Current Students

Resources

As a first-generation student, you will receive weekly emails with relevant events, informational items, and announcements about various opportunities. In addition, we offer several resources dedicated to student success, including the First-Generation Student Support Network, our eLearning group, the Jargon Dictionary, and YouTube Channel. There are members of the First-Generation Student Support Network in every school and numerous departments on campus ready to connect with you! This is valuable when you have a question or a specific interest and may not know who to ask. In those moments, you can always start with a First-Generation Student Support Network member. Each semester, new first-generation students are automatically added to a special eLearning group where they receive important announcements and can virtually meet other first-generation students. If you are confused about weird jargon you encounter on campus, check out our Jargon Dictionary! This is an ever-growing list of university-related terms defined for you by other first-generation students. We also have our very own YouTube Channel: First-Generation Comets, that is home to information and video content for first-generation students anytime, anywhere.

Find more resources in our First-Generation Student Programs Family Guidebook (pdf).

Events

We have First-Generation Student Program events that serve to inform students of various opportunities, share exclusive presentations on career and academic development, celebrate the first-generation identity, increase connectedness, and have fun!

Support Network

The support network is made up of UT Dallas faculty, staff, and alumni who serve as mentors and advocates for first-generation students on campus and in the community. Many members of the support network were first-generation students themselves! You can identify First-Generation Support Network members by their green shirts and first-generation supporter decals.

You can review a list of our support network members who are available to meet with you. If you need help connecting with anyone on campus or identifying the appropriate contact, email firstgen@utdallas.edu. You can engage with the Office of Undergraduate Education directly and meet other first-generation students in the First-Generation Student Programs eLearning group.

Jargon Dictionary

The university environment is full of abbreviations, old school words, and long office names. Our office is committed to helping you navigate this sea of often hard to understand terms. We do this through our Jargon Dictionary, which provides helpful definitions to some of the jargon you may encounter. All first-generation students can contribute to the jargon dictionary at any time, so if you can’t find what you are looking for or if you have an addition, email firstgen@utdallas.edu.

YouTube

We strive to provide our students with insights regarding career pathways and life after college. For example, check out one of our Career Readiness Talks on the First-Generation Comets YouTube Channel where you will find a playlist of career readiness videos to watch any time.

eLearning

All first-generation UT Dallas students are in the First-Generation Student Programs eLearning group. To access the group, log into eLearning using your NetID and password and find the group under the “My Organizations.” The group gives you access to the video library, discussion board, and notifications of upcoming events through our announcement board.

Student Spotlight

We are proud of our current and recently graduated first-generation students at UT Dallas! Here are some features of our students who had this to say about their experience.

Ifunanya Ngadi BS’22

“Having the support of the staff and my mentors is what made the difference in my academic career. I’m now heading to Law School with a full-ride scholarship. I want other first-generation students to be able to look at me and say “I can go to Law School too if I want!”

Marily Hernandez BS’20

“I am incredibly thankful for all the talented and kind people I have met during my last few years studying at UTD. Thank you to all of my professors who challenged me to reach beyond my limits!”

Alumni Feature

UT Dallas has produced many first-generation professionals! We can’t wait to feature you here one day!

Karla Castro BS’15

Clinical Researcher, UT Southwestern Medical Center

“Being First-Generation is an honor for me, because it shows that all of our hard work, perseverance, and hope paid off. I know my fellow UTD First-Generation students will do great things!”

Contact Us

Managing resources, selecting what opportunities to pursue, and identifying what engagement may be most beneficial can be challenging, especially when presented with so many choices. So, if you are unsure about where to start, set up an appointment to meet with the First-Generation Student Programs team.

Tradition

Participating in National First-Generation Celebration Day is a new tradition on our campus. Each year, on November 8th, UT Dallas faculty, staff, students, and alumni gather to celebrate and recognize all first-generation Comets! The event features a resource fair, music, activities, food, t-shirt giveaways, and our Proud to Be First photobooth.

Gear up for National First-Generation Celebration day by booking an appointment with the program specialist on the First-Generation Student Programs team to pick up your t-shirt!