The Butler Foundation was awarded a $5,000 Innovation Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. Community colleges are an access point for economically challenged students seeking higher education. A large portion of students who fit these characteristics are typically first-generation college students, a population Butler is committed to making a priority and has a taskforce to address this mission. This grant will enhance that committee’s efforts.
“These funds are going to allow our First-Generation College Student Taskforce to hold our inaugural First-Generation Celebration Week in November,” said Jenna Gannon, Quantitative Research Analyst at Butler and First-Generation Taskforce Chair. “As a First-Gen student and Butler alumna, I’m excited about how this will help positively impact our students and spread awareness of what it means to be first-gen while also celebrating their strengths.”
The First-Generation Taskforce seeks to increase access and success of underserved student populations including first-generation learners. In academic year 2023, Butler enrolled 1,290 unique students who identified as first-generation. Students identified as such are the first individual in their family to attend any form of higher education post high school.
Averages in persistence (fall semester to spring semester), retention (fall semester to next fall semester), and graduation, over the last five years are as follows: The persistence rate for first-generation students is 71.6% compared to the continuing-generation average of 78.2%. Additionally, the retention rate for first-generation students is 49.6% compared to the continuing-generation rate of 56.2%. Lastly, the graduation rate for first-generation students is 13.8%, much lower than the cohort average of 22.4%.
“Any effort the Butler Foundation can provide on behalf of outreach teams at Butler like the First-Generation Taskforce is necessary work,” said Hayley Hobbs, Director of Donor Relations. “It is a vital part of our existence to continue to find opportunities to help every facet of our student population. I am thankful to the Kansas Health Foundation for believing in our mission to build relationships with partners to provide those opportunities and meet their mission to improve the health of all Kansans, which we aim to achieve through higher education and career development.”
