First-Generation Triton Family Connection

Dear Triton Families,

The second half of spring quarter offers a lot for students to be excited about, from the promise of summer break to commencement in just a few weeks. There's also a lot for students to be thinking about before the school year comes to an end, like enrolling in fall courses, studying for finals and planning to move out of on-campus residences. With so much happening, now is a good time to help your student slow down for a moment and check in with themselves. How do they feel about their year? What was a highlight? What was a challenge? How are they planning to take care of themselves during the business and stress of the weeks ahead?

As you talk with your student, remember that Parent and Family Programs has great resources and information on our website to help you support your student with whatever challenge they may be facing.

Sincerely,
Margot Clifford
Director, Parent and Family Programs

Community and belonging are essential to student success. This section highlight efforts across campus to celebrate and foster first-gen community and spotlights individuals from across our Triton community who share their first-gen experience.

First-Gen Staff Spotlight: Chrissy Sharp PhD., Director, Writing and Communications Learning Services

Share a memorable moment you had when working with UC San Diego first-generation students and/or their family.
One of my favorite moments with our first-gen community involved attending a writing centers conference with our peer tutors. We took a road trip, together, to Bakersfield and connected with many of our student colleagues who work at writing centers across Southern California. We learned that many writing center tutors pursued on-campus tutoring because, as first-gen or underrepresented students, they wanted to find a space where they could connect with and give back to their community. It can be tough to feel a sense of belonging when you don't hear the stories of your community while you're at university, but attending this conference — and connecting with other writers every day — make the experience more comfortable.

If you could have dinner with your first-generation college self, what would you say?
I would encourage my college self to be less nervous about visiting academic support centers, like our writing center. I would also coach myself on how to visit with my professors during office hours; I always felt like I had to have a "good" reason for speaking with my professors, but I now know — as a professor myself — that students just need to show up and we'll make the visit meaningful no matter what! I would also reassure myself that I hadn't failed by changing my major from Pre-Med to Literature; instead, I would tell myself that changing my major to fit my strengths and interests would be one of the most empowering things I would ever do.

First-Gen Staff Spotlight: Dan Perez, Assistant Director, Parent and Family Programs

What does supporting first-generation students and families at UC San Diego mean to you?
As a first-gen graduate, I often reflect on my own academic journey and how my family participated in and supported me during my studies. Supporting first-gen students and their families is personal; it's an aspect of my role and our office that brings joy, connection and a special sense of pride. It means being able to welcome families into their own unique university experience and not only connect them to this university through their student, but provide them with their own UC San Diego Experience. My parents regularly share how much affinity they have for my alma mater, and it's a feeling I strive to share with first-generation families through my work with UC San Diego.

Celebrate Your Graduating First-Gen Student!

Each student’s academic journey is different. This section focuses on resources and support systems at UC San Diego that help your student take full advantage of their academic ability, discover opportunities to excel and gain transferable skills, and achieve.

Finding Academic Support on Campus

College Advisor | Your student can set up an appointment with an academic advisor in their college to talk about courses, adding or dropping a class, and other related topics.

Major Advisor | Your student also has an academic advisor for their field of interest (e.g., biology, ethnic studies or linguistics). This advisor provides guidance related to your student's major.

Triton Testing Center (TTC) | The center is able to assist with accommodated testing, make-up testing, and other situations where a student needs to test outside of the classroom but within a proctored setting.

Teaching + Learning Commons | Your student can receive a variety of academic help at the Commons, from study groups and tutors to developing learning strategies and improving their writing. Resources are offered in Spanish, too. Learn more here.

Meeting the cost of an undergraduate education is a significant investment. In this section, you'll find resources dedicated to ensuring that students and families have the support and information they need to navigate financial challenges and build pathways to the future.

Connect with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office

Change in your family income? You and/or your student can connect with Financial Aid and Scholarships to learn about options to get the help you and your student need.

Financial Aid and Scholarships Video Resources: The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office has a large video resource page with content for all financial-related needs. You can check out the video resource page here.

Have questions? Connect with Financial Aid and Scholarships by virtual counseling, email, and phone. You can learn more about all contact methods on the Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

As parents and family members, you are an important part of our Triton community. We hope you'll get involved and take advantage of all this community has to offer!

Share your thoughts and story! Tell us about your experience as a parent and family of a first-generation student by answering a few short questions. We may feature you in the next edition of our e-newsletter. Submit today!

The Office of Parent and Family Programs supports families of undergraduate students. Visit our website for information on events, paying the bill, resources,
student life and more.

Triton Family Ambassadors share their diverse perspectives, resources and experiences with other Triton families and help foster family community at UC San Diego. Join today.

University Resource Centers enhance campus life, foster personal and professional growth, and facilitate social connections. Explore the centers.