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University programs report high graduation, urge lawmakers to sustain first-generation supports
Summary
Presenters from Dean's Future Scholars and the University of NevadaFirst Generation Student Center (TRIO programs) described long-running mentoring and college-access services, cited strong graduation and retention metrics, and asked lawmakers to continue support and partnership.
Maridouz Garcia, executive director of Dean's Future Scholars (DFS) at the University of Nevada, told the Assembly Committee on Education that DFS uses near-peer mentoring and long-term programming to shepherd students from sixth grade through college completion. "Mentoring is the heart of the program," Garcia said, describing DFS as a 25-year, homegrown effort that has helped nearly 2,000 students graduate from high school.
The testimony and accompanying presentations on behalf of DFS and the university—s First Generation Student Center (which houses multiple TRIO programs) emphasized program scale and outcomes: presenters said DFS operated a summer program that enrolled 322 students last year and that about 80 percent of DFS—s budget comes from donations and grants. Ellen Houston, executive director of the First Generation Student Center, said the Center—s 10 programs collectively provided more than 9,000 hours of individualized academic counseling and mentoring last year and reported strong outcomes: 100 percent high school graduation for pre-college participants and a 95 percent year-to-year retention rate for college participants.
Why it matters: witnesses and committee members framed the programs as statewide assets for first-generation and low-income students, noting the programs' long federal funding history (some TRIO grants date to the 1960s) and their role in supporting degree completion.
Program staff described services that include academic coaching, dual-credit and accelerated math options, a summer bridge allowing seniors to take two free UNR courses, paid internships, study-abroad offerings, and childcare funding for student-parents. Manuel Ortiz, assistant director of DFS, said the near-peer model uses college students as mentors and that many mentors had been participants since middle school: "DFS believes students must see it to be it."
Committee members asked about program geography and statewide reach. Garcia said DFS originated at UNR to increase diversity among school staff but that the model could be replicated and pointed to the Nevada First Gen Network, an umbrella that distributed a $4 million COVID-era appropriation via microgrants to programs statewide after a needs assessment of more than 80 programs.
Several legislators related personal experience with TRIO or DFS participants and praised outcomes. Testimony closed with invitations for members to visit programs and a request for continued legislative support and partnership.
The presentation portion concluded without formal action by the committee; members proceeded to scheduled bill hearings.
