The University of Arkansas is recognizing its first-generation college students for the annual First-Generation College Celebration day today. This day of recognition celebrates the experiences and hard work of all current and former first-generation college students.  

The First-Generation College Celebration is recognized across the country each year on or around Nov. 8. This year, Nov. 8 marked the 55th anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Higher Education Act (HEA), which has helped millions of first-generation, low income/under-resourced students persist to degree completion. 

The celebration is coordinated by the Center for First-Generation Student Success, an initiative of The Suder Foundation and NASPA- Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Activities on campus are being coordinated by New Student & Family Programs, the Student Success Center, and faculty working with Destination Arkansas.

The First-Generation page of the Student Success website hosts information and campus resources for first-generation college students and contains downloadable files to help students, staff, and faculty show their support, including:

• First-Generation Coloring sheet – print this out, decorate it, take a picture or a selfie with it and share it on social media with the hashtag: #FirstGenUARK and #CelebrateFirstGen
• First-Generation Zoom Background – download a Zoom background to use for meetings and classes to show pride or support for the first-generation college students (three design options available)

The office of New Student & Family Programs has created Instagram Stickers and a new episode on its "New Student? No Problem." podcast, which celebrates first-generation students at the University of Arkansas: 

• Episode 3: First-Generation College Students – Nov. 2 – 35 minutes
  • In this episode, we get to celebrate First Generation College Students at the University of Arkansas. We chatted with four different first-generation students as they shared tips, tricks, resources and their stories of what their journeys look like as a college student. Whether you are a high school senior scared of making your transition, a seasoned college junior needing a little extra help, or simply a first-generation student ally, this podcast has something for you.
• Search "firstgenuark" under the sticker button on Instagram Stories to access five new first-generation support and celebration stickers

For more information about the First-Generation College Celebration, visit the Center for First-Generation Student Success' website.