First-Generation Student Gateway
Who are First-Generation Students?
First-Generation College Students are students whose parents or guardians have not completed a four-year degree in the United States. At UW Bothell, we honor your journey and are here to support you from day one through graduation and beyond.
Support Services
Peer Coaching
Connect with trained student leaders who can help you navigate academics, resources, and student life. All incoming First-Year students select a Peer Coach prior to their A&O appointment, and work with students based on their meta-majors.
More about Peer Coaching
STARS
The UWB ”State Academic Rising Scholars” (STARS) Program seeks to increase diversity and access for pre-major students interested in applying to and graduating with technology degrees, contributing to a more inclusive and representative workforce.
More about the STARS Program
Digital Scholars
As a Digital Scholar, you will join a supportive cohort community and gain digital skills that employers are looking for! These skills include digital marketing, project management, ethical use of AI, data analytics, and data visualization. It’s a great opportunity for students to explore their interests and gain hands-on experience.
More about Digital Scholars
Thriving Guide
The Thriving Guide is your go-to resource for navigating life as a new student. Created by students and staff, this guide breaks down essential academic terms, busts common college myths, and introduces key campus resources!
More about the Thriving GuideEvents and Programs
We host First-Gen Celebration Week every November, offer workshops, and provide leadership development opportunities all year round.
More Information on First-Generation Celebration Week November 5-6, 2025
Celebrating Students as a First-Gen Forward Institution
The University of Washington Bothell is proud to be recognized as a First-Gen Forward Institution by the Center for First-Generation Student Success. This national designation affirms our commitment to creating a campus culture where first-generation college students are seen, celebrated, and supported from orientation through graduation.
Being a First-Gen Forward campus is more than a title, it’s a promise. It means we are actively investing in programs, people, and practices that empower first-generation students to thrive academically, socially, and personally. At UW Bothell, nearly half of our undergraduate students identify as first-generation. Their diverse experiences enrich our campus and challenge us to design equitable, inclusive learning environments where everyone can succeed.
Through peer coaching, advising, community partnerships, and leadership development, we are working to remove systemic barriers and elevate the voices of those blazing a new path in higher education. This recognition inspires us to continue building pathways to opportunity and belonging for our first-gen community—and for generations to come.
Reports
2025 Report Link (Coming Soon)
First-Generation Leadership Team
The First-Generation Leadership Team at UW Bothell provides strategic guidance and coordination for the university’s First-Generation Student Programs. This cross-functional team is led by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success and the Director of Orientation & Transition Programs and includes key leaders from four campus offices, each of which brings a unique lens to student support and success:
- Orientation & Transition Programs (Enrollment Management & Student Affairs)
- Diversity Center (Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)
- Office of Student Success (Academic Affairs)
Together, these units collaborate to strengthen support for first-generation students through a collective impact model. The Orientation & First-Generation Program Manager facilitates alignment across these offices to ensure resources, initiatives, and relationships are coordinated and sustained across campus.
This integrated leadership structure enables UW Bothell to create cohesive, student-centered programming, like the First-Gen Gateway and Celebration Week, while ensuring that first-generation student success remains a shared institutional priority.