November 14, 2023
Dear Pitzer Community,
After extensive consultation and conversation with different College constituencies, I am pleased to share information about how Pitzer will restructure and bolster our first-generation student support program. As some of you know, a formal First Gen Program was established at Pitzer approximately eight years ago under the leadership of former Pitzer professor Roberta Espinoza, who was working in the Institute for Global/Local Action & Study at the time. Many other faculty and staff have worked closely with the program since that time as the College’s First Gen student population has grown.
To provide enhanced academic, co-curricular and other support for First Gen students at Pitzer, we are creating a new structure that emphasizes collaboration, particularly between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, with meaningful student involvement. A new First Gen Steering Committee (FGSC) will plan campus programming and manage an annual budget to help meet the needs of our First Gen students at Pitzer. I have attached details of this new structure.
I would like to thank the student leaders of the First Gen club at Pitzer for their input and feedback on this program and new structure. I look forward to seeing this new collaborative model and these additional resources improve the level and quality of support we provide our students.
Sincerely,
Strom C. Thacker
President
