First-Generation Navigational Seminars

Invitation for first-generation, Washington College Grant eligible, first-year students seeking a cohort experience, and an opportunity to partake in a fully funded early housing onboarding and activities. Move into university housing a week before the fall quarter begins to meet Western Washington University faculty, staff, peer-mentors, and other students. Learn about Western Washington University campus life and resources. Partake in social activities. No class assignments will be given during the early start. The early onboarding is connected to 1-credit, 20-student capacity, Seminar 190: Curricular & Campus Engagement course offerings that are part of a three-part seminar series.

The First-Generation Navigational Seminar series are designed to assist students in their growth mindset as they navigate through their first year at Western Washington University.

Seminar 190: Curricular & Campus Engagement (1 credit) introduces students to the cohort experience as they work collectively with their peers, peer-mentors, campus-service leaders, and a team of First-Year faculty members who support student academic achievement. As a cohort, students will learn ways to respond to institutional effectiveness as they build on their academic strengths.

As a cohort supported by peer-mentors, First-Year faculty members, and on-campus partners, those students who have earned their way into Seminar 191: Co-Curricular Partnerships (Prerequisite is Seminar 190, 1 credit), will work closely with on-campus partners in the organization and planning of upcoming events. For example, students can partake in training to build their knowledge on Accessibility Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) practices in preparation for volunteer work in support of off-campus community partnerships.

Seminar 192: Extra-Curricular & Community Relations (Prerequisite is Seminar 191, 1 credit) encourages students to transform their classroom learnings into best practices. Some of the class credit hours for Seminar 192 are applied toward volunteer experiences with off-campus community partners. Applying knowledge gained through Seminar 190 and Seminar 191 bridges the gap between classroom learning in theory and community work in practice, which awakens a wholesome university experience.

As a cohort, students will adopt Tara Yosso’s Cultural Wealth Model to celebrate their talents and narratives as they work to unpack social and political systems that may impact first-year first-generation student academic advancements. Yosso’s Cultural Wealth Model includes six forms of capital. In each seminar class, students as lifelong learners, will apply two different capitals that are applicable to their academic journey point of progress as they advance toward college completion.

The seminar series will build on student leadership, personal, and academic skills with an emphasis on teamwork applied to aid off-campus community partners as students in turn serve vulnerable populations. Completion of the seminar series opens an opportunity for students to return into Seminar 190, Seminar, 191, and Seminar 192 as paid peer-mentors assisting the next academic year incoming first-year, first-generation, Washington College Grant eligible student group.

Dates

September 15-20, 2024

Optional early onboarding

Housing

Housing information forthcoming.

Registration

The First-Generation Navigational Seminars are open to all first-generation Washington College Grant eligible first-year students seeking a cohort experience. You will complete the application process to express your interest in reserving a spot for early housing onboarding. The pre-reservation application process reserves a spot for those students interested in the early arrival and a seat in Seminar 190: Curricular & Campus Engagement (1 credit) course that begins September 25, 2024.

Cancellation

Pre-reservation cancellation requests must be received by August 31, 2024, and sent in writing to FirstYearInterestGroup@wwu.edu or Shurla.Thibou@wwu.edu.