First Generation College Students | University of Portland

First Generation College Students

Congratulations on becoming the first person in your family to earn a college degree, and welcome to the University of Portland! Students who are first-generation have a great deal to be proud of. Obtaining a bachelor's degree will open a plethora of possibilities for you in your future. Your commitment, perseverance, resourcefulness, and work ethic have brought you this far and will help you achieve your goals while attending the University of Portland.  

Who Are First Generation College Students?

First Generation (FGEN) students are defined by the University of Portland as those students where neither parent or guardian has earned a four-year college degree. At UP, approximately 28 percent of the student population identifies as a first generation college student.

First Generation Student Ambassadors

First Generation (FGEN) Student Ambassadors lead and coordinate targeted programming opportunities for FGEN students at the University of Portland.  In addition, this position offers a peer mentorship component to first-year students, creating a new opportunity for FGEN first-year to connect to FGEN upper class students.  Learn more about the current FGEN program below:

Faculty and students discuss UP's FGEN Program. Courtesy of UP Marketing & Communications

Join us!

Do you identify as a FGEN student? We welcome you to be a part of our FGEN community any time during the school year. Our FGEN community offers academic support and engagement opportunities with others on campus. We invite you to browse our website to learn more about our programs and the opportunities we provide. For more information, please contact us at firstgen@up.edu or call 503.943.7895.

Make a Gift

Support the FGEN Student Program