Opportunity Scholars

The HFA Opportunity Scholars program is a multi-year college readiness and success program that promotes personal and collective empowerment, scholarship, leadership, community engagement, and connection between UMass students and alumni and community cultural centers. First-year students participating in the program are a part of a cohort of historically underrepresented and/or first-generation students who take a seminar together in their first semester. Students who successfully complete this class with a grade point average of 3.00 or better will receive a textbook stipend for the following semester.

A Year of Connection and Support

In fall 2021, HFA Opportunity Scholars supported 33 under-represented and first-gen students. These students took a First-Year Seminar together and created and completed a community service initiative—all during their first semester at UMass. In spring 2022, the college will host a variety of real talk, peer-mentoring sessions, facilitate fine arts cultural trips, host an alumni connections event in the greater Boston area, and lead students through their first research presentations to audiences outside of UMass. As all of these students are in their first year of study, this important phase of the program heavily emphasizes self-actualization and empowerment; building a strong sense of community among the students; mentoring; and early access to research opportunities.

Learn More

If you are an incoming first generation student or are a member of an historically underrepresented population and are interested in joining the HFA Opportunity Scholars, please contact the HFA Advising and Career Center at advising [at] hfa [dot] umass [dot] edu.