FGLIGrads: A deep dive into a student organization seeking to uplift first-generation, low-income students

Whether you’re a first-generation, low-income (FGLI) student navigating Vanderbilt right now or a recent graduate figuring out life after college, FGLIGrads is here to support you. The student-run organization is dedicated to creating a strong network for FGLI students — both during and after their time at Vanderbilt — filling a gap many say has long been overlooked.

As the number of FGLI students at Vanderbilt continues to grow, students, administrators and graduate students have been working to provide more resources and foster a sense of community. FGLIGrads is one of the organizations leading the charge, aiming to uplift students and provide networking opportunities that bridge the undergraduate and postgraduate experience.

A mission that extends beyond graduation

FGLIGrads, formerly known as the Open Book Collective, started in 2023 as a mentorship program connecting undergraduates with graduate students and faculty. It was designed as a space for FGLI students to discuss their experiences, navigate academia and build lasting relationships in an environment that often lacks tailored resources.

“FGLI identity doesn’t go away after undergrad,” Erica Scarpitti, a graduate student and leader of FGLIGrads, said. “FGLIGrads is looking to fill that gap.”

During its first year, the program received a grant from Vanderbilt’s graduate school, allowing members to form small “pods” of undergraduates, grad students and faculty. These groups received funding to go out for meals and coffee while discussing the challenges of higher education. The goal? To ensure that FGLI students had access to a built-in support system that didn’t disappear once they walked across the graduation stage.

The response was overwhelmingly positive.

“Some faculty ended up hiring their undergrads; graduate students ended up hiring their undergrads,” Scarpitti said. “I heard from a graduate student and faculty pair that they still get together, even without the money [FGLIGrads] provided.”

But in 2024, FGLIGrads didn’t renew the funding grant and no longer had the funding it once did. As a result, the mentorship pods were put on pause, and the organization had to reevaluate how to keep its mission alive.

Early beginnings at The Curb Center

Kelly Cunningham, a recent Vanderbilt graduate and the person behind the first iteration of the FGLIGrads mentorship program, received a grant for this endeavor from the Curb Center — an arts center on campus dedicated to fostering engagement and inclusion in the Nashville community. With the Curbs Center’s continuous support, Cunningham along with Scarpitti who later joined, were able to grow the program.

Mary Leah Lowe, director of the Curb Center, emphasized the importance of FGLIGrads and the impact it has had on students.

“[FGLIGrads] creates an inclusive sense of belonging for students who may need it most,” Lowe said. “It’s been a very effective organization — created by students, run by students, for the benefit of students. It’s been an honor to work with them.”

Lowe, who has worked with the program since 2022, believes FGLIGrads aligns with the Curb Center’s mission of community engagement and student-driven initiatives.

“We help publicize their events, provide them with meeting space and even supply snacks for their gatherings,” Lowe said. “It’s a great way to create community.”

Bridging the hidden gaps in higher education

Beyond social gatherings and mentorship, FGLIGrads provides something even more essential: reassurance.For Emma Palughi, a Vanderbilt graduate student and former instructor, the organization represents a missing piece in higher education.

“I had so many meetings where I was reassuring a student that no one is born knowing academic writing norms,” Palughi said. “There’s this ‘hidden curriculum’ of college — unspoken rules and expectations — that can make FGLI students feel lost. I think [FGLIGrads] provides that same kind of reassurance but on a larger scale.”

It’s no secret that navigating Vanderbilt can be difficult, especially for those without generational knowledge of higher education. That’s why FGLIGrads isn’t just about networking — it’s about making sure students don’t feel alone in the process.

Looking ahead

While the future of FGLIGrads depends on securing long-term administrative support, its leaders remain optimistic.

Currently, the organization holds monthly meetings open to FGLI graduate students, faculty, staff and undergraduates interested in the postgrad experience. These gatherings continue to provide a space for connection, mentorship and solidarity, even as the organization searches for more funding. Lowe believes in the program’s longevity.

“People responded to it so positively that I knew it was something we needed to continue to support,” Lowe said.

As FGLIGrads works toward securing an official administrative home at Vanderbilt, one thing seems clear: The demand is there, the community is growing and the impact is real.

For FGLI students wondering whether they belong in higher education — or what comes next after Vanderbilt — FGLIGrads is here to remind them that they do.