Our Crowdfunding Groups
Helping First Gen Longhorns Succeed
The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement First Generation Initiative is aimed at students who are the first in their families to attend or finish college. We are here to connect first-generation college students at UT with a robust support network comprised of prominent UT alumni, staff, faculty and friends who were also the first generation in their families to attend and graduate college.
The major difference is that our initiative is broader with a larger focus on empowering first-generation students through:
building a dynamic learning community where students make choices based on their goals and interests.
programming and services that increase their chances for success (academically, personally, and professionally)
exposing them early and often to opportunities that they may not be aware of on UT's highly resourced campus
connecting them to a mentoring community of other successful first gen students, faculty, university leaders, administrators, and staff
providing opportunities for FG students to enter into research and leadership opportunities
The people in this network share their personal stories and experiences with students, thus serving as mentors, enabling students to gain inspiration and advice to navigate their own journeys at UT and beyond. Students are given opportunities to join the DDCE’s learning community– the Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence (LCAE) – which provides wrap-around support for academic, professional and personal development.
Why We Need Your Help
We are working on our development plan to address our goals for building this initiative. We want to be able to help as many first gen students as possible, but we can’t do it without your help. We are asking for support for the following areas:
Programming to interact with first-generation students on a monthly basis through university tours of specific areas on the campus. This creates a cohort of students to connect with and find a place to meet other first-generation students and mentors.
Student scholarships to study abroad in places like South Africa, China, and Costa Rica. First gen students often don’t have the resources they need to study abroad, but you can ensure that they have scholarships to facilitate these experiences!
A First Gen student learning community space to create a place for first gen students to gather and connect. It’s so important for first gen students to have a space they feel safe and understood. You can help provide that space!
Your support can help someone be the first in their family to graduate from college. Thank you for believing in our First Gen Longhorns and helping them succeed!
College is the first step for many first-generation students to change the story of their lives. Thank you for supporting the initiative’s goals, and efforts of first-generation students.
This will give an opportunity for first-generation students to join a group or organization.
Your donation will help build a dynamic learning community where first-generation students can self-select many learning opportunities based on their desire to participate.
$100 can help provide opportunities for first-generation students to explore research and leadership opportunities.
Your gift will help fund future programming and services that will increase the chances of success for first-generation students academically, personally, and professionally.
A donation of $500 can give a scholarship to a first-generation mentor/ambassador or our freshman and sophomore first-generation students.
A donation at this level can pay for a plane ticket for a first-generation student to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, Beijing, China, or Costa Rica.
Your donation will help the Initiative Program create a student learning community space for first-generation students so that they may have the chance to study and develop relationships with each other.
Investing into a first-generation student will not only impact their immediate family but will also make a profound and significant impact on their future.
