On Wednesday, July 22, from 5-6 p.m. the Dean's Office and members of Bryn Mawr's FGLI (First Generation, Low Income) program are hosting a special webinar just for incoming students who identify as FGLI.
Sarah Rose Santiago '22, who is the FGLI student coordinator and serves on the program's steering committee, shared their thoughts on the program and some tips for other FGLI students navigating life at Bryn Mawr.
What is the FGLI program?
The FGLI program is a very important resource for FGLI-identified students on Bryn Mawr’s campus. While it is still a new initiative, it is a growing one, and we are all working very hard to make sure that the needs of FGLI students are met and their voices are heard.
In early July, the FGLI blog was launched, which invited students to send in writing, artwork, and photography. The FGLI blog is a dedicated space for students to share what’s on their mind and hearts.
We also have Breaking Barriers, a mentorship program that pairs a FGLI faculty/staff member with a FGLI undergraduate student.
In the fall, we hope to continue our FGLI Fridays, so that we can continue to give more information that can help FGLI students, such as financial literacy workshops, alumni panels, and much more!
What has your experience with the program been like?
So far, Breaking Barriers and the FGLI initiatives on BMC’s campus have been really helpful to me in becoming acclimated on campus. Because of my own personal intersecting identities, it is a lot harder to feel seen or heard. At Pensby and with my FGLI work, I feel like I have a say in what is really important. I am extremely honored to do this work. I hope I can hold space for other FGLI students to share their needs and concerns, and that the FGLI programs on campus grow to become much bigger so that students receive more support.
What's some advice you'd share with a FGLI student coming to Bryn Mawr?
- Don’t be afraid to reach out to peer mentors/anyone on the DLT if you have any problems.
- The Career & Civic Engagement Center is a great resource to learn more about internships, build your resume, practice for interviews, and more!
- The Pensby Center is also a great resource to learn more about the different programs that support FGLI students on campus. Please send us an email at fgli@brynmawr.edu if you would like to know more!
FGLI is an acronym for "first-generation, low-income" and can be pronounced "figly." At Bryn Mawr, FGLI refers to students who are the first in their families to attend a four-year college in the U.S. and/or who come from low-income households. In 2018, first-generation full-time students made up 18.6 percent of the Bryn Mawr student body, and full-time Pell Grant students made up 15 percent of the student body.