Welcome! We’re so glad you’ve joined us at UMass.
Did you know that approximately 25% of UMass students are the first in their family to attend college? If you are the first in your own family, you are joining the many students, faculty, and staff on campus who are first-generation.
First-Generation Resources
Student Success is here for you on your journey through UMass. We:
- Let you know the most important facts about University life
- Maintain a list of resources you should know about
- Offer strategies for how to navigate your time as a student
- Provide direction for mentorship
- Keep you updated about relevant events
- Coordinate one-to-one peer coaching about finances
- Answer questions that come up along the way
Undergraduate Student Success and the First-Generation Experience at UMass
Undergraduate Student Success is committed to supporting and celebrating the first-generation student population at UMass Amherst. An important part of our community’s history, first-generation students are defined here as those who do not have a parent or guardian who attained a four-year degree. These students come to our campus with a wealth of important perspectives, life experiences, and skills. We encourage students to embrace their ability to achieve high levels of academic success as they make connections and develop a sense of belonging on campus.
Our unit offers programming, services, and resources designed to cultivate academic and co-curricular success. Support for first-generation students is a shared mission across our campus and we collaborate extensively with the academic colleges and departments as well as Student Affairs & Campus Life. We continue to grow and improve our initiatives, consulting with students on campus and utilizing success data to drive meaningful, planful action.
Additionally, we are glad to share that UMass Amherst has recently been designated as a First-gen Forward institution by NASPA's Center for First-Generation Student Success. We are grateful for the many students, staff, and faculty who have lead, coordinated, and facilitated the initiatives that have earned us this recognition.
Want to learn more about the nationwide movement to support first-generation college student success? Here are some helpful resources:
"I, myself, identify as a first-generation student, and I really feel it's important to provide community and connect with other students.” —Professor and Chair of the Department of Communications Mari Castañeda
