First Gen Resources

First-Gen Support Programs

There are two dedicated support programs for first-generation students on-campus, which offer an array of opportunities for engagement.

The F1RST Program is open to any student that would like to connect with a community of first-generation students, and get proactively connected to support resources and information. Students can connect by joining the F1RST Living Learning Community, registering for the F1RST Hullabaloo U course, and/or attending F1RST events any time they wish.

Selected students within the F1RST Program will additionally be selected for the F1RST Grant Program; note that this is a need-based award and eligibility is based on the FAFSA.

For students within a College of Engineering program on the Galveston campus, selected students will be offered participation in the Regents' Scholars Program. This program includes grant funding as well as a Living Learning Community and dedicated HU courses. This is a need-based program and eligibility is based on the FAFSA.

F1RST Program

Regents' Scholars Program

Common Terminology

In college, you will hear many new terms and/or acronyms. We have gathered some of the common terms and their definitions which you will hear.

Academic Advisor: Academic Advisor
Someone who can assist you in making sure you are meeting your degree requirements. You should meet with them each semester! At TAMUG, you will have an academic advisor both in the Center for Academic Learning Support for your first-year and a department academic advisor within your specific major.
Add/Drop: Add/Drop
Through your Howdy portal, you can add and remove courses from your schedule through the 5th class day of the semester. It is always recommended to first speak with your advisor to make sure your degree plan is not affected.
AIS (Applicant Information System): AIS (Applicant Information System)
Applicant Information System - allows you to see your progress in the application process to TAMU/TAMUG. Once you have been admitted to TAMUG, you will register for your NSC and submit needed documents through your AIS portal. https://applicant.tamu.edu/
CL (Community Leader): CL (Community Leader)
Student leader in the residence hall. If you live on-campus, your hall/floor has a CL who can be a great resource!
Cost of Attendance: Cost of Attendance
This is the total price of going to college. This includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other living expenses.
Counseling: Counseling
Counselors offer support for student’s mental health and career services on the campus.
Course Support: Course Support
Course support is individual or small group tutoring available to students for specific classes.
Credit-Bearing: Credit-Bearing
This means this class has hours or credits associated with it. The more credit hours a course is worth, the higher the workload will be for that course.
Expected Family Contribution: Expected Family Contribution
A formula that tells you how much you can afford to pay. This estimate includes your family’s assets, income, and family size. The expected family contribution is determined through completing the FAFSA.
Faculty: Faculty

Teacher of your class; same as professor or instructor.

FAFSA
FAFSA: FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid - this is used to apply for grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. To be considered for the F1RST grant opportunity, you must have completed the FAFSA application. https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Full-Time Enrollment: Full-Time Enrollment
Full-time enrollment is considered during a Fall and Spring semester being registered for at least 12 credit hours. During the summer, full-time enrollment is registration for at least 6 credit hours during the summer session.
GPR: GPR
Grade Point Ratio - this is the same as GPA (Grade Point Average). A&M uses a 4.0 scale for GPA (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1). A 2.0 GPR is the required minimum to be in good academic standing.
Graduate: Graduate
A student who has completed an undergraduate degree and is pursuing a Master’s or Doctorate degree.
Grants: Grants
This is free money that you do not have to pay back. It is mostly based on financial need.
Living Learning Community: Living Learning Community
A community in which students live and learn together with a common theme to enrich their college experience and build connections.
Part-Time Enrollment: Part-Time Enrollment
Part-time enrollment is considered during a Fall and Spring semester being registered for less than 12 credit hours. Students may not be eligible for the same amount of financial aid if they are not enrolled full-time.
Peer Mentor: Peer Mentor
An undergraduate student who works to connect students to the campus and community through shared experiences.
Professor: Professor
Teacher of your class; used interchangeably with 'faculty' or 'instructor'.
Q-Drop: Q-Drop
The student removes themselves from a class and a ‘Q’ is placed on their transcript as their grade. This can protect the GPA of a student if they feel they may get a ‘F’ in the class. You can only Q-drop four courses during your time at TAMU.
SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress): SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress)
Satisfactory academic progress is the successful completion of coursework toward the degree. SAP is determined by the completion rate, maximum hours, and minimum grade point average.
Scholarships: Scholarships
Money that does not need to be repaid and can be received through various ways.
TA (Teaching Assistant): TA (Teaching Assistant)

A graduate student who instructs or assist in one of your courses
TASFA: TASFA
Texas Application for State Financial Aid is used to help determine financial aid eligibility for state and/or institutional aid. This financial aid application is for students not eligible to complete the FAFSA for federal student aid.
Undergraduate: Undergraduate
A student studying to earn an Associate's or Bachelor's degree. This is compared to a 'graduate student' who is earning a degree beyond the Bachelor's level (Masters or Doctoral degrees).
Withdrawal: Withdrawal
Withdrawing from the university means a student drops all courses currently in progress.

Family Resources

How to support your first-generation student

As a family member, sibling, friend or professor you may be unsure of the support your first-generation student is needing as they start and continue their journey through college. Below are a few tips to help you in supporting the first-generation students you may know:

Offer words of engagement regularly. College brings not only academic stress, but the stress of becoming an individual. As a first-generation student, this can be added to the pressure of succeeding for not only themselves, but their family as being the first to make this journey to and through college.

Pursuing higher education does not mean that students will lose the values they were raised with. In fact, these values will help them persist towards their personal and professional goals.

Remind your F1RST student that they belong. A strong sense of belonging in the greater campus community and in their home communities will positively impact their academic performance.

Your student may not be able to come home every weekend if they are living on campus. This is the case even if home is 5 or 10 miles away. If the student is living at home, they may not have the same amount of time to devote to family responsibilities as they did before. This does not mean they value you less!

Learn about the college process and what to expect. By learning about your F1RST student’s degree plan and campus resources, you will be able to become more familiar with what your student is experiencing.

Be patient with yourselves and one another. This is a learning experience for everyone (both you and your student) -- you will all be learning about this transition process together.