Information for First-Generation Families
In addition to our quality programs and faculty, you can take comfort in knowing that Baker College supports first-generation students with a student-first philosophy. Our small class sizes help set us apart from other institutions. Our campuses are SAFE. We care about our students and it shows in every decision we make. We value first-generation students because we know they have the potential to be difference-makers!
Families should consider sending their first-generation student to college for several
compelling reasons:
College education opens doors to opportunities and career paths otherwise inaccessible.
College provides an environment for personal growth and development. Students have the opportunity to explore new interests, expand their horizons, and develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that are valuable in both professional and personal contexts.
Studies have shown that college graduates tend to have higher earning potential and greater financial stability over their lifetimes compared to those with only a high school diploma.
By pursuing higher education, first-generation students become role models for their siblings, children, and future generations.
College-educated individuals are more likely to engage in their communities through volunteering, voting, and civic participation.
Ultimately, sending a first-generation student to college is an investment in their future success and well-being. It provides them with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive and complex world. Additionally, it can have a transformative impact on their families, communities, and society as a whole.
Resources for Families
- FirstGen Forward
- Check out what we are up to on Instagram
First Year Experience (FYE)
Baker College lives by a student-first philosophy, where the student is at the center of our institution. We are unified in our purpose to ensure our students succeed. To do that, we need to foster a culture of caring that goes beyond the student and is ingrained in what we do and how we do it. How we do anything is how we do everything. In order to fulfill our student-first philosophy, we offer a first-year experience for our incoming students.
Successful transition to college, and then from the first year to the second year, is critical for students to meet personal and institutional milestones, and for institutions to meet retention and graduation goals. Students need robust, direct, and meaningful support to best navigate these transitions. Using a curricular approach, the first year experience, known as “NewBEES”, pulls together supporting resources and relationship-building opportunities for students into a single source of information, a Canvas class.
Share Your First-Generation Pride
Showcase your First-Gen pride by sharing your story to be featured in Baker College’s Beeline newsletter column, “I’m Proud to be First-Gen.”