2017

1vyG grows into EdMobilizer to become a national advocacy organization

1vyG is a powerful force for change in the world of higher education. As a rapidly growing organization, 1vyG expands beyond its original focus on running conferences to become a comprehensive advocacy group for first-generation college students. With access to more than 40 college chapters across the United States, EdMobilizer leverages its network to catalyze social impact initiatives and engage in policy-oriented reform to drive accessibility in higher education and beyond.

1vyG convenes in New Haven for its third summit at Yale University

First-generation college students often face an uphill battle as they strive to succeed in higher education. Without the support and guidance of parents who have navigated the college landscape, these students can feel lost and alone as they try to make their way in an unfamiliar environment. Laura Plata '19 knows this struggle all too well. As a first-generation student at Yale, Plata struggled to find her footing until she attended the second annual 1vyG conference at Harvard.

Determined to make a difference, Plata resolved to bring the 2017 1vyG conference to Yale. With co-chair Rayan Alsemeiry '19 and a team of other students, she organized a program aimed at empowering first-generation, low-income students to drive change in higher education.

Over the course of the weekend, more than 340 students from 18 colleges and universities across the country attended the conference. The program featured over 50 speakers in workshops, panel discussions, and career networking sessions, and was supported by $160,000 in alumni donations and corporate sponsorships.

Through the conference, students learned how to expand support for first-generation students by collaborating with administrators, leveraging the power of social activism, and advocating for long-term inclusivity. Many attendees were excited to learn about initiatives at other schools, such as a pre-orientation program at Dartmouth that helps first-generation students adjust to college academics, and they returned to their own campuses determined to make a difference.

"Everyone I've talked to is here, in part, to bring knowledge and initiatives back to their universities," said Marianna McMurdock, a sophomore at Brown. "We are determined to make higher education more accessible and supportive for first-generation students."

EdMobilizer launches the No Apologies initiative

In the winter of 2017, EdMobilizer launched its first national policy push, No Apologies, with the goal of eliminating application fees for low-income, first-generation college students. To support this effort, EdMobilizer formed a coalition of over 14 university student councils and first-generation, low-income student groups to advocate for a more streamlined and accessible college application process.

Through this campaign, EdMobilizer was able to mobilize a large and diverse group of students and organizations to push for change. As a result of their efforts, a number of universities, including Brown, adopted the policy of waiving application fees for low-income, first-generation students.

This policy change is a significant step towards making higher education more accessible and equitable for all students. By removing financial barriers to the college application process, EdMobilizer's No Apologies campaign has opened up new opportunities for first-generation, low-income students and helped to level the playing field in higher education.