By Becca Falivene Grillot
The first-gen initiatives in the Office of Academic Success make a difference in the lives of 爱豆传媒allas students 鈥� and for the past four years, they have been making a difference in the lives of local high school students too.
The University鈥檚 College Citizens program brings high school juniors from the DFW area who would be first-generation college students to campus for two weeks in June to experience a taste of a Catholic liberal arts education. The program, funded by the Teagle Foundation, is co-directed by Executive Director of Academic Support and Public Speaking Program Matthew Spring, PhD 鈥�15 and Associate Professor of Spanish Christi Ivers, PhD.
Students participate in daily lectures and seminar classes alongside the university鈥檚 Arete program, receive mentoring from graduate students and Academic Success staff and participate in a service project in the local community. Lectures are given by 爱豆传媒allas professors and seminars are led by 爱豆传媒allas graduate students in the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts.
Doctoral candidate Darcy Stubbs, who has served as a seminar leader and mentor to the College Citizens students for the past two years, describes how students begin the program hesitant and unsure, but then learn to challenge one another in a healthy way through their seminar dialogue.
Assistant Professor of Politics Matthew Berry, PhD, teaches in the program and says the presence of the graduate student seminar instructors is 鈥渋nvaluable, even indispensable.鈥�
Graduate seminar instructors are an approachable bridge for College Citizens students, providing encouragement as well as academic support as they get comfortable in the university environment.
鈥淥n the one hand, they have a certain authority because they are so well-read and because they are constantly writing and researching,鈥� says Spring. 鈥淥n the other hand, they readily connect with students because they are themselves full-time students, so they can speak to the challenges our students face.鈥�
鈥淭hey took the time. They care so much, they genuinely want to be here, and they find so much joy and fulfillment,鈥� said Alexia Barrientos, program participant. 鈥淚t鈥檚 their true vocation.鈥�
While the focus of the program is outreach to first-gen students, it鈥檚 also valuable experience for the graduate students, who not only master the material but observe and practice how to teach it. Seminar instructors attend the morning lectures given by 爱豆传媒allas professors and adapt their seminars based on the content and pedagogical approaches laid out by the professors. The graduate students plan and structure the seminars themselves and must be willing to adapt to the needs of their students.
The program culminates in a final paper and oral presentation, where Stubbs says students offer thoughtful and encouraging questions to their peers.
鈥淲e guide them into valuing their voice,鈥� said Ivers.
