First-Generation Resources : Student Success : UMass Amherst

Students sit and study in chairs on the lawn while socially distanced.

Being a first-generation student is a transformative experience. Learning about how to navigate college, defining success for yourself and developing plans to get there, and broadening your understanding of education will impact the rest of your life.

First-Generation Student Events

UMass hosts a variety of programs and events relevant to first-generation college students. We will continue to update this page as events are added to the events calendar.

First Connections
First Connections is an annual series of events celebrating first-generation identity. This year’s First Connections, which occurred in September, included:

First Connections: First-Gen Community Stories
The First-Gen Career Journey: Lessons Learned Along the Way
Your Story: First-Gen Performance Night

We’re looking forward to seeing you in 2021!

Cultural Connections
Cultural Connections is an annual welcome event for students who are affiliated with CMASS. Cultural Connections helps introduce new students to CMASS and connect them to programming that supports diversity and equity at UMass.

Watch this video to learn more about CMASS.

For updated event information you can also check out the UMass Events Calendar.  

First-Gen Low-Income Partnership (FLIP)

The mission of the UMass First-Generation Low-Income Partnership is to create and maintain a space and community dedicated to first-generation and low-income college students. UMass FLiP strives to create a tight-knit community to provide support to each other to succeed in all aspects of college life – academically, socially, financially, and emotionally. UMass FLiP seeks to help folks embrace and be proud of their identities as first-generation and low-income college students, and to raise awareness of the positive impact that first-generation and low-income college students have on the UMass campus. To learn more about joining or getting involved, visit the FLiP Campus Pulse page.