On September 4, 2018, the Academic Success Center at Pitt-Johnstown hosted a welcome reception for its inaugural class of the First at Pitt-Johnstown program.
The First at Pitt-Johnstown program will provide an opportunity for participants to explore their identities and draw upon personal strengths to optimize their academic and social experiences at Pitt-Johnstown. First at Pitt-Johnstown participants will take a one-credit course and extended orientation programming, and will engage with upper class first-generation peer mentors as well as faculty and staff mentors.
First-generation college students can encounter difficulties navigating the academic and social systems contained within higher education. This initiative includes a qualitative study designed to learn more about the experiences and perceptions of this unique population, representing 27% of Pitt-Johnstown’s first-year student population.
The First at Pitt-Johnstown program is funded through a Personalized Education grant from Pitt's Office of the Provost.