First-Generation Student Support
GMercyU is proud of its large population of first-generation students, the first in their families to attend a four-year college or university.
Being the first in your family to navigate college can be exciting and a little overwhelming. Many of our faculty and staff are first-generation, too, and know what it's like.
It's why we want to connect you with programs, including ones shared below, that will help you be successful.
The Collective Success Network
GMercyU has a partnership with this Philadelphia-based nonprofit, which supports first-generation and/or low-income college students to achieve their academic and career aspirations. All first-gen GMercyU students can take advantage of CSN’s empowering mentorships, professional development, and leadership opportunities.
Annual First-Generation College Celebration
To coincide with the nationwide First-Generation College Celebration in November, GMercyU holds special events to honor their first-gen students. The events even include faculty and staff professional development to support first-gen student success.
Stay tuned for our November 2024 events.
My parents were hard-working and blue collar. My mom’s greatest joy was seeing both of her daughters achieve a college degree. To help influence and shape my students today is truly one of the most rewarding aspects of my nursing career. I can spot the passion and determination in students who have fought hard to sit in my classroom.
—Maria C. Jordan MSN, RN, Nursing Instructor
Griffin Scholars Program (GSP)
First-gen students of color are connected with faculty or staff mentors for intentional support, guidance, and perspective as you transition to Gwynedd Mercy University. The program beings with a welcome reception in the fall and continues throughout the year with monthly events (either as a large group or as mentee/mentor meetings) to help students thrive socially and academically.
Qualified students are invited to GSP via email during the summer prior to the new academic year.
To learn more, contact Tatiana Diaz, Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at diaz.t@gmercyu.edu.
Tri-Alpha Honor Society
Recognizing the academic accomplishments of first-generation college students, inductees must be the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree and must be serving in higher education at the time of induction.
Learn about the inaugural class, including graduates from the Class of 2024, here.
Being a first-generation college student came with additional pressures to succeed, to show not only myself, but my family that I am capable. My first-gen identity does not inherently change how I approach working with students; however, I have noticed some patterns in students with parents who have college degrees vs. those who do not. Those who have parents with college degrees seem to have a better understanding of work-life balance and seem more prepared for the workload of college.
—Joe Azzarano ’19 MsEd, Math Specialist