Social mobility in higher education refers to the ability of individuals, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to improve their socioà£à£Ö±²¥Ðã status through educational opportunities. It encompasses the process of moving from a lower income or social class to a higher one by acquiring education, skills, and opportunities that enable personal and financial growth.

Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University (ODU) is committed to promoting social mobility through various initiatives that support students from diverse backgrounds in achieving academic success and advancing their futures.

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Social Mobility

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Social Mobility Initiatives

First Star Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University Academy

Check out what ODU is providing for our foster youth. First Star's Foster Youth Academies are the country's first long-term college-prep programs for high school foster youth that include four immersive residential summers on a university campus and monthly sessions during each school year.
Brother2Brother Org

Brother 2 Brother (B2B)

Brother 2 Brother is a SEES initiative dedicated specifically to assist African American, and Latinx men of color to excel academically, socially, culturally, and professionally.
Students in a classroom, watching a lecture

First-Generation @ ODU

First-Generation @ ODU aims to support students who are the first in their families to attend college. These initiatives are tailored to provide a range of resources to help first-generation students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

Student Testimonials

Brad Lee ' 21

I'm a nontraditional low-income student with physical disabilities, and ODU's social mobility mission has played a key role in helping me overcome educational disadvantages. As a first-generation college student, I want to give my son the legacy of education. ODU has been a catalyst in allowing me to achieve my goals.

Tina Santee, Psychology Major