As a first-generation college student, marketing junior Toby Martinez followed a path to The University of Texas at Dallas that was anything but smooth.
With seven siblings and financially struggling parents, he got no advice about college — not even from his high school, he said.
“I had no practical support from family or high school and no idea what to expect from the college experience. I found the idea of attending college terrifying,” Martinez said.
To share support for first-generation students at UT Dallas, the Office of Undergraduate Education recently hosted Celebration Week, a series of programs held Nov. 7-11 designed to bring resources directly to first-generation students.
UT Dallas started hosting Celebration Week in 2019 as an expansion of National First-Generation Celebration Day, which takes place every Nov. 8.
This year’s events included a keynote speaker, movie screening and costume party as well as professional development for faculty and staff, a Leadership Listens panel and a Resource Fair, which featured the participation of dozens of UTD departments, programs and organizations.
Michelle Elele, a political science major and first-generation student, attended events, including the Resource Fair, and was grateful to see how many clubs and organizations are enthusiastic about serving first-gen students.
“I was able to explore different organizations that will help not only with my academic needs, but also my career and wellness needs,” she said. “I also got the chance to engage with my first-generation peers.”
Students like Elele and Martinez are why the Office of Undergraduate Education puts a strong focus on supporting first-generation college students, said program specialist D’ric Jackson BS’15, MS’17, a first-generation college student himself.
First-generation college students enrich the UT Dallas community immeasurably, Jackson said. In 2022, UT Dallas had 4,574 students who indicated that their parents or guardians did not complete a bachelor’s degree, a number that is approaching its pre-COVID-19 high.
“First-generation students offer such a rich and diverse skill set,” he said. “We’re very purpose-driven, and it shows in our work. It shows in the way we give back to our families and communities.”
In addition to Celebration Week and other resources, UT Dallas offers an advocacy and mentorship program, which launched this year and was made possible by a $50,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The program, involving more than 700 first-generation students on campus, engages some students in a custom first-generation student success course and provides others an assigned faculty or staff contact for individualized support.
Elele was new to UT Dallas — and college — last year. Now, she is mentoring other first-generation students, supporting their adjustment to the college experience.
“People might think ‘OK, I had seven classes in high school, and I did 10 extracurriculars in one day. I can do the same thing here.’ But that’s not the case here because you don’t start out knowing how to manage your time,” she said.
That’s a common theme when talking to first-generation college students: concern about lacking guidance and support to get off to a good start in college.
After high school, Martinez was accepted to and registered for classes at a small Texas college, but he never made it to campus, even for a visit.
“I started working instead,” he said. “I had to pay for everything myself.”
He spent a few years working in sales and in warehouses. He signed up for classes at a local community college, paying for classes out of pocket, but didn’t have time to attend. Since he didn’t know how college worked, instead of withdrawing from the classes, he just stopped showing up and received failing grades.
Martinez’s outlook on college changed, he said, when he and his wife discovered they were going to have a baby. He decided to attend UTD because of the University’s and Dallas’ diversity.
“Being at a school that really values diversity felt like it was going to help me learn and grow culturally,” he said.
Another perk? UT Dallas’ strong support for first-generation college students.
“They don’t just wait for you to come say, ‘I need help.’ They will reach out and help you,” he said.
Courtney Brecheen MPA’09, PhD’17, senior associate dean of undergraduate education, said Celebration Week was the perfect way to recognize the contributions of first-generation students and UT Dallas’ supportive community.
“Hosting a full week of first-generation student-oriented activities is one of the most meaningful ways that we provide a broader representation of campus the opportunity to show their love and support of first-generation Comets,” she said. “Awareness about the first-generation student experience through engagement, events and messaging conveys their value and how much they matter to our institution.”
