in support & celebration of first-generation college students at ross

About the Empower & Thrive Initiative

With an estimated 12-15% of Ross undergraduate students in the 2024-25 academic year identifying as the first generation in their families to attend a four-year institution, the Empower & Thrive Initiative (ETI) was developed to support, celebrate, and champion first-generation undergraduate students at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Through an asset-based approach, ETI encourages student growth & development during their academic journey through community-building, peer mentorship, resource connection, and transformational co-curricular programming.

The Empower & Thrive Initiative aims to help first-gen students to discover their innate strengths and potential, with community and resources that serve as support alongside their individual growth and development. This program is not one that says “you are underprepared and in need of extra resources;” instead, it says “we know you have unique experiences and skills you bring to the table – let’s hone in on them to support your future direction.”

Our Program Objectives

Enhance first-generation student sense of belonging within the Ross and UM communities.

Provide transformative experiences that build resilience, enhance leadership skills, and encourage the personal growth of each student.

Create educational access and break down the hidden curriculum of higher education & the world of work for first-generation students.

Equip first-generation students with the social, navigational, and cultural capital to succeed in their career journeys.

First-Gen Week 2025

In honor of National First-Generation College Celebration Day on November 8th, we come together as a first-gen community to share our stories, celebrate our accomplishments, & show our pride for being the FIRSTS during First-Gen Week!

First-Gen Week Kickoff

Grab coffee & snacks, pick out some first-gen pride gear, and snap a picture to show us why you’re proud to be a first-generation college student.

Monday, November 3, 2025
Drop by 10:00am – 12:30pm
Winter Garden
Audience: Ross First-Gen Students, Staff, Faculty, & Allies

First-Gen Alumni Office Hours with Cynthia Hammersley

Engage in a one-on-one mentorship conversation with first-gen Ross alum, Cynthia Hammersley.

Monday, November 3, 2025
1:00 – 3:00pm (25 min slots)
Location shared upon selection
Audience: Ross First-Gen Students
MORE INFO & SIGN UP HERE

Agency & Affirmations: Supporting Our First-Gen Trailblazers

Attend this special virtual training to explore strategies to affirm and support first-gen students at UM.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025
12:00 – 1:00pm
Zoom link shared after registration
Audience: UM faculty & staff
REGISTER HERE

Ross First-Gen Network (RFGN)
Mass Meeting

Join the Ross First-Gen Network, the new student organizations at Ross for first-generation BBAs, for their first Mass Meeting of the year! Learn how to get involved, share your ideas for first-gen events & workshops, and connect with fellow first-generation college students.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025
5:30 – 6:30pm
B3560
Audience: Ross First-Gen BBAs

Together in the Journey: First-Gen Family Uplift Experience

This one is for the families & supporters! UM First-Gen Initiatives is hosting an inaugural event for first-gen parents/families and supporters. This event will share information about college life generally, provide an asset-based perspective around the first-gen family experience, and have a discussion time where attendees can share their own experiences, questions, and pride in their first-gen student.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025
6:30 – 8:00pm ET
Zoom link shared after registration
Audience: First-gen families & supporters
REGISTER HERE

First-Gen Strengths Accelerator with the Center for Positive Organizations

In this Strengths Accelerator, you will deepen your own awareness of your first-gen journey + your strengths, learning how to deploy a strengths-based approach both personally and professionally. Additionally, you will understand and practice how to recognize and elevate strengths in other people & organizations.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025
4:00 – 5:30pm
Kresge Makerspace (K3506)
Audience: First-Gen Students at UM
REGISTER HERE

Alumni Voices: Navigating First-Gen Journeys to Career Success

Panel discussion featuring first-generation student alumni sharing how they navigated the unique challenges and triumphs first-generation students experience after graduation. This event is co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and First-Gens @ UM.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025
6:00 – 7:30pm
Zoom link shared after registration
Audience: First-Gen Students at UM
REGISTER HERE

Ross First-Gen Celebration Dinner

The Empower & Thrive Initiative is excited to formally invite you to our third annual First-Gen Celebration Dinner. We welcome all Ross first-gen students, faculty, staff, & allies to join us!

Thursday, November 6, 2025
5:30 – 7:00pm
Tauber Colloquium
Audience: Ross First-Gen Students, Faculty, Staff, & Allies
RSVP HERE

Operation Graduation

Operation Graduation is a rental event designed to ease the financial burden of purchasing a graduation gown. A limited number of gowns will be available and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to students who attend. First-Gen students will be able to pick up their First-Gen Stole!

Friday, November 7, 2025
Drop-in from 12:00 – 4:00pm
University Career Center
Audience: First-Gen Students at UM
REGISTER HERE

First-Gen Peer Mentorship Program

The Empower & Thrive First-Gen Peer Mentorship program pairs first-year first-gen students with first-gen upperclassmen to gain community, encouragement, support, & guidance throughout their first year at Ross. The program is opt-in and is no cost to participants; the program is available to both first-time freshmen and transfer students in their first year at Ross who are first-generation.

Empower & Thrive Peer Mentors (ETI PMs) are currently-enrolled, first-generation Ross BBA students who are dedicated to building belonging and enhancing support for fellow first-generation Ross students. These mentors are committed to ongoing personal and professional development, are open-minded and community-oriented, and seek to advance the mission, vision, and goals of ETI as student leaders.

Senior

Marvin Tetteh

Senior

in support & celebration of first-generation college students at ross

About the Empower & Thrive Initiative

Our Program Objectives