Faculty Connect

Proud to Be First Faculty Connect is a structured program designed specifically to create and maintain connections between second-year, first-generation students and College of Arts and Science (CAS) faculty. Proud to Be First has always sought to facilitate supportive networks between CAS faculty and first-generation students as one of its primary goals. The Proud Advocate program has been an initial step in this direction. The Faculty Connect Program is the natural next step in these efforts.

Second-year students in Proud to Be First will be grouped with one faculty Advocate (two students per one faculty member), according to shared academic and/or professional interests. Students and faculty members meet for coffee and pastries (provided by Proud to Be First!) as well as lunch at the Torch Club, courtesy of Proud to Be First. 

Why second-year students?

CAS first-generation first-year students have numerous points of contact for advising and mentoring at both faculty and peer levels (e.g., First-Year Seminars, College Cohort Program, Proud Mentors). Once students reach sophomore year they have relatively fewer formal systems in place for developing supportive networks. However, they are in no less need of such networks: sophomore year is a critical year for students as they begin to consolidate their academic interests. The CAS Faculty Connect Program is designed to address this gap in critical resources for sophomore students, to meet their needs at their particular point in development as college students and burgeoning adults.