A May 2024 Student Voice survey by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab found 35 percent of first-generation students have had no experience with their college’s career center and its staff, compared to 32 percent of continuing-generation students.
California State University, Fullerton, created a career development program in 2020 to assist students who are the first in their family to attend college with building social capital and reflecting on their career goals.
Since launching, the program has supported 486 first-generation students and awarded them around $56,000 in scholarships.
Survey Says
Among Student Voice survey respondents, 48 percent of first-generation students believe their college or university should prioritize helping students find internships and job possibilities, and 38 percent indicated colleges should help students prepare for internship and career success.
What’s the need: Campus leaders first began to imagine the program, I Am First, in fall 2019 as a way to close equity gaps for underrepresented students at CSUF.
First-generation students, compared to their continuing-generation peers, are less likely to take advantage of support services and resources available at their college or university.
A 2023 study from Tyton Partners found 61 percent of first-generation students were aware of career advising on campus, but only 23 percent utilized this service. Similarly, 48 percent of first-gen learners were aware their campus had peer mentoring programs, but only 15 percent participated.
I Am First is unique in that it tailors career readiness education for first-gen students to help them gain the confidence they need to engage in career development.
How it works: I Am First, housed in CSUF’s career center, was created by Elizabeth Zavala-Acevez, associate vice president for student affairs; career center director Jennifer Mojarro; and senior associate director Stephanie Reyes, according to a university press release.
The program provides a variety of supports with the goal of creating an asset-based initiative that fosters belonging among first-gen learners and the campus community.
Students can apply for the program three times throughout the year in the fall, spring and summer terms, depending on their year in school. Each cohort is capped at 50 students.
Participants engage in self-reflection as well as career readiness exercises through nine two-hour sessions that take place both in person and online. Each session incorporates one or more of the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ career competencies.
Some of the exercises students complete include a strengths assessment through StrengthsFinder 2.0, the Launch Your Career Workbook to build networking skills and the Design Your Life Exploratory Lab to map out their future plans.
Students also build social capital through alumni panels, career expos and speed networking sessions. Each student is paired with a CSUF graduate who serves as their mentor, providing personal and career insights into how to succeed.
After completing the program, students receive a career readiness certificate and can apply for a $250 scholarship award by completing a culminating project.
Funding student success: The program was established with $250,000 over five years through the university’s Graduation Initiative 2025 funds and later expansion supported by the Crevier Family Foundation, according to a NACE blog post.
CSUF also partnered with the CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange County (CLAOC) to offer microinternships for past and current program participants. Each microintern receives a $500 stipend from CLAOC and an additional $500 from the I Am First program for their efforts.
What’s different: While many colleges and universities offer career development opportunities that are campuswide, CSUF’s is designed to build relationships between first-generation students and others in the campus community to help them create a sense of belonging, as well as build their network.
Students also complete a readiness assessment, gauging their professional communication, career planning and exploration, internship and job search and interview preparedness, as well as their relationship-building skills. Staff use the results to discuss ways that students can continue to develop their skills and ensure they’re career ready.
The program has also expanded to reach additional student groups through the I Am First, I Am an Artist program in summer 2023 for art majors.
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