November 8 | Burge Union
Break barriers by empowering students and centering the community at KU’s inaugural first-generation college student conference.
2023 Conference Theme: Breaking Barriers
Welcome to The University of Kansas's inaugural first-generation college student conference for KU students, faculty, and staff.
A free day full of making connections, discovering community, developing skills, and finding support for your pathway to success as a first-gen student.
Registration
Student Registration
Faculty & Staff Registration
Agenda
8:00 AM - Check-in, Refreshments, and Resource Fair
9:00 AM - Welcome from KU Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer
10:00 & 11:00 AM - Morning Concurrent Sessions
- Empowering First-Generation College Students: Elevating Their Voices Through Research with Dr. Meghan Ecker-Lyster & Khushi Patel
- Empowering Next Gen Networking Through the Jayhawk Career Network with Dr. Howard Graham & Dr. Paige Freeman
- What’s Your Superpower?: Towards a Strengths-Based Lens for First-Gen Students with Dr. Tonya Waller
- 10:00 AM - Undergraduate Student Panel facilitated by Michelle Wilson & 11:00 AM - Graduate Student Panel facilitated by Dr. Nicole Reiz
Noon - Free luncheon and keynote by Carlos Ojeda Jr.
1:10 PM - Afternoon Sessions
- Student-only Workshop Carlos Ojeda Jr.
- Faculty & Staff Professional Development Ernesto Mejía
Frequently Asked Questions
For undergraduate students: Being a First-Generation undergraduate student means that neither your parents or guardians have a bachelor's degree.
For graduate students: Being a First-Generation graduate student means you are in the first generation of your family to earn a bachelor’s degree and are now earning a graduate or professional degree.
No. However, preference will be given to students who can attend full time. Please indicate on the registration form whether you can attend for the entire time.
No. You can elect to attend only the professional development session. However, preference will be given to faculty and staff who can attend both the luncheon and the PD session.
The conference is completely free to attend for all KU students, faculty, and staff! Breakfast and lunch will be included.
No. However, we will prioritize access to the conference for first-generation students.
This is a common concern for students wanting to attend extracurricular events such as conferences.
We created an email template for students who have registered for the conference to help them reach out to professors and request an excused absence. Please contact hawklink@ku.edu to receive the letter.
About Partnership
The University of Kansas is a NASPA-designated First-Gen Forward Institution and campus partners collaborate to host the events for the First-Generation College Celebration (FGCC) which is an annual opportunity celebrated nationally to raise awareness of the first-generation college student identity by advancing an asset-based, national narrative of these students’ experiences and outcomes.
This year, our inaugural conference is an additional institutional commitment to share evidence-based practices and resources, address challenges, generate knowledge, and continue to advance the success of first-generation students.
