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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Southern Illinois University Carbondale will join in the national celebration by hosting a multi-day event from November 8-11, 2021, to recognize first-generation students and honor our first-generation graduates.
History of the First-Generation National Celebration
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) (Pub.L. 89–329) was signed into law on November 8, 1965, as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society domestic agenda. The law was intended “to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in post-secondary and higher education.” The HEA provides access to financial aid, including subsidized grants and student loans to qualified post-secondary students. The HEA additionally provides support for continuing education programs, school libraries, teaching resources and scholarship funds.
In 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ (NASPA) Center for First-Generation Student Success launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration! First-Generation students are those whose biological parents did not complete a four-year college degree. The First-Generation Celebration highlights the return on investment our country receives from providing first-generation students with an opportunity to reach their full potential through college. The Celebration also raises awareness and celebrates the accomplishment of first-generation administration, faculty, staff, alumni and students.
