STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State University has received a $5,000 FirstGen Forward Transformation Grant in support of its initiatives serving first-generation college students.
The university is one of four FirstGen Forward Network Champion institutions selected to receive the inaugural Transformation Grant. Supported by the Gates Foundation, this award will enable Tarleton State to leverage Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP) data to advance meaningful, data-driven improvements for first-generation college students.
“We are extremely honored to be selected for the FirstGen Forward Transformation Grant,” said Dr. Rachael Weldon-Caron, Tarleton State’s Assistant Vice President for TRIO and First-gen Initiatives. “The FirstGen Forward Network has been an outstanding partner of support, and receiving this award demonstrates further the organization’s commitment to its university partners in first-generation student success.”
The unrestricted funding supports the strategic use of PDP data to:
— Strengthen data-informed decision-making practices that improve overall institutional effectiveness.
— Launch or expand programs, events and initiatives tailored to first-generation college students.
— Enhance the services and support systems that promote the success and retention of first-generation students throughout their academic journey.
Tarleton State’s award will help the university further strengthen academic outcomes for first-generation students through the IGNITE initiative, created by Dr. Kristin Herrmann Phillips. Designed for students in the College of Science and Mathematics, IGNITE provides mentoring, increases awareness of research opportunities and offers career guidance to build confidence, expand access and prepare students for future success. The initiative aims to ensure first-generation COSM students thrive both academically and professionally and are retained at higher rates after their first year.
Dr. Sherri Benn, Tarleton State Vice President for the Lozano Long Division of Global, Community and First-gen Initiatives, said the award reflects the strong collaboration and shared vision between Drs. Weldon-Caron and Herrmann Phillips.
“Their partnership brought together student success expertise, data-informed planning and innovative programming to create a compelling proposal that will strengthen support for first-generation students and advance meaningful outcomes across the university,” Dr. Benn said.
Dr. Stephanie Bannister, President of FirstGen Forward, said that with more than half of the country’s undergraduates identifying as first-generation, helping these students succeed will spark life-changing, multigenerational impact and open doors to greater educational, career and life opportunities for them and their families.
“Tarleton State has displayed a commitment to data-informed solutions that advance the success of their first-generation students, and their selection as a recipient of the FirstGen Forward Transformation Award is both a recognition of their efforts to date and fuel for their future success,” Dr. Bannister said.
All award recipients will prepare a brief outlining their work, including defined learning outcomes, success metrics and early results from their programs, services or initiatives. They will also be encouraged to showcase their efforts at prominent conferences supported by FirstGen Forward. These briefs will be widely distributed through FirstGen Forward’s network channels and highlighted in network sessions to share effective practices and inspire peer learning.
To learn more about first-generation efforts at Tarleton State University, visit tarleton.edu/trio/first-generation/. To learn more about FirstGen Forward, visit firstgenforward.org.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For over 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.