FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Being the first in a family to go to college comes with some unique challenges, and the U of A continues to find ways to improve the path and resources for these students through improved mentoring programs, scholarships and community building.

One in five students in the 2018 freshman class are first-generation students.  And they are in classes and colleges led by former first-generation students who know exactly what kind of struggles they face.

A significant piece of the U of A’s mission to serve Arkansas includes building paths to college for first-generation students and for those from underrepresented areas. Recently added programs aimed at this mission include Advance Arkansas scholarships, the ASAP Bridge Program, mentoring initiatives and the new Student Success Center.

“College was very transformational for me,” said Joshua Byron Smith, assistant professor of English. “The opportunities that opened up to me were really just confidence that I could do something other than what the rest of my family had been doing.”

Watch more Short Takes videos.