Happy First-Generation College Celebration Week!

The Newbury Center at Boston University

Opened in January 2021, the Newbury Center fosters the holistic success of first-generation students at Boston University, referred to as “Terrier F1RSTS.” The center offers programming and services designed to ensure that first-generation students experience the same sense of well-being, belonging, self-efficacy and academic accomplishment as their continuing-generation peers.

The Newbury Center is located on the Charles River Campus at 755 Commonwealth Ave, and it hosts frequent events here on the Medical Campus, too. Check out a full list of Newbury Center events here.

You can easily schedule a meeting with Newbury Center Director Maria Erb here or with Newbury Center Assistant Director M.C. Damm here.

The Community Catalyst Center gFIRST Affinity Group

The gFIRST community network seeks to support and advance the outcomes of first-generation college students across GMS programs. It is one of several affinity groups within the Community Catalyst Center (C3), launched in August 2021 to help students acclimate to Boston and the Medical Campus and adjust to the advanced academics of graduate school while gaining a sense of belonging early in the programs at GMS.

For more information about the Community Catalyst Center, click here.

Reach out to our gFIRST mentors!

Our gFIRST group has 10 peer and staff mentors who are available to connect, chat about their personal experiences, and offer support to first-generation students seeking community on campus. Learn more about our current mentors, and how to reach out, by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Boston University Terrier F1RSTS Advocate Directory

Terrier F1RSTS Advocates can connect with first-generation students to provide assistance, guidance and networking. Profiles are arranged by faculty, staff, first-generation ally, first-generation college graduate and first-generation graduate/professional. To connect with an Advocate, send them an email explaining a little bit about yourself and how they might be able to support you.

Access the Terrier F1RSTS Advocate Directory here.

Tri-Alpha: The First-Generation College Student Honor Society

Boston University hosts the Gamma Iota Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha), a national honor society for first-generation college students that recognizes academic achievement, empowers scholarship and leadership and provides an ongoing support network. The chapter is inclusive of undergraduate, graduate, and  professional students, as well as faculty and staff.

Learn more about Tri-Alpha here.

RISE First

RISE First empowers first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) students and professionals across the country to achieve their full potential with life and career advice, lists of support resources and mentorship opportunities hosted through a technology platform with online tools. It is a platform built for and by FGLI students.

Learn more here.

Center for First-Generation Student Success

The Center for First-Generation Student Success, launched in June 2017, is an initiative of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and The Suder Foundation. The Center responds to and advocates for public policy in support of first-generation students and their intersecting identities. It also works directly with higher education institutions to transform the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes and build more inclusive institutional structures.

Learn more here.

Click the profiles below to read more about our Spotlights from present and past first-gen students!

We want to share your stories of how your unique identities, cultures and backgrounds have influenced your time at GMS and your perspectives as students, researchers, faculty, staff and alumni. If you’re interested in participating in a Spotlight for our website, please email our Public Relations Associate Sarah Rowan at srowan@bu.edu.