RISD Pre-Orientation Program Supports First-Generation Students

The inaugural cohort of students to participate in RISD’s First Generation College Student Pre-Orienation Program (FGC POP) graduated in May after benefitting immeasurably from the program’s opportunities. FGC POP is a two-and-a-half-week summer orientation program designed to help first-gen students get a feel for what to expect academically and socially during their time at RISD, laying the foundation for how to navigate college life and make the most of the opportunities available to all students. 

Once students have been accepted to RISD, those who identified as first-generation college students on their applications are invited to apply to FGC POP. Before beginning their fall Experimental and Foundation Studies courses, students dive into the kickoff programming, which includes building community and exploring RISD and Providence. During this time, students also take liberal arts classes, create in open studio time, and attend peer-led events to begin to discover their own goals as scholars, artists, and designers. This year’s cohort was comprised of 23 students, with approximately 125 students participating in the program since its inception in 2021. 

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The program’s primary objectives are developing students’ confidence in the studio, affirming identity and fostering a sense of belonging, developing students’ confidence in the liberal arts, and empowering them by identifying academic resources. “It takes a village to support students,” said Richard Song, director of Intercultural Student Engagement. “Students arrive at RISD with different social identities, lived experiences, and socioeconomic statuses. We want to make sure that they benefit from a seamless support system.” 

Associate Director of Academic Advising Jonathan Sylvia, one of the program founders, explained that “as the world becomes more complex, transitioning to college also gets more complex—for all students. Financial literacy and academic support are the key areas in which first-gen students need support,” he added. “Our goal is to teach them to be proactive in their education and to give them the skills to avoid academic burnout and manage difficult financial and social issues that might otherwise block their success.”

New alum Anja Drakulovic 25 GD recalled taking drawing and English classes during her time in the program and reflected on what being a first-gen college student meant to her. “When I got to RISD, a lot of people who weren’t first-gen students already knew how to network, look for jobs, find internships, and ask for help,” she says. “Acknowledging that I was a first-generation student and that things might be a bit different for me compared to others going to RISD was really important, and I didn’t even know exactly what that entailed until I got to campus and participated in the program.”  

Program participant Rowe Park 25 IL eventually became an FGC POP peer leader and described teaching what they learned to new students as a full-circle moment. 

“There was always that community that I was able to fall back on, to ask for help, for guidance,” Park said. “There is a sense of pride that, yes, I am the first person in my family to go to college, especially since RISD is an art school. I leaned on this group the entire time I was at RISD. We were there for each other, and I’m so glad that these resources will be available for generations to come.” 

RISD recently became a member of Alpha Alpha Alpha, a national honor society dedicated to first-gen students who achieved a 3.2 grade point average or higher after their first 30 credits. FGC POP was also recognized by FirstGen Forward, a network of more than 400 institutions across the country helping with the success of first-gen students. The organization commended RISD not only for being committed to supporting first-generation students, but also investing in long-term, strategic efforts to build environments where these students can thrive. 

“Being a first-generation college student shaped the way I see education and equity, so I am especially proud that RISD is recognized as part of the FirstGen Forward network,” said Vice President for Social Equity & Inclusion Rame Hanna. “This milestone enables us to create spaces where first-generation students in art and design feel supported and empowered to imagine, question, and create in ways that transform our communities.”  

Kaylee Pugliese / event photos by Jo Sittenfeld MFA 08 PH
October 28, 2025