Vassar’s Newest First-Generation and Low-Income Students Take Flight

Two weeks before the Fall Semester began, 165 first-year students learned some basic writing tips—and received instructions on where to go for academic help throughout their Vassar careers—in a classroom in New England Building. The class, taught by Adjunct Associate Professor of English Matthew Schultz, was one of the key elements of a weeklong program called Foundations that helps first-generation and low-income (FLI) students acclimate to the challenges of a four-year liberal arts college.

Schultz said he was glad to help the students become acquainted with life at Vassar. “I’ve taught classes in this program since it began several years ago because I was a first-generation college student myself, and I remember the apprehension I felt starting my first year,” he said. “My college didn’t have a program like the one Vassar provides.”

In addition to the writing class, the FLI students also learned some basic science methodologies from Associate Professor of Biology Leroy Cooper, took campus tours, and learned about the College’s counseling services and student activities—all while being guided and mentored by Vassar sophomores, juniors, and seniors who had taken part in the FLI program when they were first-years.

One mentor, Mia Soret ’27, said she volunteered because she remembered being overwhelmed about what to expect when she arrived on the Vassar campus. “From the first greeting, I felt a sense of community, and I spent the entire week becoming more comfortable with people I related to and knew I was making life-long connections,” Soret said. “Becoming a student leader in the FLI program was a way for me to be able to give that experience to the next class. It can be challenging to step into a private, predominantly-white institution. FLI provides a safe space to make the process from high school to college seamless.”

FLI students also heard from a Vassar alum, Majella Sheehan ’22, who offered tips on how to navigate the entire Vassar experience. Sheehan’s main message: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. “If you’re worried that you’re the only one who needs help, don’t be,” she said. “I didn’t understand the work-study system. I didn’t understand all my curriculum options. I didn’t realize I could drop courses. There’s no shame in asking for help.”

A faculty member who took part in Sheehan’s talk with the FLI first-years, Associate Professor of Sociology Eréndira Rueda, said she experienced similar anxieties as a first-generation student at the University of California at San Diego. “The key thing to learn is how to develop relationships,” Rueda said. “Rest easy: You will find friends on campus; you will find your group.”

When Foundations Week ended, FLI student Eve Escobar ’28 reflected on the experience. “The FLI program helped ease me into the pace of typical college-level classes, and this was very important because I had no idea what to expect,” Escobar said. “And FLI introduced me to a plethora of resources available on campus that would not be as ingrained in my brain if they were not shown with FLI because learning with a small group directed the messages clearer than in large groups.”

Escobar said her most impactful experience came during a group exercise called Standing on Shoulders. “It connected the whole group as we sympathized and heard each other’s struggles. It was a very touching moment not like anything I had ever experienced before,” she said. “I love FLI for creating such a safe space.”

FLI student Ian Saunders ’28 said he too was grateful for Foundations Week. “It prepared me not only in what to expect for my upcoming first semester classes, but it also exposed me to a variety of the different resources Vassar has to offer,” he said.

Saunders said one of the most helpful suggestions he received involved how to ask for help in his classes. “We got to discuss in small groups with a professor about their teaching methods, their experiences in undergraduate and graduate education, their respective research, how classes differ from professor to professor, and how important it is to attend office hours and create a personal connection with your instructors,” he said.

FLI Director Michelle Quock said she enjoyed meeting the new students and taking part in workshops and events that prepared them for the next four years. “I had a wonderful time connecting with our students during Foundations Week,” Quock said. “We are truly fortunate to have them in our community. It’s been a joy to witness the bonds forming and to be part of this community. I am excited to get to know them better and to provide ongoing support to our first-generation, low-income, and/or undocumented students. They are such a valuable gift to Vassar.”