A University Commitment

Empowering, Supporting, and Celebrating First-Generation students at Elon University takes place in four distinct categories. Read on below to gain a better understanding of the work that is championed by First-Generation Student Support Services.

First Phoenix

First Phoenix is a mentoring program designed to connect incoming students with upper-level students to establish meaningful relationships throughout their journey at Elon University. First Phoenix participants participate in monthly workshops, one-on-one, and social gatherings. The program is also connected to our living-learning community, also named First Phoenix. The LLC is open to first-years and upper-division students, providing an intentional community for students to support and guide each other.

Student Support

First-generation students can engage with our holistic advising services at any point during their time at Elon. We work with many of our campus partners and support services (e.g. Student Care and Outreach, Student Conduct, Koenigsberger Learning Center to name a few) to ensure that our students are connected with the necessary resources to thrive! Additionally, we also provide programming throughout the year to connect students with resources and with one another.

Our team also manages two support funds designed that students can apply for to assist with completing any of the 5 Elon Experiences and/or to gain access to academic resources (i.e. books, laptops, costs associated with research, travel to present at conferences, etc.)

Advocacy

Members of the First-Generation Student Support Services Team serve on various University committees and working groups to provide thought leadership on how the University’s initiatives, goals, and aspirations may impact First-Generation students on campus.

Furthermore, our team convenes meetings of the First-Generation Advisory Council. The council comprises of institutional leaders, scholars, researchers, faculty, staff, and students who serve as champions and advocates of the First-Generation student experience at Elon. The council investigates and tackles barriers that impact our students’ ability to succeed. Members of the council serve as thoughtful partners providing input into the development of our initiative, advising on priority focus areas, and assisting with monitoring implementation timelines.

Celebration

Multiple times a year, we gather our First-Generation community and supporters to foster community by celebrating our students! Major events include National First-Generation College Celebration Week, the Scholarship & Opportunities Fair, and our annual Stole Ceremony