44% of students at Texas State identify as first-generation college students. In this session, we will facilitate an open-formatted dialogue amongst faculty and students to discuss “first-generation” student experiences in STEM. Participants will hear stories from students and faculty who identify as first-generation college students and share their own personal narratives. We will discuss the significance of attending an HSI, how our interests for STEM came to fruition, our cultural histories / backgrounds, and how all these relate to our experiences in the classroom. We will end by considering how this experiential knowledge can help us to create positive learning environments in our classrooms. Participants will leave with a better sense of first-generation STEM student experiences and how they can support first-generation STEM students in the classroom.
