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First Generation Students

Supporting Our First-Gen Students

At Indiana State University, we understand that being a first-generation college student can come with unique challenges and opportunities. We are committed to providing the support and resources you need to succeed in your academic journey. Whether you're navigating the college application process, adjusting to campus life, or seeking guidance on career paths, we're here to help you every step of the way. 

We celebrate the strength, resilience, and determination of our first-generation college students. We're proud to be a part of your educational journey and look forward to helping you achieve your goals. 

Resources

Student Success and Advising Center: Our dedicated center provides a welcoming space where first-generation college students can connect with peers, access resources, and receive personalized support. From study groups to mentorship programs, we offer various services to help you thrive academically and socially. Our experienced advisors understand the unique needs of first-generation college students. They will work closely with you to create a personalized academic plan, explore majors and minors, and assist you in staying on track towards graduation. 

Financial Aid Assistance: Navigating the financial aspects of college can be daunting, but you don't have to do it alone. Our financial aid office offers guidance on filling out FAFSA forms, applying for scholarships, and managing college expenses. We are committed to making higher education accessible and affordable for all students. 

Peer Mentoring Programs: Sometimes the best advice comes from someone who has walked in your shoes. Our peer mentoring programs pair first-generation college students with experienced mentors who can provide valuable insights, advice, and encouragement as you navigate your college journey. 

Career Center: Planning for life after graduation can feel overwhelming, but our career services office is here to help. From resume writing workshops to mock interviews, we offer resources and support to help you explore career options, secure internships, and launch your professional career. 

Division of Student Affairs Resources: There are a wide variety of campus resources designed to help you succeed and meet your needs while at ISU. Familiarize yourself with campus resources and support services available to you. 

Workshops and Events: Throughout the academic year, we host workshops and events specifically designed for first-generation college students. These events cover topics such as study skills, time management, career exploration, and graduate school preparation. It's an excellent opportunity to learn new skills, connect with peers, and expand your network. 

Student Organizations: Joining a student organization is a fantastic way to connect with peers who share your interests and passions. Whether you're interested in academic clubs, cultural organizations, or community service groups, there's something for everyone at Indiana State University.

Internships and Research Opportunities: Gain hands-on experience in your field of study through internships and research opportunities. These experiences can help you build your resume, develop professional connections, and clarify your career goals.

Volunteer Opportunities: Giving back to your community is not only rewarding but can also enhance your college experience. Explore volunteer opportunities on and off-campus to make a positive impact while gaining valuable skills and experiences.

Education Abroad and Alternative Break Programs: Broaden your horizons and immerse yourself in new cultures through our study abroad and alternative break programs. Whether it's a semester-long exchange or a short-term faculty-led trip, studying abroad can be a transformative experience that enhances your academic and personal growth. Alternative breaks are short-term service-learning experiences that allow you to invest in other communities to meet a variety of needs. 

We understand that family support plays a crucial role in the success of first-generation college students. We're committed to providing resources and support to help families understand the college experience and empower them to be strong allies for their students. Below are some resources designed specifically for families of first-generation college students. 

Family Orientation Programs: Join us for our family orientation programs designed to provide families with valuable information about campus resources, academic expectations, and support services available to students. These programs offer an opportunity to ask questions, connect with other families, and learn how to best support your student's college journey. 

Parent and Family Engagement Events: Throughout the academic year, we host events specifically for parents and families of first-generation college students. These events cover topics such as financial aid, academic advising, campus safety, and student wellness. It's a great way to stay informed and connected with your student's college experience. 

