We Serve the First, and Very Best, Students.

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Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024, 01:57 PM

Nearly one-third of the undergraduate students in the United States are first-generation, meaning they are a student whose parents or legal guardians did not obtain a 4-year bachelor’s degree. If that includes you, we’re here to help!

We are the one-stop shop to give first-generation students access to the support and services they need to successfully transition to college and obtain their degrees.

The First Saluki Center is a campus-wide collaboration - an initiative developed by the Division of Student Affairs and the Dean of Students, working together with Academic Affairs. We connect SIU’s first-generation students with academic resources, social and emotional support, financial literacy, opportunities to get involved on campus and in the community, and career preparedness assistance.

First time student

How to Apply

Important Information

  • Student Success Stats

    First Saluki Center peer mentoring program opened in August 2019. First-generation students that participate in the peer mentoring program:

    • 90% of our students persist each academic semester.
    • 93% of our student’s academic achievement is above a 2.0 cumulative grade point average each semester.
    • 2,575 mentoring/advising meetings.
    • 100% of students would recommend the First Saluki Center peer mentoring program to other first-generation students.

  • Did You Know?

    • At SIU Carbondale, 40% of undergraduate students are first generation.
    • National Data Fact on First-Generation College Students: As of academic year 2015-16, 56% of undergraduates nationally were first-generation college students (neither parent had a bachelor’s degree), and 59% of these students were also the first sibling in their family