Supporting First-Generation Graduate Students: A New Program at The Chicago School with Jennifer Stripe Portillo

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Curious about the unique hurdles first-generation graduate students face and solutions to support them? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Jennifer Stripe Portillo, Dean of Student Success and Title IX Coordinator at the Chicago School. Jennifer opens up about her own journey as a first-gen college student and shares how it's inspired her to create impactful programs tailored for graduate students. From personalized graduation cords to the last lecture series, mentorship partnerships, and first-gen faculty/staff directories, discover the innovative ways the Chicago School fosters a supportive environment, in both an in-person and virtual world.
We also dive into the nuts and bolts of their virtual mentorship program, emphasizing its flexibility and success. Learn how this initiative, along with optional training for mentors, has significantly benefited students, particularly those tackling dissertations. Jennifer discusses how they measure program effectiveness using engagement metrics and qualitative feedback, demystify institutional acronyms, and collaborate with programs like McNair. Her dedication to building a thriving community for first-gen students is fantastic, ensuring every student feels seen, heard, and supported throughout their educational journey.

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You can find me at https://www.firstgenfm.com/ and on LinkedIn. My email is [e-mail].

Chapters

1. Supporting First-Generation Graduate Students: A New Program at The Chicago School with Jennifer Stripe Portillo (00:00:00)

2. Graduate-Level First Gen Program Integration (00:00:05)

3. Virtual Mentorship & First Gen Initiatives (00:13:15)

4. Assessing and Improving First Gen Programs (00:24:55)