FirstGen Forward Network

Fitchburg State joins FirstGen Forward Network by demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing first-generation student success.

The FirstGen Network is a scaling and community-building model designed to advance holistic success for first-generation college students. 

Formerly known as the Center for First-generation Student Success, the organization was founded in 2017 the network includes over 503 higher education institutions (including statewide systems) across 48 states and the District of Columbia.

It equips colleges and universities with data-informed strategies, peer-learning communities, research, and professional development to move from isolated programming to systemic, campus-wide support.

Higher education institutions join and advance through a structured, three-phase journey: 

  1. Network Member (Entry): New institutions complete virtual onboarding, participate in monthly peer-learning workshops, set annual goals, and host events like the First-Generation College Celebration. There are no application or annual fees. 
  2. Network Leader (Customized Transformation): Institutions build deeper, tailored institutional strategies and align campus data to track measurable outcomes (such as retention and graduation rates). 
  3. Network Champion (Advancing Evidence-Based Practices): The highest designation, where schools model best practices, share scalable impact across the field, and often participate in specialized funding and transformation initiatives (such as partnerships with the Gates Foundation). 

The goal is to empower our staff to best serve and support first generation students and to improve their educational outcomes. 

FirstGen Forward welcomes 39 new institutions to national FirstGen Forward Network 

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.

To learn more about FirstGen Forward and the Network, visit firstgenforward.org.

President Hodge on being accepted into the Network

"Being accepted into the FirstGen 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. 48% of our undergraduates, and 55% 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."