First-Generation Students

First-Generation Students Bring Rich Diversity to McMurry

Resources Available to Navigate College

You did it. You were accepted to McMurry and your entire family is immensely proud of you because you are the first in your family to go to college. Learning how to navigate the world of college can be daunting, especially as a first-generation student. McMurry offers many resources to guide you and your family.

“First-generation students often face challenges of navigating the policies and procedures of college, determining the resources available to them, and how to balance academics, extracurriculars, and sometimes jobs. Financial pressures also can accompany the challenges of being successful in college,” said Dr. Cindy Martin, interim vice president for academic affairs and associate vice president for student success. “This is all new to them and their family. Having a support system surrounding the student ensures a higher likelihood for success.”

Approximately 31% of the McMurry student body are first-generation students, who contribute to the rich diversity on campus. We honor those students, faculty, staff, and alumni each year on November 8, First-Generation College Celebration Day. This national day of recognition is designed to raise awareness of contributions of first-generation students and their determination to overcome economic, language, and social barriers to achieve college success.

“McMurry’s approach is to meet you where you are. Every student has a different level of familiarity of college processes and the rigor of college. Even if you had parents who went to college, higher education has changed so much since they were in college. Systems and norms are different now,” said Martin.

First-generation students often need help navigating what it’s like to be in college and its protocols. As they say, you don’t know what you don’t know. McMurry offers resources to help guide students through their college journey.

• Success Coaches. All students are assigned a success coach, who meets with students to address everything from study skills to how to how to navigate the policies and procedures of campus life and connect them to other available resources on campus.
• TRIO Program. The TRIO program is funded by the Higher Education Act and is designed to help low-income and first-generation students succeed. To qualify, you must be eligible for Pell Grants, be a first-generation student, or have a disability. A limited number of enrollment slots are available. Services provided include:
  • Academic coaching
  • Financial aid coaching and assistance with the FAFSA
  • Assistance looking for scholarships
  • Tutoring
  • Financial literacy and planning workshops
  • Assistance with applying for graduate or professional school
  • Accommodations for participants with disabilities

“The TRIO program can be quite beneficial to first-generation students because it offers the support they need to be successful and graduate from college,” said Dr. Jessica Thompson, project director for TRIO student support services.

• S3C. The STEM Student Success Center (S3C) is an academic support center for any STEM major or those taking a STEM-related course. S3C has a plethora of resources to assist in all aspects of college life.

While these are not the only resources on campus that assist first-generation students, they are a strong starting point and can connect you to other valuable resources. First-generation students should be proud of your accomplishments and know that your college futures are bright. Sometimes you just need a helping hand on how to deal with the details and a coach in your corner to ensure you have the tools you need to have a successful college career.