Wilmington College has always been an institution willing to go the extra mile to make higher education accessible to diverse populations of students. Students who are the first in their families to pursue a bachelor’s degree are no exception. Indeed, these students’ success often changes family trees—they’re trailblazers in making higher education dreams more accessible to siblings and future generations.
This fall, some 35 percent of the traditional, main-campus enrollment was first-generation students, which the College defines as those on track to become the first college graduates in their immediate family (parents, grandparents, and siblings). The 2024 entering class of students was 45 percent first-generation.
Toyce Hague-Palmer, WC’s new assistant vice president for student affairs, was a First-Gen student when she attended college. As director of the Student Success Center, she is dedicated to helping students navigate their transition into college and become successful graduates.
“People cared about me when I started college, they cared about what I was doing and that I had the necessary resources,” Hague-Palmer said. “I had a community of people that made sure I had what I needed.” She is determined WC’s First-Gen students feel a sense of belonging and camaraderie and that they know where to turn for assistance.
An enviable 91 percent of those first-generation students who started in August returned in January. “They feel a connection and want to stay at this institution,” she added.
Hague-Palmer started the College’s newest organization, the DubC First-Gen Club as a first-generation initiative under the Student Success Center. “We want First-Gen students to know they are not alone — that they can make it,” she said. “We want them to be confident in who they are and proud to be a First-Gen student.”
The new DubC First-Gen Club is already making a splash on campus. They are planning to host the Inaugural First-Gen Student Symposium on Feb. 22. Titled “The Road to Success,” they have invited high school students who would be the first in their families to attend college for a day featuring a podcast, breakout sessions, campus tour, discussions and a leadership workshop. Perhaps most importantly, those high school students will have ample opportunities for interaction with WC’s first-generation students.
“The club wanted to do something big,” Hague-Palmer said, noting the symposium complements the College’s initial First-Gen Day held on Nov. 8, which recognized WC’s First-Gen students, faculty and staff.