Creating a Welcoming Space for First-Generation College Students
The first day at a new job. The first day at a new school. The first time you try something entirely out of your comfort zone.
Feelings of doubt and uncertainty in new situations like these are a universal human experience. We’ve all been there and will most certainly find ourselves there again.
Wouldn’t it be great if we were surrounded by people and systems that supported us in those moments of doubt and uncertainty? Wouldn’t it be nice if intentional efforts were made to help us navigate those challenges and help ensure our success?
Undoubtedly, no one feels the anxieties and pressures like first-year college students, especially those who may be the first in their family to attend college. Despite changing perceptions about the value of higher education in general, families of first-generation college students continue to recognize the immense opportunities a degree can bring — meaning that a large and increasing number of incoming college freshmen are (and will be) first-generation students.2
With a college degree still being seen as a sign of “making it” for many families, the onus is on colleges and universities to meet the evolving expectations of first-generation students. It is critical for higher education leaders to pivot from focusing on whether incoming students are college-ready to ensuring that campuses are student-ready.
The latest chapter of President to President provides a perfect example of serving the unique needs of first-generation students — and fulfilling a broader institutional mission — using the power of transformative thinking. In “Augsburg Applies to You: How Direct Admissions Transformed Our Enrollment Work,” Augsburg University President Paul C. Pribbenow, Ph.D., explains how his campus changed traditional admissions and enrollment processes to better accommodate students who may not have felt comfortable applying to college and help them truly thrive in a university setting.
With nearly 60% first-generation students enrolling each year, the university recognized a unique opportunity to meet these students where they are, not where anyone thinks they should be. The university’s pivotal “Augsburg Applies to You” direct admissions initiative eases the application and enrollment process through direct outreach to potential students, intentional relationship building, and thoughtful support across all departments. Through an ongoing emphasis on inclusion and belonging, Augsburg ensures that its increasing number of first-generation college students feel welcome and prepared for success.
Knowing that college life can be stressful ― particularly for first-generation students ― Sodexo supports campuses in creating moments of authentic connection that help students find the sense of belonging on campus that’s so crucial to their success.
Dining together on campus is one of the most accessible and effective ways for students to connect with peers and form relationships, and it’s one of the first steps in creating a warm welcome for first-generation students as they arrive on campus. Our team members take the time to ensure that all interactions are personal, customized, and genuine, so that students feel at home on campus from day one.
Whether it’s through one of our many interactive SPARK initiatives or Community Table events specifically focused on welcoming first-generation students, our teams leverage dining as a natural way to foster the social connections students want and need as they chart the unfamiliar waters of the college experience.
Like Augsburg University, Sodexo teams recognize that what all incoming college students have in common is a hunger for belonging, inclusion, and the power of community. Which is why our teams prioritize not just creating great food but using great food to create community.
References: 1. 2024-2025 Student Lifestyle Survey. Sodexo Campus, 2024. 2. Ibid. 3. Center for First-Generation Student Success, RTI International, 2022. 4. 2024-2025 Student Lifestyle Survey. Sodexo Campus, 2024.