We know about first-gen students in the nation, and we know a little about first-gen students at Michigan. But really, the most important part of a scouting report is showing you what you need to be watching for; i.e., what's going to help you the most as a first-gen student at Michigan.
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Here, I've compiled some of (most of) the resources available to first-gen students at Michigan. A lot of the time in sports, you'll see an offense or defense "graded" (like you would be in school!) to help give you an idea of how everything in that specific program is working. I'll be doing that here, and hopefully that provides a good sense for what each program is contributing for when the game starts!
First-Generation College Students at Michigan
FGCSM is a student organization captained by undergraduates and graduates alike (along with a few faculty advisors). This is one of the most dedicated, interactive resources available for first-gen students on campus — they book study rooms in libraries, put on a commencement ceremony (which has been filled to capacity for this year, and I'm not even on the list), organized a new student welcoming ceremony, and are developing more and more opportunities to reach first-gen students every year.
FGCSM has a lot of great qualities, and is doing some of the best work to reach first-gen students. The events and activities are centered solely around increasing the quality and assistance to first-gens, and that is very, very appreciated.
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However, every team has its Achilles heel; FGCSM is no different. The outreach for the program and it's accessibility on campus is lacking — I, for, example, had no idea it existed until I performed research for this scouting report. They've sent emails to other first-gen students I've talked to about events, but I was never put on the email list, which makes me wonder how many other first-gen students slipped through the cracks and missed out on these opportunities when they might have really benefitted from them.
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Overall grade: A-
First-Gen Theme Community
The first-gen Theme Community is a housing option available to first-gen students that they can apply for. It's located in Couzens Hall, so it's on main campus and near to all of the activities and other resources put on by the FGCSM and first-gen gateway.
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Any first-year, first-gen student can apply, and the living community will put you in the center of a heavily-focused initiative on integrating first-gen students to campus. This makes accessing resources much, much easier.
Similarly to FGCSM, having a living community solely for first-gen students is exactly something you'd want to see for outreach. It helps students connect with other students from similar backgrounds, and makes all of the resources, events, and opportunities available to first-gen students in their own living space, so students don't potentially fall through the cracks (like me!)
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The only drawback on this opportunity is, again, it's not really heard of. I had no idea I could apply, or that it was even available as a freshman — but, that also seems more like a problem for the University's housing department rather than it's themed living communities.
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Overall grade: A
First-Gen Website
The first-gen website was produced by the University to create a place that serves as a home to all of its other outreach programs, like FGCSM and the living community. The website promotes information on first-gen students, provides announcements and makes it easier to keep track of all the different moving parts on campus that are geared toward first-gen students on Michigan's campus.
This website kind of serves as a starting point to everything available to first-gen students on campus, from FGCSM to the living community to whatever else the University can find to include. It shares stories, such as the one in the picture above, of first-gen students on and around campus, and it's where you can find the first-gen "Gateway," which works with other orgs on campus to put on events such as the first-gen commencement ceremony.
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As a first-gen student navigating this site, my biggest wish was that it had more substantial help, if that makes sense. By this, I mean it would be nice if there was a more conscious effort to have financial aid resources or housing information available on this website, since it's something that could be looked at as the home of all first-gen outreach.
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Overall grade: B+
Comprehensive Studies Program
The Comprehensive Studies Program technically isn't just for first-gen students, because it hosts a variety of students ranging from athletes to individuals from small towns. But, as a first-gen student, I can say that CSP has really helped me while I've been working toward a degree, offering smaller class sizes and extra classroom time to accommodate the adjustment period.
Even though it's not technically for first-gen students, CSP has been inseparable from my college career. I can't imagine trying to have taken calculus or Spanish without it, because the hands-on approach and small classroom vibe foster a much more open, interactive learning environment.
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I will say that CSP isn't an easy route — the extra 20 minutes really can get you, especially at nine in the morning — but the extra homework and office hours really, truly do help. I'm not exactly sure the process or requirements for someone to be put in CSP, but I do know you can request to be in it, or you can take classes without being in CSP with an override.
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Overall grade: B+