GMercyU is proud of its large population of first-generation students, the first in their families to attend a four-year college or university.
Being the first in your family to navigate college can be exciting and a little overwhelming. Many of our faculty and staff are first-generation, too, and know what it's like.
It's why we want to connect you with programs, including ones shared below, that will help you be successful.
The Collective Success Network
GMercyU has a partnership with this Philadelphia-based nonprofit, which supports first-generation and/or low-income college students to achieve their academic and career aspirations. All first-gen GMercyU students can take advantage of CSN’s empowering mentorships, professional development, and leadership opportunities.
Annual First-Generation College Celebration
To coincide with the nationwide First-Generation College Celebration every November, GMercyU holds special events to honor their first-gen students. The events even include faculty and staff professional development to support first-gen student success.
My parents were hard-working and blue collar. My mom’s greatest joy was seeing both of her daughters achieve a college degree. To help influence and shape my students today is truly one of the most rewarding aspects of my nursing career. I can spot the passion and determination in students who have fought hard to sit in my classroom.
—Maria C. Jordan MSN, RN, Nursing Instructor
Griffin Scholars Program (GSP)
First-gen students of color are connected with faculty or staff mentors for intentional support, guidance, and perspective as you transition to Gwynedd Mercy University. The program beings with a welcome reception in the fall and continues throughout the year with monthly events (either as a large group or as mentee/mentor meetings) to help students thrive socially and academically.
Qualified students are invited to GSP via email during the summer prior to the new academic year.
To learn more, contact Tatiana Diaz, Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at diaz.t@delicious-drop.com.
Tri-Alpha Honor Society
Recognizing the academic accomplishments of first-generation college students, inductees must be the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree and must be serving in higher education at the time of induction.
Learn about the inaugural class, including graduates from the Class of 2024, here.
Because my parents had not attended college, I sometimes think the range of possibilities was somewhat narrowed for me and my siblings, but I was fortunate to be one of the younger children in the family, so there was a 'roadmap' provided by my older brothers and sisters. One thing I noticed in other people with college-educated parents is the broader view of possible career opportunities that they held as they went through college. As such, I try to convey the widest range of possible career options to students I work with at GMercyU.
—Patrick McAleer, EdD, Certification and Placement Specialist and Adjunct Professor, Education programs
First-Generation Resource Group for Faculty & Staff
The mission of this group is to support first-generation faculty and staff emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Their success helps ensure that our population remains diverse and rich in experiences, knowledge, culture, and thought.
This group also holds events for our first-generation students, where they can get to know each other and discuss the unique experience that is being the first in your family to come to college, in addition to sharing strategies for success.
Being a first-generation college student brings both significant challenges and triumphs. This role often requires a more strategic approach to achieve the same goals as my peers, who typically have greater familiarity with the collegiate experience and more resources than I do. However, being a first-generation student also means I am pioneering change in my family; although this responsibility is heavy, it is also empowering... I am proud to say I am a first-generation college student!
—Shyanne Melendez '26, Biology, Philosophy