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First2: Welcoming All Students as Leaders
All students who participate in the First2 Network are regarded as student leaders; their voices, opinions, and insights are central to our work and help change systems and practices that hinder STEM student success.
We provide support to students who are advocating for changes in institutional policies and practices in higher education, we involve participants in decision-making alongside key stakeholders (such as college presidents, faculty, legislators, and community leaders), and foster early professional experiences.
Have questions? Let’s chat: first2studentcoordinator@gmail.com.
Student Involvement:
Students who participate in the First2 Network are members of an institutional team on their campus that is composed of students, STEM faculty, and additional members of their campus community. Each institutional team is coached to utilize an improvement science approach to test high-impact practices – “change ideas” – that improve retention of rural, first-generation, and low-income students in STEM fields. We elevate students to be the agents of defining, implementing, and testing changes towards improvement within their own experience, between their near peers, and across the institutions that serve them. This shift from being “the served” to being collaborators provides deep insight into systemic barriers that are felt, seen, and experienced by rural, first generation, and low-income students within their systems.
First2 students, as part of the institutional team on their campus, will play a key role in managing and operating a student-run campus club (see below).
Students can also apply for a paid position (see below) in the First2 Network.
Campus Clubs:
Campus clubs focus on connecting students in STEM majors to one another (as well as other students and faculty) to increase students’ sense of belongingness in ways that ultimately support their overall academic success. Club activities encompass a range of opportunities such as fellowship, guest speakers, professional development, resume-building, and networking.
First2 campus club officers are responsible for organizing activities, assessing their impact, keeping a budget and providing feedback to the network.
Presently, First2 Campuses include
- Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Fairmont State University
- Glenville State University
- Marshall University
- Northern Kentucky University
- Shepherd University
- University of Charleston
- West Virginia University
- WVU Institute of Technology
Paid Student Positions:
First2 offers various student positions, which each come with a financial stipend, to better understand and optimize the impact of our activities on student success.
- Student Directors: The Student Director position with the First2 Network involves active participation and leadership in meetings, conferences, and outreach activities during the school year with institutional teams, students, and other stakeholders. This role is essential for fostering community, professional development, and the dissemination of improvement science methodologies within the network.
- In 2025-26 all paid student leaders are Student Directors but there are several tiers of participation at 50 hours/semester, 100 hours/semester and 150 hours/semester. All positions require active participation in meetings, conferences, campus change activities and outreach activities.
- Summer Student Directors: Summer Student Directors play a crucial role in organizing and executing various on-boarding and orientation activities to support new students and institutional team members. This position requires a proactive individual with strong organizational and communication skills to ensure a smooth transition into the academic year.
Interested in joining a campus club or learning more about the process to apply for a paid student position? Contact us at first2studentcoordinator@gmail.com or using the form below!
Contact Us
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