  • Academic Advisor: A faculty or staff member who helps students plan their academic path, choose courses, and understand university policies and requirements. 
  • Academic Calendar: An official list of dates for the school year.  Includes specific dates for semesters and terms, examination period, holidays, breaks, deadlines, and commencement. 
  • Academic Dismissal: Students who meet the following criteria will be academically dismissed unless an exception is provided by the dean of the relevant college on a case-by-case basis: 
    • First-term students who earn a term grade point average of less than .85; 
    • Freshmen (0-29 earned hours) who are on probation and earn a term grade point average of 1.7 or less; 
    • Sophomores (30-59 earned hours) who are on probation and earn a term grade point average less than 2.0; 
    • Juniors (60-89 earned hours) and seniors (90+ earned hours) who are on probation and earn a term grade point average less than 2.2. 
    • Students who have been academically dismissed should expect to stay out of classes for one academic semester (following a first dismissal) and one academic year (following a second dismissal), after which such students should petition their academic dean to return to classes. Deans will retain the discretion to provide exceptions to NOT academically dismiss on a case-by-case basis.  No student may return to classes after a third academic dismissal. 
    • It should be pointed out that some programs may have requirements above the minimum University retention standards. 
    • Academic Dismissal is not synonymous with Satisfactory Academic Progress Suspension.  A student may be in Good Standing but still be suspended from getting financial aid due to low rate of completion or exceeding the allowable attempted credit hours. 
  • Academic Plan: A “roadmap” created to help ensure that you understand the requirements of your degree, including benchmark or gateway, major, and Foundational Studies requirements. The plan is a tentative outline representing how you may fulfill your degree requirements. 
  • Academic Probation: If a student’s cumulative grade point average is less than 2.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation will be restricted to no more than 13 credit hours, unless granted an exception. Students who are on academic probation are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to identify if repeating courses in which deficient grades were received is appropriate during the next semester (or the next time the course is offered). 
  • Academic Standing: Students who maintain a satisfactory semester and a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 are in good academic standing. 
  • Academic Year: The University’s academic year includes two semesters and one summer term. The fall/spring semester traditionally run sixteen- and eight-week offerings. During the summer term, courses start and end at different times; although they traditionally run for three, four, seven, eight, and eleven weeks. Courses are traditionally offered on-campus (day and evening), mix of on-campus and online, and online only. 
  • Accreditation: The process by which an institution or program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain standards by an external agency. 
  • Alumni: Graduates or former students of a particular school, college, or university. 
  • Associate's Degree: A two-year undergraduate degree typically offered by community colleges and some universities. 
  • Bachelor's Degree: A four-year undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a specific program of study. 
  • Bursar's Office: The office responsible for managing student billing and payments, including tuition and fees. 
  • Canvas: The online course management system used by ISU.  You will find information related to your class assignments, announcements, and discussion boards here. 
  • Class Standing: A student is usually identified as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior. Such a classification is applicable to the four years of regular college attendance. However, an increase in hours earned during one or more semesters or enrollment in summer may result in an accelerated program. Thus, it is more accurate to designate class standing in accordance with semester hours earned. 
    • 0-29 hours earned = Freshman 
    • 30-59 hours earned = Sophomore 
    • 60-89 hours earned = Junior 
    • 90+ hours earned = Senior 
  • College: At ISU, a college is an organizational unit of the institution that specializes in a certain type of education, such as the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of Technology. Every major is associated with a college.  
  • Credit Hour: A unit of measurement for academic coursework, typically representing one hour of classroom instruction per week over a semester. 
  • Course Numbers: In this Catalog, undergraduate courses are numbered in 100, 200, 300, and 400 sequences. Normally, freshman courses are in the 100 series, sophomore courses are in the 200 series. Courses numbered in the 300 and 400 series are considered upper division, and a minimum of 45 upper level credits are required to complete a baccalaureate degree. 
  • Curriculum: The set of courses and their content offered by a school or program. 
  • Dean: The head of a specific college or school within a university, responsible for overseeing academic and administrative functions. 
  • Elective Course: A course that a student can choose to take for credit towards their degree but is not specifically required by their major or program. 
  • Experiential Learning: Experiential learning gives students hands-on opportunities to connect their academic foundations to the world beyond the classroom through creative endeavors, field schools, internships, leadership opportunities, faculty-mentored research, and service-learning. 
  • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): A form completed by current and prospective college students to determine their eligibility for financial aid. 
  • FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): A federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. 
  • Finals Week: The final examination schedule is within the last week of each semester. During these days, each regularly scheduled class which offers two or more semester hours of credit, which meets between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and which meets for the full semester will be in session for one final two-hour period. 
  • First-Generation (First Gen) College Student: A student whose parent(s)/guardian(s) did not complete a four-year college or university degree. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) may have some college experience, including degrees from two-year institutions. 
  • GPA (Grade Point Average): A numerical representation of a student's academic performance, calculated on a scale of 0 to 4.0. 
  • Internship: A temporary, often unpaid, position that provides practical experience in a student's field of study. 
  • Major: The primary focus of study for a degree, requiring a specific set of courses and credits. 
  • Minor: A secondary focus of study, requiring fewer courses and credits than a major. 
  • Office Hours: Designated times when professors are available to meet with students to discuss coursework, ask questions, or seek advice. 
  • Orientation: A program that introduces newly admitted students to ISU and its academics, customs, traditions, and opportunities.  An important part of orientation is meeting with an academic advisor.  At this time, you will learn about your intended degree program and decide on courses you will take in your first semester. 
  • Prerequisite: A course or requirement that must be completed before a student can enroll in a more advanced course. 
  • Registrar: The office responsible for maintaining student records, course registrations, and academic transcripts. 
  • Registration: The act of signing up for classes and creating a class schedule for the next semester.  Your registration date and time depends on the number of credit hours you have accumulated, with priority given to students who are further along in their degree program.  Students are required to meet with their academic advisor prior to registering for courses. 
  • Resident Assistant (RA): A student leader who lives in the dorms and assists with student needs, organizes activities, and enforces residence hall policies. 
  • Study Week: Study Week is intended to encourage student preparation for final examinations given during the final examination week. Class attendance, however, is expected.   
  • Syllabus: A document provided by instructors that outlines the course objectives, schedule, grading policies, and required materials. 
  • Transcript: An official record of a student's academic history, including courses taken, grades received, and degrees awarded. 
  • Tuition: The fee charged by the institution for instruction and other educational services. 
  • Work-Study: A federal student aid program that provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for education expenses. 
  • Undergraduate: A student who is pursuing a two-year associate's degree or a four-year bachelor's degree. 
  • Graduate Student: A student who has completed a bachelor's degree and is pursuing advanced degrees such as a master's or doctorate. 
  • Scholarship: Financial aid that does not need to be repaid, awarded based on various criteria such as academic merit, financial need, or extracurricular involvement. 
  • Orientation: Programs and activities designed to help new students acclimate to college life and learn about resources and opportunities available at the university. 
  • Full-time Student: A student enrolled in a minimum number of credit hours, typically 12 or more per semester, as defined by the institution. 
  • Part-time Student: A student enrolled in fewer credit hours than the full-time requirement, typically less than 12 credit hours per semester.