Resources for First Generation Students at UGA
The Office for Student Success and Achievement is committed to supporting the success of first-generation students as they transition into and proceed through the University of Georgia. The OSSA works with a variety of campus partners including: Division of Student Affairs, Office of Institutional Diversity, Academic Advising Services, the Graduate School, and others to support the overall success of first-generation students. With these partners, we plan events each year on November 8th in honor of the National First-Generation College Celebration day.
If you are a first-generation student at the University of Georgia, there are several resources for you. The OSSA offers a course entitled UNIV 2900: Academic Success for First Generation Students. Another program in the Office of Instruction, called 1st at the First provides a handbook resource (PDF) for first-generation students. The handbook is also available in English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese for students’ families and supporters.
The University of Georgia was recently named to the inaugural First Forward cohort by NASPA and The Suder Foundation. This designation recognizes institutions of higher education committed to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students.
If you have questions about these resources, please contact Amy Warrington at amy.warrington@uga.edu or 706-583-0724.
Alpha Alpha Alpha
Join the University of Georgia’s first-generation honor society! For more information on Alpha Alpha Alpha, please email firstgen@uga.edu.
Undergraduate Students
Students qualify for induction into Tri-Alpha if they meet the following criteria:
- The student has earned at least 30 credit/semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) towards an associate’s degree or baccalaureate degree (including half-time).
- The undergraduate student has achieved an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
- Neither of the student’s parents, nor step-parents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor’s degree.
Graduate Students
Graduate students qualify for induction into Tri-Alpha if they meet the following criteria:
- Graduate students who are first-generation students can be admitted if they have completed the equivalent of at least one term of study (9 or more graduate credits) and have a GPA in their graduate program of at least 3.5.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff qualify for induction into Tri-Alpha if they meet the following criteria:
- To qualify, they must have met the definition of a first-generation student listed above at the time they completed their bachelor’s degree. Faculty and staff must be willing to serve as mentors for first-generation students.
