First Generation University Initiative

In 1984, Colorado State became the first university in the nation to offer scholarships specifically for first generation students. For decades, about 25 percent of students at CSU have been in the first generation of their families to earn college degrees. These first generation students are a testament to the power of a land-grant university to improve individual lives, communities – and the world – by providing access to excellent education for every student with the talent and motivation to earn it.

The First Generation University Initiative is a group of staff and faculty members who have volunteered to organize, collaborate across departments, develop strategies, brainstorm outreach opportunities, and provide support for all our First Generation college students. The leadership of the First Generation University Initiative is coordinated out of the Office of Inclusive Excellence.