Generation Student Services News Today

Born and raised in Lexington, Jonathan Richardson saw a need in the community for support and resources for the people around him. He wanted to create change, but didn’t know just how — yet. With personal experiences fueling his heart, Richardson put what he was learning at UK into practice to create change.

Nearly one-fourth of all students who attend the University of Kentucky are first-generation students. This means that their parent(s) or guardians did not complete a four-year college or university degree. At the university, not only do we welcome these trailblazers with open arms, but we also provide them with the resources needed for them to thrive. In doing so, UK proudly celebrates National First-Generation Week, hosted by the Office for Student Success. 

When was the last time you did something that scared you? When you embraced fear and let it empower you? For many first-generation students, this is every step of their college experience. They are the first in their family to pursue a four-year degree. The first to navigate the complex college admissions process, the first to meet with advisors and visit campuses, the first to find a roommate and leave home, the first to step into unchartered territory. They are no strangers to uncertainty. A...

It’s nigh time we admit that William T. Young Library sometimes just isn’t all that.  Sure, it’s big, it’s beautiful and it has a Starbucks (which accepts Flex dollars, mind you). It’s a hallmark of the University of Kentucky, and its central campus location puts it in close proximity to those in search of a...

UK is among just four universities and colleges to receive the Comprehensive Award, granted to a limited number of institutions each year. This award recognizes overall excellence in internationalization efforts as evidenced in mission, strategies, programs and results.

On this episode of "Behind the Blue," Martin talks about the challenges some first-gen students face, the resources available to them, the special bonds peer mentors build that help lead these students to success and more.

Each year, Nov. 8 is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating those who represent the first generation in their family to attend college. Today, UK faculty from across campus reflect on their own experiences as first-generation students and offer advice to current and future first-generation Wildcats.

To honor first-generation students, from Nov. 7-11, UK will celebrate "The Power of One: A First-Generation Convention Experience." First-Generation Student Services, a unit housed in the Office for Student Success, will host a week full of fun events that will give first-generation students the opportunity to tell their story, learn more about the resources the university has to offer them and meet other first-generation students who have common experiences. 

The events are sponsored by the UK Martin Luther King Center, in partnership with the Office of Student Organizations and Activities, Off-Campus Student Services, First-Generation Student Services and other campus champions.

While the holidays can be a magical time, going home after being away at college can present a new set of challenges. From difficult conversations to setting new boundaries, Nancy Stephens, associate director of New Student and Family Programs, housed in the Office for Student Success, has some advice on how to prepare to return home this holiday season and make sure that once you arrive, it remains the happiest time of the year.