Welcoming First-Generation and Low Income Students
Our first major event this fall was the FLI Welcome Dinner.
We hosted 190 attendees, including 178 undergraduate students and 12 faculty and staff members. The event was designed to strengthen connections across the MIT FLI community and create opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and campus partners to engage with one another in meaningful ways.
We were excited to welcome faculty members such as Professor Chris Walley, Professor Joseph Formaggio, and Professor Craig Wilder, lecturers from the ChemE department along with staff members including Yi Tso from Admissions and Kathleen MacArthur from the Registrar’s Office. Their presence gave students the opportunity to connect with people from across the Institute who are invested in their success.
The evening began with opening remarks from Alex Hoyt, followed by our UAC Faculty Director, John Fernandez. We also featured members of our FLI Student Advisory Board, who shared their experiences and insights about navigating MIT as FLI students.
To encourage meaningful interaction, we incorporated table facilitators who helped guide conversations among students, faculty, staff, and campus partners. We also hosted a LEGO table-building competition, which added a fun and engaging way for attendees to connect with one another.
More than simply sharing information, the event was an opportunity to demonstrate that there is a strong network of faculty, staff, campus partners, and fellow students who are here to support FLI students throughout their MIT journey.
— UAC