NOVEMBER 7, 2022 — UTSA is joining institutions across the country this week in celebrating its first-generation student population by hosting First-Gen Fest. Organized by the UTSA First-Generation & Transfer Student Programs (FGTSP) office in collaboration with other areas across the university, the festival takes place Monday, November 7 through Friday, November 11 and includes a series of events for students, faculty and staff that support, empower and celebrate first-generation students.
First-generation college students are a core part of the Roadrunner community, representing nearly half (45%) of UTSA’s student population. The university’s first-generation and transfer student programs are nationally recognized.
In 2019, FGTSP was designated a “Program to Watch” by Excelencia in Education. That same year, the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) named UTSA a top university for its programming efforts to create a supportive and empowering campus for first-generation and transfer students.
Students who are the first in their family to go to college have an advantage at UTSA to connect with a strong support network and academic support programs so they can confidently chart their path toward graduation. Programs include First to Go and Graduate (F2G&G), First-Gen STEM Scholars, First-Gen Living & Learning Community and the First-Gen Second Year Experience.
As a result of these programs and other student success initiatives, UTSA has seen substantial gains in first-gen student graduate rates and degrees awarded over the past five years. The six-year graduation rate has increased 14%, from 37% in 2017 to 51% in 2022. Additionally, the number of degrees awarded annually to first-gen students has increased 15%, from 2,215 in 2017 to 2,539 in 2022.
“UTSA is proud to recognize the resiliency, unique experiences and outcomes of our first-gen students,” said Tammy Wyatt, vice provost for student success. “These trailblazers are charting a new path to change the trajectory of their lives and that of their families and communities and it is an honor to be at a university that wholly supports them.”
The Roadrunner community is invited to celebrate National First-Gen Celebration Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8 at Central Plaza on UTSA Main Campus. This signature event will include prizes, food, games and activities to celebrate our first-gen students, faculty and staff.
Other events include a career exploration workshop, a first-gen family social, sessions dedicated to exploring first-gen identity and first-gen veteran identity, a holistic health day with wellness activities, and a workshop about generational wealth.
UTSA hosts First-Gen Fest in conjunction with National First-Generation College Celebration Day, which falls on or around November 8 each year to acknowledge and elevate first-generation college students. First-Gen Fest has been held annually at UTSA since 2017.
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Each fall and spring semester, students convene at the Main Campus at UTSA with booths, ideas and prototypes. A crowd of judges, local organizations, students, faculty and sponsors walk around and talk to the students about their projects and ask questions. Students get the real-life experience of "pitching" their project with hopes of getting funding or support to move to the next level.
UTSA Convocation Center, Main CampusJoin the doctoral candidates for the Doctoral Conferreal Ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusCelebrate the graduates from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.
AlamodomeCelebrate the graduates from the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
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