Tennessee Tech recognized by FirstGen Forward for commitment to first-generation student success
Tennessee Tech Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Cynthia Polk-Johnson, second
from right, visits with students on Tech’s Centennial Plaza. Polk-Johnson spearheads
the university’s efforts to promote first-generation student success along with Dr.
Harry Ingle, the university’s newly appointed executive director for Student Affairs.
Tennessee Tech University was recognized for its dedication to first-generation student
success as one of eighty new members of the FirstGen Forward Network for 2024-2025.
Universities selected for membership in the FirstGen Forward Network must demonstrate
a clear commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation
college students. As of fall 2023, roughly 20 percent of Tech students are the first
in their family to attend college.
Powered by FirstGen Forward, formerly the Center for First-Generation Student Success,
the FirstGen Forward Network provides a three-phase approach to scaling holistic first-generation
student success by engaging and empowering higher education institutions to transform
the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes
and build more inclusive institutional structures. To date, 429 institutions of higher
education, including two statewide systems, have entered the network, representing
49 states and the District of Columbia.
“Tennessee Tech is enormously proud of our first-generation students who are charting
a new course for their families and are a vital part of the fabric of this campus.
We know these students bring unique experiences and perspectives and we are here to
provide the support they need,” said Cynthia Polk-Johnson, Ph.D., vice president for
Student Affairs at Tech. “We are honored to be selected as a member of the FirstGen
Forward Network because Tech is wholly aligned with FirstGen Forward’s mission of
driving first-generation student success and finding the most effective ways to reach
and serve this community.”
As part of Tech’s ongoing commitment to first-generation students, the university
recently named longtime Tech staff member and alumnus Harry Ingle, Ed.D., as executive
director for Student Affairs. In this role, Ingle will provide campus-wide leadership
for all programs and initiatives for first-generation student success to help bolster
first-generation student recruitment, persistence, retention and completion rates.
Ingle most recently served as director for diversity, recruitment and student success
in the university’s College of Engineering.
“We are pleased to welcome Tennessee Tech into the FirstGen Forward Network,” added
Sarah E. Whitley, Ph.D., vice president with FirstGen Forward. “Through the application
process, it was evident that Tennessee Tech is not only taking steps to serve first-generation
students but is prepared to make a long-term commitment and employ strategies that
foster an environment of success for this important population.”
In this first phase of the network, selected institutions participated in the FirstGen
Forward Network Virtual Kick-off on June 6, 2024. As a network member, interested
faculty and staff are afforded opportunities to engage with peer institutions also
working to create environments that improve the experiences and success of first-generation
students, and will participate in monthly calls, professional development, goal setting,
blog development, annual reporting and more.
After successful completion of the network member phase, institutions may progress
to the second phase, FirstGen Forward Network Leader. Ultimately, all network institutions
strive for national leadership as a FirstGen Forward Network Champion.
“Being named as a network member in the FirstGen Forward Network is an exciting opportunity
for Tennessee Tech to join a dedicated community of professionals prepared to share
evidence-based practices and resources, troubleshoot challenges, generate knowledge
and continue to advance the success of first-generation students across the country,”
concluded Maurice Jones, CEO of FirstGen Forward. “We are excited to see a groundswell
of activity from the class of 2024 network members and know Tennessee Tech will be
a significant contributor.”
To learn more about first-generation efforts at Tennessee Tech, visit www.tntech.edu/parents/first-generation.php.
To learn more about FirstGen Forward, visit www.firstgen.naspa.org.