Page 25 - June JSF report

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY REPORT (4) JSF Final Impact Report June 2023
Part 2: Budget Categories
Over the two-year timeframe $50,000 was provided annually in the following support areas: mini grants: 47,500; Book stipends: 12,500; and Co-curricular programming: 40,000.
Mini-Grants/Book stipends ($47,500)
Over the course of the grant period, we focused the mini grant and book stipend allocation on first-generation, low-income, juniors and seniors, whose financial hardships were preventing them from graduating. This became especially vital during the time of 2020-21 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the grant period, we awarded 41 first-generation graduating juniors and seniors’ scholarships to eliminate financial barriers toward graduation.
Co-Curricular Programming ($40,000)
Over the course of the grant period, the funding for co-curricular programming was focused on increasing the services, programs, and events, specific to first-generation students; with the goal of expanding the office’s outreach and overall sense of belonging for First-gen students at FAU. With these funds, not only were we able to build on our existing programs, but create new programs and services that extended our reach, and increased our impact. Some of those notable programs are listed below. As a result of the expansion of our programs and services, we were able to offer over 40 events this last academic year, which engaged 2,362 unique first-generation students, which is 25% of our first-generation student population.
Notable Events & Programs:
- Tri-Alpha First-Generation Honors Society: Our office was the first university in the state of Florida to charter this organization, which recognizes the academic achievements of first-generation students, staff, and alumni. Since the chartering of the organizing in 2021, we have inducted 208 students, 3 faculty, and 3 alumni, all who identify as first-generation.
- First-Gen Open House: Through a partnership with our office of admissions, we were able to host our first admissions open house specifically for first-generation students, during national first-generation day. We hosted over 300 first-generation high school
4
Page 23 HORIZONS