UTSA celebrates first-generation Roadrunners with annual First-Gen Fest

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 — UTSA is recognizing its first-generation students at its seventh annual First-Gen Fest, a celebration that will run from Monday, November 6 through Friday, November 10. The weeklong tradition is hosted by the UTSA Division of Student Success’ First-Generation & Transfer Student Programs office (FGTSP) and includes events and activities to support and celebrate first-generation students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The FGTSP office will collaborate with units across UTSA to host First-Gen Fest such as the University Career Center, Graduate School, Housing and Residence Life, Fostering Futures Program, Office of Undergraduate Research and student success centers from multiple colleges.

Together, they will offer several events throughout the week at the Main and Downtown Campuses, ranging from mixers and study breaks to discussion panels and a speaker series. These activities will enable students to connect with each other while discovering resources to help them succeed.

“We’re thrilled to join other colleges and universities around the country to recognize our first-generation students, who are an integral part of the Roadrunner community.”

First-Gen Fest’s main event, the First-Generation Celebration, will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8 at the Student Union Lawn and will include food, music, games and giveaways for First-Gen Roadrunners. The signature event coincides with the nation’s First-Generation College Celebration Day.

“We’re thrilled to join other colleges and universities around the country to recognize our first-generation students, who are an integral part of the Roadrunner community,” said Tammy Wyatt, UTSA senior vice provost for student success. “First-Gen Fest is a great way to acknowledge the successes of our first-generation students while also appreciating the unique challenges many of them often face.”

First-generation students, or those who are the first in their families to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, comprise nearly half of UTSA’s student body at 45%. UTSA offers many resources and activities year-round to support the needs of first-generation students in addition to the annual First-Gen Fest. These include the First to Go & Graduate Program (F2G&G), which promotes academic success, persistence and graduation through peer mentorship and tailored programming, and the First-Generation Living Learning Community, which helps students build a sense of belonging by living with other first-gen peers on campus.

UTSA’s ongoing commitment to supporting its first-generation population has helped increase its retention and graduation rates among the group. From 2017 to 2022, the six-year graduation rate of first-generation students improved by 14%, and the number of degrees awarded to first-gen students saw a 15% increase.

Furthermore, the FGTSP office and UTSA received national recognition from Excelencia in Education and the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) in 2019, acknowledging the success of the university’s impactful initiatives that create an environment where first-generation and transfer students can thrive.

UTSA is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution that puts students first by creating transformative learning experiences and providing personalized resources for students at all stages of their academic careers. Through its student-centered programming, UTSA serves as a model for student success and a place where students from all backgrounds can excel in the classroom and beyond.

— Chloe Johnson