In recognition of its proud history of serving first-generation students, Fitchburg State University has been accepted into the national FirstGen Forward Network.
The announcement was made at the conclusion of Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting. There will be a FirstGen Forward Network celebration in Hammond Hall’s Main Lounge, beginning at 9 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
To be selected as a FirstGen Forward Network Member, Fitchburg State University displayed a demonstrated commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students. Fitchburg State is one of 39 new members to the nationwide network.
“We are extremely honored to be selected as a member of the FirstGen Forward Network,” said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge. “Being accepted into the First Gen Forward Network signals what we already know – that Fitchburg State is a community full of students, faculty, staff, and librarians who are or will be the first in their family to earn a degree. Forty-eight percent of our undergraduates, and 55 percent of our incoming freshman class are First Gen, in fact. Achieving this Network status is more than just a recognition of the good work already happening to support First Gen students – it is strengthening a commitment to advancing that work. Through this network and led by Enrollment Management/Student Success and Student Affairs, our teams will have access to a network of peer institutions, professional learning opportunities, access to research, and grant opportunities. The result will be an annual report that will track our progress and set future goals. This recognition comes with a call to action; one we have willingly accepted.”
The FirstGen Forward Network provides a three-phase approach — Network Member, Network Leader, and Network Champion — to scaling holistic first-generation student success by engaging and empowering higher education institutions to transform the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes, and build more inclusive institutional structures. With the new class, the network includes more than 500 institutions of higher education, including two statewide systems, representing 48 states and the District of Columbia.
“We are excited to welcome Fitchburg State University to the FirstGen Forward Network,” said Martina A. Martin, vice president at FirstGen Forward. “Throughout the application process, Fitchburg State University demonstrated a clear commitment to advancing success for first-generation students — backed by a willingness to align strategy, data, and campus-wide efforts for long- term impact. Their leadership reflects a meaningful investment in creating the conditions where first-generation students can thrive.”
In this first phase of the Network, selected institutions participated in the FirstGen Forward Network Virtual Kick-off on August 20. As a Network Member, Fitchburg State University’s interested faculty and staff are afforded opportunities to engage with peer institutions also working to create environments that improve the experiences and success of first-generation students, and will participate in monthly calls, professional development, goal setting, blog development, annual reporting, and more.
After successful completion of the Network Member phase, institutions may progress to the second phase, FirstGen Forward Network Leader, in which institutions receive an evidence- based and research-supported framework of actionable priorities supported through monthly workshops; diagnostic tools providing critical institutional insight; robust data-sharing as part of the national Postsecondary Data Partnership; guidance of expert coaches along each step of the experience; and more. Ultimately, all Network institutions strive for national leadership as FirstGen Forward Network Champions.
“There is nothing quite like seeing a new generation of institutions step into this network with purpose and passion,” said Dr. Stephanie J. Bannister, President of FirstGen Forward. “FirstGen Forward exists because we believe institutions are strongest when they learn alongside one another—sharing evidence-based practices, working through challenges together, and advancing first-generation student success at scale. Fitchburg State University is joining a community of practitioners doing exactly that, and the Class of 2026 represents a remarkable groundswell of energy and commitment. I know Fitchburg State University will be a meaningful contributor to what we build together.”
To learn more about Fitchburg State University, visit fitchburgstate.edu. To learn more about FirstGen Forward, visit firstgenforward.org.
About FirstGen Forward
FirstGen Forward is the center for first-generation student success–your premier source for evidence-based approaches, data-informed strategies, professional development, and research. Together, we are building community and belonging through the FirstGen Forward Network, knowledge creation and evidence-based practices, and thought leadership and advocacy, transforming higher education and the student success landscape guided by a first-gen lens.
About Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg State University is a public institution dedicated to integrating high-quality professional programs with strong liberal arts and sciences studies.
Founded in 1894, the university now has more than 30 undergraduate programs and 22 master's degree programs, and 6,000 full and part-time students.