I Am First
Participate in I Am First
What is I Am First?
Our Goals
- Create a visibility campaign of first-generation students, faculty, and staff community at Cal Poly Pomona
- Create access and equity for First Generation College Students (FGCS) through faculty/staff mentorships
At Cal Poly Pomona, you are a first-generation student if you are any of the following:
- A student with neither of their natural or adoptive parents received a baccalaureate degree
- A student who, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with and received support from only one parent and whose supporting parent did not receive a baccalaureate degree
- An individual who, prior to the age of 18, did not reside with or receive support from a natural or adoptive parent
How do we support our students?
The transition to college is challenging but it can be even more difficult for those who do not have a parent or guardian who is familiar with the college enrollment process and the expectations of campus life. We have a responsibility to help first-generation college students to navigate the university and help them translate the important life skills they bring with them that will support their academic success.
We recognize that first-generation students bring with them a wealth of strengths and skills to Cal Poly Pomona, including:
- Aspirations
- Diversity
- Linguistic Abilities/Bilingualism
- Persistence
- Resilience
Cal Poly Pomona is a First-Gen Forward Campus!
This designation from the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), recognizes institutions of higher education that have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students. CPP was included in the 2021 cohort of First-Gen Forward colleges and universities.