In this episode of Campus Conversations, host President Dr. Bill Pink engages in an insightful conversation with Professor Dr. David McCall, a first-gen faculty member, along with students Lianna Moodie, a senior finance major, and Semmon Robinson, a sophomore studying social work. Together, they explore the unique experiences of being a first-generation college student and how it shapes one’s college journey, from academic challenges to personal growth and the impact on daily campus life.
Our host Dr. Bill Pink Starts us off with the importance of the defined parameter of what a first-generation student is. Dr. David McCall describes a first-generation student as one who comes from a family where neither parent has completed a bachelor’s degree in the United States or a student who identifies as having minimal prior exposure to or knowledge of the university experience.
As a first-generation student, Lianna Moodie described her struggles just starting out. Signing up to classes and transferring without orientations was a big part of Moodie’s struggles early on. There weren’t many people she thought she could ask for help from. She even describes that she was afraid of asking for help because she viewed some of her questions as simple and that she should have known what the answers were. Semmon Robinson is another first-generation student in the studio, and she also had very similar struggles to the ones Moodie had. Yet, she loves how Ferris has given her a ton of opportunities like becoming a student leader and working in different areas to grow.
Dr. McCall describes that it is of the utmost importance to make sure all first-generation students have access to the help they need. He also says that it is important to give all students on campus the same experience no matter if they are first-gen or not. This allows them to round out their methods and make the experience smoother for everyone.
Student Lianna Moodie goes into detail about how she gained a sense of belonging at Ferris. She talks about how at first it was very hard for her. But after she decided to be more out-going during the fall semester she ran for Vice-President for First Gen. She has had a lot of opportunities to meet people and grow as a person. She also talks about other ways she met new people which was going to events by herself. She shares that eventually you start recognizing familiar people and make connections that way.
Our host asked Semmon Robinson what she did to try and get more involved as a student, and she said she joined the First Gen RSO. She felt that she didn’t feel like she could branch out at first but after joining First Gen she met new people and got more involved at Ferris.
Dr. Pink recently discussed the many resources available for first-generation college students with Dr. McCall. Since 2019, there has been a big push to recognize and support first-gen students, both academically and socially. Connecting with others, making friends, and staying engaged are just as important as financial and academic support. Some of the top resources include free school supply library access, the First-Gen Mini Grant that provides laptops, and the Title III Grant, which funds 24/7 tutoring, a new mentoring program, and a space on campus just for first-gen students. Students shared what has helped them the most. Semmon mentioned that connecting with people has been key for her. Lianna loves being part of the First-Gen RSO (Registered Student Organization) because it lets her plan events and meet new people. She also finds the library extremely useful for her studies. Their advice for new first-gen students? Lianna says it’s okay to ask questions and not know everything—there are always people who can help. Semmon emphasizes the importance of seeking out opportunities and being ready to jump on them. Dr. McCall agrees, adding that you should make full use of the resources available and never be afraid to ask for help. Overall, the message is simple: reach out, stay connected, and take advantage of everything offered to help you succeed.
