Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) empowers
first-generation college students on the path to and
through college. Our programs deliver information,
guidance, and scholarships to these students across
the country and also support school, community and
college partners who share our mission.
FULL
PARTNER ASSOCIATE PARTNER Profile in the I’m First Guide to College
Feature your institution in our unique college guidebook designed to help first-generation college students make their college dreams a reality
Free I’m First Guide to College Distribution
Designate 25 copies for high schools and community-based organizations of your choice
Web profile and user account on I’m First www.imfirst.org
Feature your institution and connect with motivated and interested first-generation college students
Student Database on I’m First
Access the entire database of first-generation college-bound students using the site
Organization Directory on I’m First
Access our online directory of college access programs and community-based organizations
Promotion in I’m First e-newsletters
Promote your institution’s programs for first-generation
college students in a monthly e-newsletter that reaches almost 40,000 students, counselors, and college access providers
College Partner Learning Community
Stay on the cutting edge of best-practices and strategies in the recruitment and retention of first-generation college students through webinars, white papers, shared interest groups and more
Recommended Partnership Contribution per year $2,800 $1,500
Apply
To apply online visit www.imfirst.org/partners/college-partners or contact collegepartners@imfirst.org or (301) 363-4226 with questions.
Benefits of Partnership
Colleges and universities that share our commitment to supporting first-generation college students are invited to apply for inclusion in our community of College Partners. Our College Partner community is a strong network of colleges and universities similarly committed to supporting first-generation college students. Through our programs, partners are able to to directly reach prospective students while promoting and strengthening their institution’s efforts on behalf of first-generation college students.
As a nonprofit organization, we ask College Partners to fulfill an annual partnership contribution to support your partnership, and sustain and grow our programs.
A Message From the Board
Dear Colleagues,There’s something special about being the first...especially being the first in your family to attend and graduate from college.
We know that for students who don’t have a family history of higher education, being the first to go to college requires support and encouragement sometimes not found at home, in school, or in the community.
That’s where Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) comes in. CSO is an exciting young nonprofit organization building a vibrant community of support for students who need help in reaching their goal to be first. Our programs and resources reach nationally to empower thousands of first-generation college students to and through college by providing information, guidance, and scholarships.
A key part of our vibrant community is the hundreds of four-year colleges and universities that partner with CSO to promote and strengthen their efforts on behalf of first-generation college students.
As we expand our community of College Partners for the coming year, we urge you to consider your institution’s partnership and participation in our important effort.
We offer our endorsement and commitment to CSO as former admissions deans whose institutions continue to benefit from their association with CSO, and now as members of CSO’s Board of Directors, as we volunteer time to ensure that this promising organization reaches its fullest potential.
Thank you in advance for giving CSO partnership your full consideration and we look forward to welcoming you into our community of College Partners very soon.
With our very best wishes,
Doris Davis & Bruce Poch
About Us
Since our inception in 2005, CSO has created tools and resources to help
first-generation college students and their supporters—parents, counselors, and
mentors—navigate the path to and through college. In partnership with colleges and
universities that share our mission, we work to strengthen and build awareness of
your campus efforts to serve and support first-generation college students.
We define “first-generation college student” as anyone whose parents or guardians have not completed a four-year college degree.
Board of Directors Nancy Creel
Marketing Consultant Doris Davis
Doris Davis Educational Consulting, LLC
former Associate Provost for Admissions and Enrollment, Cornell University
James Mayer
Management Consultant, Mayer & Associates Bruce Poch
Dean of Admissions and Executive Director of College Counseling at Chadwick School former Vice President and Dean of Admissions, Pomona College Matt Rubinoff
Executive Director, Center for Student Opportunity
Advisory Board Ann Coles
Senior Fellow, College Access, UApsire
Bill Fitzsimmons Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Harvard College Michelle Gilliard
Partner at Venture Philanthropy Partners
Tally Hart
retired Senior Advisor for Economic Access, The Ohio State University
Joni Petschauer
Senior Fellow, American Council on Education
Larry Shinn
retired President, Berea College Steve Syverson
retired Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Lawrence University
imfirst.org
“CSO helped me connect with community-based organizations in Washington, D.C., which provided me with a rare opportunity. I was invited to take part in a high school consortium with over 100 African-American families seeking educational opportunities. It was amazing to be able to reach so many families at once.”
–Liliana Rodriguez, Multicultural Center Director and Former Director of Diversity Recruitment, Williams College
An online community founded by Center for Student
Opportunity to provide first-generation college
students with inspiration, information, and support
on the road to and through college.
For College Partners,
that means:
Web Profile and User
Account
Feature your institution, hear from prospective first-generation college students, track student traffic to your page and interest in your school, and manage your college partnership and services online.
Student Database
Access a searchable database of thousands of motivated first-generation college-bound students.
Organization Directory
Access a searchable online directory of
community-based organizations, college access programs, and charter schools that support first-generation college students around the country.
Unlike the typical college guidebook, CSO’s I’m First Guide to College (formerly the College Access & Opportunity Guide), uniquely features the programs and opportunities that colleges offer in support of first-generation college students. Students, their families, and counselors find full descriptions of the resources that they need most, like scholarships, visit programs,
peer-mentoring programs, and academic advising, as well as important statistics like retention and graduation rates.
“Because no one else in my entire family had ever gone to college, I felt like I had no one to turn to for support and advice. Luckily, I had CSO. They provided me with the resources and personal support necessary to help me make it.”
–Jesse Sanchez, Harvard University ‘13
Promotion in Newsletters
Colleges can promote their programs and opportunities for first-generation college students in monthly e-newsletters reaching almost 40,000 students, counselors, and college access providers around the country.“I wouldn’t be where I am today without CSO’s help. CSO is an organization that seeks first-generation college students and gives them the opportunity to succeed.”
–Julianna Moreno, Texas State University ‘15
“There’s no other resource that offers this kind and quality of information. “Opportunity” is the perfect word for what CSO is creating. That’s just what our students need!”
–Debbie Greenberg, College Bound, St. Louis, MO
I’m First Guide to College
College Partner Learning Community
Our College Partners form a strong network of peer institutions similarly committed to supporting first-generation college students. We lend this community various opportunities to share knowledge and stay on the cutting edge of best-practices and strategies in the recruitment and retention of first-generation college students through regular
best-practice webinars, white papers, shared interest groups and Google+ Hangouts.
help@imfirst.org www.imfirst.org 4641 Montgomery Ave, Suite 513
Bethesda, MD 20814
P: 301.363.4222 F: 301.951.7104
