First-Gen Celebration Week 2026
(November 2 – November 6)

First-Gen Celebration Week 2026, November 2–6

First-Gen Celebration Week is November 2nd to November 6th!

The First-Generation College Celebration is a national recognition of first‑generation students’ contributions to their communities and advocating for the dismantling of barriers to first‑generation student success. At the University of Michigan, the week is full of events hosted by schools, colleges, support offices, and student organizations to energize the first-gen community and strengthen the University’s commitment to its success.

The national recognition began in 2017 with the Council for Opportunity in Education and FirstGen Forward as a commemoration of the Higher Education Act (“HEA”), signed on November 8, 1965. This act created federal financial aid programs to fund students’ educations and made key investments in colleges and universities. Many of the HEA’s programs, particularly the Federal TRIO programs, promote postsecondary access, retention, and completion for today’s limited-income, first-generation college students.

Follow @oamiumich and @umfirstgen on Instagram and tag your posts with #UMICH1stGen and #CelebrateFirstGen.

FIRST-GEN WEEK HIGHLIGHTS

 

Monday, November 3

First-Gen Celebration Week Kickoff

10 to 2 PM | First-Gen Gateway (3rd floor of the Student Activities Building)

Please join us to kick off this exciting week of celebration. Stop in for a free First-Gen t-shirt, coffee, snacks, and learn more about our programming and resources!

Marketing Toolkit

Download and use the first-generation celebration Zoom backgrounds, Instagram graphics, printable signs, and more to show your first-gen pride during First-Gen Celebration Week (and all year long)!
View the Toolkit!

Ways to Celebrate First-Gen Week

Celebrate as an Individual

Celebrate as an Individual

  • Use positive language to combat the use of deficit language surrounding first-generation college students.
  • Share your first-generation story or listen to the stories of others.
  • Educate yourself about the experiences of first generation college students and the research that relates to their college journey.
  • Facilitate listening sessions by administration, faculty, and staff about first-generation students’ experiences and needs on campus.
  • Wear the U of M First Gen Proud/Supporter button the day of the event.
  • Post a First Gen Proud/Supporter sign on your office door.
  • Connect with other first-gen students, faculty and staff
  • Acknowledge the first-generation students that you interact with and explain why we are celebrating this day (signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965).

Celebrate in the Classroom

Celebrate in the Classroom

  • Acknowledge that first-generation students may be in your class and explain why we are celebrating this day (signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965).
  • Host a panel discussion in your class featuring first-generation members of your campus community to discuss their college experiences.
  • Connect with other first-gen faculty and staff in your department or college.

Celebrate as a Department or Unit

Celebrate as a Department or Unit

  • Host a breakfast, luncheon, or snack break for first-generation students to celebrate their success. Invite first-generation leaders, faculty, and staff to attend. 
  • Partner with campus offices, bookstores, local eateries, and gas stations to add gift card raffles to your celebration events.
  • Host a campus event or rally featuring notable first-generation alumni, faculty, staff, students. Empower first-generation student leaders to get involved in planning or to emcee the event.
  • Host panel discussions or forums featuring first-generation members of your campus community to discuss their college experiences.
  • Coordinate a positive language campaign to combat the use of deficit language surrounding first-generation college students.
  • Distribution first-generation swag to promote your celebration events and continued opportunities.
  • Review your communications materials to see how first-generation students are welcomed and their stories highlighted
  • Use the #UMICH1stGen stories to share on social media
  • Host first-generation alumni networking and career development events.
  • Meet students where they are, literally! Set up stations in commuter student parking areas to offer breakfast-on-the-go or car winterization kits to students just to brighten their day and feel encouraged and encouraged.
  • Designate a campus athletics event as “first-generation” and recognize players, coaches, attendees who are first-generation. Offer a discount to attend.
  • Offer resume and interview workshops to offer tips on how to best frame first-generation status in the hiring process.
  • Send a letter or postcard home to the families of first-generation students to acknowledge the university’s support of their attendance and to highlight successes.
  • Train campus student leaders such as peer mentors, tour guides, and orientation staff on how your campus welcomes first-gen students.

Celebrate as a Student Organization or Group

Celebrate as a Student Organization or Group

  • Host a campus event or rally featuring notable first-generation alumni, faculty, staff, students. Empower first-generation student leaders to get involved in planning or to emcee the event.
  • Distribution first-generation swag to promote your celebration events and continued opportunities.
  • Use the #UMICH1stGen stories to share on social media
  • Ask students in groups to share their first gen stories
  • Host first-generation alumni networking and career development events.
  • Host a letter-writing campaign to remind state legislators, boards of trustees and state higher education agencies of the needs of first-generation college students.

Share Your Story

What has your experience been like as a first-gen at the University of Michigan? If you are an undergraduate student, graduate student, faculty, staff, or alumnus/alumna from the University of Michigan, you are welcome to share your story.

Share Your Story
Social Share Buttons and Icons powered by Ultimatelysocial