. GEORGE — Utah Tech University’s program for first-generation college students has been chosen as part of the national First Scholars Network for the 2023-24 academic year.
Utah Tech’s Coordinator of First-Generation Student Services, Marisa Thayn, said it’s an honor to be selected and the department is committed to ensuring current and future first-generation students succeed during their college experience.
“Thirty percent of our campus is first-generation students. And that means that neither parent or guardian has a four-year degree. That’s how you are defined as a first-generation student,” Thayn told St. George News. “Being inducted into this First Scholar Network will be monumental for our campus. It allows us to be in a community full of like-minded individuals to build professional development, build more programming, and connect to resources to build that programming for students at our campus.”
Utah Tech University is one of 76 institutions nationwide that the Center for First-generation Student Success included in the First Scholars Network. The group is an initiative of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and The Suder Foundation. This is Utah Tech’s first time receiving the honor.
The First Scholars Network uses a four-phase approach to encourage higher education institutions to advance student success through developing communities, knowledge of resources and establishing peer networks. According to a news release, more than 350 institutions have joined the network, representing 49 states and the District of Columbia.
Thayn said that First-Generation Student Services help students understand the educational process and to focus on the specific needs of first-generation students. Students receive academic coaching, mentoring, assistance navigating higher ed processes, scholarships and leadership opportunities. Plus, the center helps provide students with basic needs like their Food Pantry. The only requirement is to be a registered student on campus.
“That’s the only requirement we have right now. Little things can happen to students, like a car breakdown or something,” Thayn said. “They can be doing okay for a while. And then they have that type of problem. We’ll actually see students maybe for a month and then not see them again.”
Many students also have financial aid questions; Thayn said that is often a big barrier for students.
“The financial aid FAFSA application is a beast; it’s really hard to get through. So we help students with that, scholarship applications and mentoring,” Thayn said. “We also do academic success, so when they’re struggling, we develop a plan for students to get back on track and be successful.”
First-generation student Kailyn Beams used the center’s service while attending the university. She comes from a small rural town in Utah.
“I come from Delta and my family has a farm, so I spent a lot of time growing up doing that,” Beams said. “None of my family members ever went to college or anything. My parents had me very young.”
Beams said the Utah Tech program had given her many resources, such as advice through career services. She recently graduated from Utah Tech University with a major in biomedical sciences and minors in health, psychology and chemistry. Beams will also teach a biology lab class at the St. George campus.
“I definitely feel like the program gave me resources because I’m applying to graduate school. It gave me resources to talk to people about resumes,” Beams said. “And how to talk to people and what to do, what not to do and who to reach out to and the networking opportunities.”
Thayn said they are trying to build up mentors and internship opportunities in the community.
“We would love to partner with our community members and help grow the experience of our students so that when they do graduate, they’ve got those resume builders to help connect them to the right employment,” Thayn said. “If you would be interested in working with us, reach out to us any time. We’re always interested in making new connections and building those pathways for students.”
The process that Utah Tech University was selected for participation in the First Scholars Network was explained by the Director of Network Expansion and Operations at the Center, Kyle Nixon, to St. George News.
“We work individually with each institution to identify some of their pressure points, some of their barriers, some of their unique challenges and opportunities to help them figure out how best to scale the efforts for students on their campus,” Nixon said.
To be chosen for the program, a school must commit to the work, monthly meetings to discuss issues related to first-generation college students and use a project management platform called Basecamp. Participants can highlight specific programs and ask questions to others.
Nixon said Utah Tech Univeristy’s staff can also interact with other institutions through professional development, goal setting, blog development and annual reporting.
There are several Network Member phases. Once a school advances to the second phase, First-Gen Forward, they are eligible to become a First Scholars Institution.
This third phase offers the center’s customized approach to intentional institutional transformation to advance student outcomes. Ultimately, all network institutions strive for national leadership as a First Scholars Champion Campus.
“We also work more in-depth with their institutional research offices to dive into the data a little bit more specifically to those institutions. That’s a multiyear commitment,” Nixon said. “The fourth phase is our First Scholars Champion campus phase. And institutions that reach that phase are identified as national leaders when it comes to first gen work.”
According to a news release, NASPA is a member-centered association supporting a diverse network of 15,000 professionals and 1,200 institutions across the globe. They are dedicated to cultivating student success in collaboration with its institutional members — a network of colleges and universities representing every higher education sector.
“Being named as a network member of the First Scholars Network is an exciting opportunity for Utah Tech University to join a dedicated community of professionals prepared to share evidence-based practices and resources, troubleshoot challenges, generate knowledge and continue to advance the success of first-generation students from across the country,” said Dr. Kevin Kruger, president and CEO of NASPA. “We are excited to see a groundswell of activity from the Class of 2023 network members and know Utah Tech will be a significant contributor.”
The First-Generation office is in the university’s Student Resource Center, located in the Browning Learning Center on the St. George campus. To learn more about the Center for First-generation Student Success, visit firstgen.naspa.org.
Photo gallery
Utah Tech's Coordinator of First-Generation Student Services Marisa Thayn said it's an honor to be selected as part of the national First Scholars Network for the 2023-24 academic year, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Utah Tech's Coordinator of First-Generation Student Services, Marisa Thayn talks with recent graduate Kailyn Beams who will be attending graduate school in a year, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Kailyn Beams is the first person in her family to attend college and she used the center's services while at Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Utah Tech's Coordinator of First-Generation Student Services, Marisa Thayn talks with recent graduate Kailyn Beams who will be attending graduate school, St. George, Utah June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
The Coordinator of First-Generation Student Services Marisa Thayn in the food pantry her office offers as one of many services to first-generation students at Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
A computer lab for first-generation students at Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
A student with the Coordinator of First-Generation Student Services Marisa Thayn in the Food Pantry at Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
The Coordinator of First-Generation Student Services Marisa Thayn in the Food Pantry at Utah Tech which is supported by local donations, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
The LGBTQ+ office is housed in the university’s Student Resource Center located in the Browning Learning Center, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
The Veteran's office is also housed in the university’s Student Resource Center located in the Browning Learning Center, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
The lobby of the university’s Student Resource Center located in the Browning Learning Center, St. George, Utah, June 15, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
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