The Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program assists academically talented first-generation, low-income students by providing an opportunity to graduate debt-free from Florida Atlantic University in four years or less.
To become a national leader in creating opportunities that support the academic goals of first-generation, low-income students by addressing barriers to education access and transforming them into civically responsible global leaders.
Earning a college degree has become essential for long-term financial gain and career stability. Today, more than 17 million individuals attend college nationwide, of which 7.4 million are first-generation college students. Yet,90% of low-income, first-generation students will not complete their degreedue to a variety of factors, including lack of support, according toEAB, a leader in higher education.
Of the 9,300 undergraduate, first-generation students at Florida Atlantic University, 40% are low-income and 66% represent minority populations. While their 6-year graduation rates have increased from 29% to 30%, it still lags behind the continuing generation students who have a 72% graduation rate.
The Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program aims to defy those odds byaddressing barriers to educational success.From 2017 through August 2022, the program has achieved a 100% graduation rate in 4 years or less.Determination runs deep at FAU, and we teach our scholars one simple lesson — "If you can dream it, we've got the tools to help you achieve it."
