First-Generation College Student Engagement

Fall 2023 Semester Highlights & Survey Data 
First-Generation students and supporters gather in the UMC

 

The First-Generation Programs & Enrichment Office and campus partners hosted a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff this past semester, attending a range of events, from orientation and career support, to a celebration of all first-gen students.

 

We asked participants if they felt affirmed and celebrated in their identity as a first-generation college student in some of our post-event surveys. 91% of participants who responded to that question agreed or strongly agreed. 

CISC First-Gen event participant details:

  • 79% students, 21% faculty or staff participants
  • 58% female, 41% male, 1% nonbinary participants
  • 86% first-gen students, 14% non-first-gen students 
  • 7% transfer students, 93% first-year entry students
  • 65% first-year, 20% sophomore, 8% junior, 4% senior, 2% fifth-year seniors and 1% graduate students
  • 50.8% Hispanic/Latinx, 24.8% White, 15% Asian, 5.1% Black/African American, 1.6% International, 1.2% Native American/Indigenous and 1.2% Pacific Islander 

Pie chart showing first-gen program participants by First-Gen Status - (86%) first-gen students, (14%) non-first-gen students
Pie chart showing first-gen program participants by Gender - (58%) female, (41%) male, (1%) nonbinary participants
Pie chart showing first-gen program participants by Affiliation - 79% students, 21% faculty/staff
Pie chart showing first-gen program participants by Entry - (7%) transfer students, (93%) first-year entry students
Pie chart showing first-gen program participants by Race - (50.8%) Hispanic/Latinx, (24.8%) White, (15%) Asian, (5.1%) Black/African American, (1.6%) International, (1.2%) Native American/Indigenous and (1.2%) Pacific Islander
Pie chart showing first-gen program participants by academic year - (65%) first-year, (20%) sophomore, (8%) junior, (4%) senior, (2%) fifth-year seniors and (1%) graduate students

Comparison of participant race demographics to overall CU Boulder race demographics 

 

Race/Ethnicity 

Overall CU Population 

First-Gen Participants

Hispanic/Latinx 

12.6% 

50.8% 

White 

65.2% 

24.8% 

Asian 

9.5% 

15.0% 

Black/African American 

2.7% 

5.1% 

International 

6.5% 

1.6% 

Native American/ Indigenous 

1.5% 

1.2%

Pacific Islander 

0.7% 

1.2% 

Bar graph comparing first-gen programs participant demographics to CU demographics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participation by Program:
Bar graph showing the number of participants by first-generation event

  • National First-Gen Day: 141 participants
  • First-Gen Orientation: 126 participants
  • First-Gen Friday Welcome: 46 participants
  • First-Gen Friday Career: 43 participants
  • First-Gen Friday Mindfulness: 32 participants
  • First-Gen Day of Service: 8 Participants