First-Gen Friday's Program

Contact Information

(209) 667-3700

asc@csustan.edu

Vasché Library, L230

Division of Student Affairs

Impact the lives of First-Gen students today.

Donate to First-Gen Friday's

FIRST, BUT NOT ALONE.

"First-generation students may be more dependent upon university faculty and staff to create opportunities for them to interact with their peers; therefore, programming created for first-generation students should intentionally build peer interaction into its activities. Indeed, perhaps through encouragement from the faculty, staff and/or peers conducting the structured activities, first-generation students may choose to interact more frequently with their peers on an informal basis."

Our Purpose

The main purpose of this workshop series is to foster a sense of belonging that can boost the engagement, retention, and success rates among Stanislaus State First-Gen students.

Note: For our program, a “first-generation college student” is identified as a student whose parent/guardian has not received a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree.

Lissett De La Cruz and a student pose for photo.

First-Gen Friday's

First-Gen Friday's (FGF) is a workshop series presented by the Advising and Success Center. The workshop series is a collaborative effort to promote the visibility of Stanislaus State staff, faculty, and alumni leaders who were themselves, first-generation college students. The workshop series will include a variety of topics and activities such as speakers, social interactions, and networking, etc.

Two people standing next to each other in "First-Gen" shirts

First-Gen / [Furst-jen] / Adjective

See also: trailblazer, resilient, leader, determined

You are the first in your family to attend a 4-year institution. Your parents did not graduate from a 4-year institution. You are still considered first-generation even if your siblings attended and graduated from a 4-year institution.

*Stanislaus State serves large numbers of first-generation college students, according to the CSU Analytics Office 73% of our Fall 2021 students are the first in their families to attend college.

73% of Stan State students are First-Gen!*

First-Gen Gratitude Board

New! Add messages, comments, and pictures of why you are grateful to be a First-Gen student. Feel free to share freely as this is a safe space. Also, feel free to share encouraging messages or tips for other first-gen students.

View Gratitude Board

Fall Meetups

Please visit the Workshop page to learn more about all the upcoming events we have planned for you!

First-Gen Workshops

For More Information

Please send an email to Ramika Govergezy Badelboo at:
rgovergezybadelboo@csustan.edu

Workshops

View the latest workshop offerings for fall 2025.

All students encounter diverse challenges when adjusting to college life. Stanislaus State is providing a First-Generation* specialized workshop series, First-Gen Fridays, which will be able to teach students the tools needed to overcome any obstacles they will face in college.

The topics of discussion will focus on first-gen obstacles such as:

Cultural Capital Empowerment

Confidence Building

Stan State staff and students interacting.

Social Capital Building

InnovateU: Crafting Agency through Creativity and Community

InnovateU aims to elevate the voice and agency of students in our campus. InnovateU brings a research-based approach to co-create an enriched learning environment in which you will engage in self-reflection, storytelling, collective inquiry, non-violent communication, artistic expression, and creative play. Our commitment lies in crafting a holistic and empowering platform that embraces individuality, harnesses creativity, and forges a sense of belonging, ensuring you feel empowered to excel and thrive in your higher education pursuits.

This program requires you to commit to attend 6 in-person sessions on Fridays.

Please email Ldelacruz1@csustan.edu if you have any questions.

Apply to Participate