Current Students
The First-Generation Student Programs Support Team is here to keep you informed about relevant events taking place at UT Dallas that you can attend to get the most out of your experience as a student.
First-Generation Student Programs hosts exclusive events for first-generation students, including two First-Generation Support Network socials each year to connect first-generation students with faculty, staff, and alumni. We are very proud of our first-generation students at UT Dallas and celebrate their success by highlighting their accomplishments in our Student Spotlight and Alumni Feature.
In 2019, UT Dallas was accepted into the inaugural cohort of First Forward institutions by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ (NASPA) Center for First-Generation Student Success. As a First-Forward institution, UT Dallas works with faculty and staff from multiple universities in Texas who are committed to first-generation student success.
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).
Student Affairs Resources
Research shows that students who are actively engaged in activities outside of the classroom achieve a higher rate of success. student Affairs helps to provide those opportunities for engagement. With 24 different units, Student Affairs provides a variety of services designed to keep students health, informed and engaged.
Additional Campus Resources
There are first-generation supporters in every UT Dallas school and departments. If you or your student need help connecting with anyone on campus or identifying the appropriate contact, email firstgen@utdallas.edu. Visit the undergraduate catalog for a comprehensive list of resources for study and campus life.
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!
Spring 2023 Events
Spring 2023 Welcome
Feb 8, 2023
3 to 5 p.m.
McDermott Library Outdoor Courtyard
In our kickoff to the spring semester, join us outside of the McDermott Library (on the bottom floor) for hot chocolate, sweet treats, and highlights of the powerful resources available to our students inside the library
Mentor Programs Lunch N’ Learn
Feb. 2023, 2023
4 to 5 p.m.
FO 2.206
You would make a GREAT mentor! It’s fun, builds leadership skills, and looks good on your resume! Most importantly, you make a positive impact on your fellow students. Come learn about our programs (and enjoy some pizza)!
First-Gen Drop In! Career Consulting Open Office Hours (March)
March 2, 2023
1 to 2 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
The University Career Center is proud to support our First-Generation Students. We realize that it takes time to go out of your way to get to the career center, so join us online every first Thursday for an open invitation to talk to our Career Consultants!
Health Professions Advising First-Gen Open House
March 4, 2023
1 to 2 p.m.
Founders Second-Floor Atrium
Many of our First-Generation students graduate from UT Dallas and enter various professional schools in the health professions. The Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC) is dedicated to getting our students accepted into their field of choice. Don’t know where to start or have difficulty getting an appointment? Come meet up with us for an open-house exclusively for First-Gen students!
First-Gen Drop In! Career Consulting Open Office Hours (April)
April 6, 2023
1 to 2 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
The University Career Center is proud to support our First-Generation Students. We realize that it takes time to go out of your way to get to the career center, so join us online every first Thursday for an open invitation to talk to our Career Consultants!
Legacy Keepers Service Event
April 15, 2023
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(Volunteer time 11:00am – 1:00pm)
“The Mexican Cemetery” McKinney Texas
Colleague and partner to the Office of Undergraduate Education, Jason Hernandez, is passionate about preserving the history of old East McKinney. The Legacy Keepers were formed considering redevelopment opportunities coming to McKinney, Texas. We are excited to travel with first-generation students to volunteer our time to a beautification effort of a historic Latinx cemetery, which has been around for decades. Our mission will be to support Jason in his efforts to preserve the beautiful history of old East McKinney! Transportation to and from project sites will be provided to all registrants
First-Gen Drop In! Career Consulting Open Office Hours (May)
May 4, 2023
1 to 2 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
The University Career Center is proud to support our First-Generation Students. We realize that it takes time to go out of your way to get to the career center, so join us online every first Thursday for an open invitation to talk to our Career Consultants!
Leadership & Student Organization
First-Generation students have the opportunity to join our student organization and serve on our First-Generation Student Advisory Board. As an Advisory Board member, students help organize and disseminate information to other first-generation students, attend meetings with the First-Generation Support Team, and liaise with our First-Generation Student Support Network on behalf of their fellow students.
The First-Generation Student Organization is sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Education at UT Dallas and is led by our First-Generation Student Advisory Board. The organization serves to provide additional service and social events to increase the sense of belonging and community among first-generation students. Join their conversation on GroupMe.
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
The First-Generation Comets YouTube channel is our home for information and video content for first-generation students and their families. There you will find information on our Jargon Dictionary, interviews with first-generating alumni and staff, special topics on academic readiness and more. You can access the YouTube channel at any time as another resource for your success.
We strive to provide our students with insights regarding career pathways and life after college. For example, check out one of our Career 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!