If you’re the first person in your family to attend college, it’s OK to be both excited and fearful about what life on campus will bring. It’s normal to struggle to understand new processes and terminology and feel a little lost in a new place.
The good news is you’re not alone.
Many other students, faculty and staff members in the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, including the dean of the college, Dr. Shane C. Burgess, were also first-generation students and found ways to overcome their fears and anxieties to earn their college degrees.
CALES First Gen is designed to help first-generation students thrive by guiding them to valuable university-wide resources and services tailored to their needs. Through First Gen Connect events, students will have the opportunity to engage with first-gen faculty, staff, and supporters who understand their journey and can offer valuable insights.
The First-Gen Den is a dedicated space for first-generation students to find community, feel welcomed and experience a sense of belonging. It connects students with valuable resources, mentorship and a supportive network of peers. The First-Gen Den is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
"First-generation student" may be a term that you’re not quite sure of, and you may be wondering whether you are a first-generation student. You’re a first-generation student if:
- You come from a home where neither your parent(s) nor legal guardian(s) completed a four-year bachelor’s degree, or
- Your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) completed a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a country outside of the United States, or
- Your parents are separated or divorced and the parent with primary custody, with whom you live a majority of the time, does not have a bachelor’s degree, or
- You were/are a homeless youth, in the foster care system, or a ward of the state
If any of these apply to you, we invite you to get involved with the CALES First Gen. To get started, contact Daniel Jiménez Flores.
CALES First-Gen Connect events include mixers, workshops and panels focused on professional development, career exploration and building a strong community.
The program also fosters peer connections through mentorship and group study sessions, creating a supportive network to help students navigate academic and personal challenges. Whether you’re looking for guidance, motivation or a sense of belonging, CALES First Gen is here to support you every step of the way. If you're still uncertain that we're the group for you, contact Daniel Jiménez Flores.
A special message for first-gen students from Dr. Shane C. Burgess
If you're the first in your family to attend college, I know exactly what that's like. I didn't know at the time, and I wish someone had told me, that it's OK to be both excited and fearful about what your new life attending university will bring. It's completely usual for a first-gen student to struggle to understand university processes, terminologies and seemingly secret codes that everyone else seems to know, but you don't. If you're like I was, you'll feel a little lost in a new place.
The good news is that you're not alone. Many other students, faculty and staff members in the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences also were first-generation students and found ways to overcome their unique first-gen challenges and their understandable fears and anxieties to earn their college degrees. Please never feel embarrassed about asking the people around you what something means — I do this even now.
In the lobby of our Forbes Building, we have a space dedicated to all of our students. We also have a special program for first-gen students that includes our first-gen employees, who will be happy to help you take advantage of what will be a life-changing time at The University of Arizona.
Welcome to the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences!