About Broncos FIRST

Transitioning from high school to college is one of the most difficult challenges that first year students face. Broncos FIRST was designed to ease this transition by supporting students through their first year! Getting off to a strong start is important, and we want to help students develop positive habits that will take them through the rest of their college experience.

Chart explaining how year-long first year experience class and mentoring lead to broncos first student program

The Broncos FIRST student program is made up of two components: 

  • Year-long first year experience class
  • Mentoring

The year-long first year experience course is led by a facilitator and co-facilitated by a former Broncos FIRST student. Students are randomly assigned to a mentoring track where they will have the opportunity to learn from and network with WMU faculty members or local business professionals. Mentors will represent a wide variety of fields, but even if a student's interests are outside of the mentors' specialties, students can still expect to gain professional skills and confidence in their ability to land a great internship or job. Plus, Broncos FIRST participants can benefit from forging connections within the WMU and greater Kalamazoo community. 

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Broncos FIRST is not just a class, it is an experience! 

The Broncos FIRST Student Program is supported by the First in the World grant program (grant number P116F140353, EDGAR CFR 75.620).  First in the World is a U.S. Department of Education grant program overseen by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE).