Network First-Gen realize that holding the identity of a first-generation student is complex. First-generation students are academically skilled and contribute greatly to the campus community; it is the lack of critical cultural capital necessary to navigate the “hidden curriculum” of universities and colleges successfully that impact first-generation students adversely. Students with one (or more) parent(s) or guardian(s) that have completed a 4-year institution often have greater sources of support in understanding how to traverse the policies, procedures, jargon, and expectations of collegiate life. In order to open up opportunities for additional support for students that are first-generation but do not fully meet the federal guidelines to qualify as a first-generation student.

Network First-Gen have a list of resources to aid in the success of first-genreation students. Moreover, we provide our own definition of first-generation  students below, one that hopefully encompasses the entire campus community. First-Generation students are students whose in-home parent(s) or guardian(s) did not graduate from a 4-year U.S. university; this can manifest as:

• Students whose in-home parent(s) or guardian(s) have a high school education or less.
• Students whose in-home parent(s) or guardian(s) only attended a 2-year higher education institution whether in the U.S. or abroad.

This initiative is for students who identify as Asian Pacific Islander Desi American and is supported by organizations such as the Asian American Student Association (AASA), the South Asian Cultural Exchange (SACE), Thai Student Organization, Pakistani Students Association and more.

Goals for APIDA:

• To connect Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans at Vanderbilt in efforts to build community amongst this population.
• To educate members of the Vanderbilt community on the history and culture of various Asian Pacific Islander Desi American communities.
• To advocate for issues relating to the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American experience on campus.

The MilitaryVU Identity Initiative expands efforts to promote the academic, personal, and professional development of Vanderbilt’s military-connected community. Through increasing the amount of services specifically for military-connected students, along with co-creating resources and opportunities to connect, MilitaryVU and its Network Partners aim to:

• Educate the Vanderbilt community about the various realities of people in the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Create community-building opportunities to increase the sense of belonging among faculty and undergraduate, graduate, professional, and post-doctoral scholars who are active military or veterans.
• Develop methods of support to assist military and veteran scholars in reaching their academic goals and preparing for jobs in their respective career fields.

PersistVU acknowledges that holding the identity and experiences as a person from low-/lower-income backgrounds is multifaceted and unique. The PersistVU Identity Initiative works to create systems of support and community building that help combat the societal narratives associated with low-/lower-income communities while acknowledging the impact of the lived experiences of Vanderbilt’s scholars and faculty. Many of the students who have collaborated on the development of this identity initiative are members of QuestBridge, one of PersistVU’s Network Partners. The Initiative’s Network Partners uplift the various realities of people from low-/lower-income backgrounds. The Network Partners also aim to debunk classist and elitist narratives that create oppressive environments for members of our campus community to maneuver, such as, the institutional and societal barriers that too often define and limit the capacity for success, as well as negatively impact mental, emotional, physical, and financial wellness.

InclusAbility brings awareness and an inclusive lens to the multiplicity of identities within the Disabled community by actively acknowledging and uplifting the fact that accessibility is an important facet of diversity.

InclusAbility aims to highlight the specific strengths and challenges of those in the Disabled community to foster a campus culture that is fully and seamlessly inclusive of Disabled persons in all aspects of the campus environment and in the attitudes, behaviors, and endeavors of all university stakeholders.

Goals for InclusAbility:
• To bring awareness and an inclusive lens to the multiplicity of identities within the disability community
• To actively acknowledge and celebrate the disability community as an important facet of diversity
• To highlight the specific strengths and challenges for individuals with disabilities

The InternationalVU identity initiative values and respects the existence of those who identify as international students, offering resources, community, and opportunities for connection. For allimmigration and VISA questions, please visit International Student & Scholars Services (ISSS).

The goals of this initiative are:

• To connect international people at Vanderbilt in efforts to build community amongst this population.
• To educate members of the Vanderbilt community on the history and culture of various international communities spanning the globe.
• To advocate for issues relating to the international experience on campus.

For Indigenous and Native students, this initiative connects students with the Indigenous Scholars Organization and other groups dedicated to supporting Indigenous identities and cultures. This initiative serves those who identify as:

• First Nations
• Native Alaskan
• Native American
• Native Hawaiian
• Part of an Indigenous community in the:
  • Caribbean
  • Central America
  • South America
  • South Pacific,

Goals of IndigenousVU:

• To connect Indigenous peoples at Vanderbilt in efforts to build community amongst this population.
• To educate members of the Vanderbilt community on the histories and culture of various Indigenous communities spanning the globe.
• To advocate for issues relating to the Indigenous experience on campus.

The SomosVU identity initiative convenes community members and campus partners to develop resources and support, and assists Vanderbilt’s Latin American and Hispanic community with their educational, professional, and personal pursuits.

The efforts of SomosVU strive to:

• Call the community into conversation and emphasizes the values of connection, inclusion, and celebration.
• Address the need for the visibility of Latin American and Hispanic presence, influence, and representation on campus while honoring the accomplishments of Latin American and Hispanic leaders and groups.
• Encourage faculty-student mentor relationships, as well as solidarity among allies, to create opportunities to celebrate and elevate their Latin American peers.
• And charge all of us to build an inclusive Latin American and Hispanic community at Vanderbilt University.