Committed to Helping First-Generation Students
Support for All Four Years
A three-pronged campaign initiative will boost support for first-generation students during their entire time at Dartmouth
Established in 2009, Dartmouth’s First Year Student Enrichment Program (FYSEP) has helped hundreds of first-generation, low-income undergraduates prepare for the academic and social challenges of college life.
Through a lead gift from A. George “Skip” Battle ’66 and the generosity of other alumni committed to expanding access, Dartmouth is now enhancing multiple programs that promote first-generation, low-income student success. All members of the Dartmouth community can contribute to this initiative and provide much-needed support for undergraduates who are the first members of their family to attend college.
“First-gens possess an outstanding mix of skills and characteristics, but frequently lack the nuanced understanding of how colleges operate,” says FYSEP director Jay Davis ’90. “As a result, they can be intimidated by their professors and fellow students, and may not realize that struggle is a normal component of the transition to college life. That can leave them feeling isolated from their classmates.
“Through participation in FYSEP, students find a strong sense of community and become aware that the wide-ranging, supportive resources the College provides are essential components of both their successful transition to Dartmouth—and their opportunity to thrive.”
Success Beyond the First Year
Dartmouth’s ambition for supporting first-generation, low-income students reaches beyond making sure they can succeed in their first year. The College has launched a three-part fundraising initiative to support these students throughout their years in Hanover. When fully funded, the initiative will:
Extend FYSEP’s signature pre-orientation session, which 92 members of the Class of 2022 attended, from five days to four weeks. This introduction to college life offers sample classes with faculty in a low-pressure environment and introduces strategies to address some of the challenges—academic, cocurricular, and social—that students may face. Dartmouth will offer summer earnings support to FYSEP students who must leave a job to participate.
Train and compensate peer academic coaches who will provide ongoing support for first-generation and low-income students. Evidence-based approaches at other institutions indicate that students best learn skills such as time management and study habits from their peers.
Offer more financial support to ensure equal access to all aspects of the Dartmouth experience. Through the generosity of campaign donors, the College is already providing more funds for needs not met through Dartmouth financial aid, for expenses such as eyeglasses and contact lenses, medical co-pays, professional attire for interviews, graduate and professional school test-preparation fees, and living expenses during unpaid internships.
Established in 2009, FYSEP has demonstrated its ability to enhance participants’ academic performance. FYSEP students have achieved a higher grade point average than their peers who did not participate in the program; their current six-year graduation rate exceeds 95 percent—compared to a national average of less than 50 percent; and they are much more likely to tap into a variety of on-campus support programs.
“FYSEP’s pre-orientation program prepared me for challenges that I did not even expect to face as I navigated and stumbled through my first year of college.”
—Tuong Vi Nguyen ’21
