First Generation College Students

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First-generation college students are students who are the first in their family to go to college, neither parent or guardian having completed a 4-year degree from a college or university in the United States.

If you're first-gen, you're not alone. Southern Miss is proud of the number of first-generation students we have, and we want to do everything we can to make sure you have a successful and fulfilling college experience!

Make sure to check out our helpful resources in the Student Success Library!

 

 

Eagle First

Eagle F1rst is a first-generation student organization that focuses on providing students with connections, resources and support to successfully navigate Southern Miss. Just talking to other students who are experiencing the same things you are can make a huge difference as you adjust to college life.

The vision of the organization is to cultivate leadership skills among students who share similar ideas and experiences. 

Want to know more about Eagle F1rst? Email Halle.JohnsonFREEMississippi.

 

First-Gen Fest

A celebration of first-generation freshmen during Golden Eagle Welcome Week (GEWW).  This year’s event will introduce resources, highlight the student experience, and will feature speaker Harlan Cohen. Co-sponsored by TRiO-SSS and the McNair Scholars Program.

 

First-Gen on Fire!

Fearless. Intelligent. Resilient. Excellent. First-Gen Golden Eagles are on F.I.R.E!

National First-Gen Celebration Day is recognized annually on November 8th to celebrate students, staff, and faculty who are the first in their families to pursue and graduate with a four-year degree. 

Join TRIO Student Student Support Services for a week of festivities this November as we commemorate National First-Gen Celebration Day!

 

Our Campus Partners

TRIO Student Support Services

TRIO-SSS is a U.S. Department of Education grant-funded program

To be a TRIO-SSS Scholar, a student must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. and must be enrolled at The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg campus and must fall into one or more of the following categories:

• A first-generation college student (neither parent/guardian completed a bachelor’s degree) 
• An Income-Eligible student (determined by taxable income level and family size) 
• A student with a documented disability (verified by registration with the Office of Student Accessibility Services)
  Learn more about TRIO-SSS

 

McNair Scholars Program

Activism at work! 

The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded across the United States by the U.S. Department of Education. Grant funds are awarded to colleges and universities to prepare eligible students for doctoral studies through research and scholarly activities. To be eligible, students must be either first generation and income-eligible or underrepresented in graduate education.Learn more about the McNair Scholars Program