Small Groups 

 

Who Leads Small Groups?

The Small Groups Program is a collection of First-Generation College Students serving as peer mentors focused on supporting all first-generation students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a university environment. Students from all grades are welcomed and encouraged to participate with the goal of cultivating a greater sense of community and belonging. The initiative consists of:

• Individualized Mentoring: Peer-mentors offer one-on-one guidance and support to address specific challenges and goals.
• Events: Peer-mentors create welcoming environments where students can openly discuss insights from first-generation student literature and participate in empowering career development workshops.

Small Groups Individualized Mentoring

Our OptimalWork, First-Gen Roundtable, and Campus 2 Career mentors hold regular office hours across campus. Stop by their meeting space/time to talk about study skills, time management, campus life, internships, resources, and more! The purpose of these meetings is to offer Small Group participants a chance to build genuine and trusting relationships with their peer mentors. Our mentors are not necessarily experts in some of these topics, but they are fully equipped to guide students to any campus resources they may need.

Optimal Work Coaching

If you would like to book an an appointment with our Optimal Work coaches, you can use this appointment calendar link to meet with our coaches. A single meeting is 25 minutes long. If you would like to meet a coach to do a Golden Hour together, you can book two appointment slots. 

Small Groups Events

First-Gen Roundtable Discussions: Fostering Dialogue and Understanding 

Our First-Gen Roundtable events offer a vital space for students to connect, share experiences, and explore topics directly relevant to their unique journeys. Drawing upon the latest psychology literature on first-generation students, these engaging discussions have delved into crucial themes.

Campus 2 Career Workshops: Foundations for Future Professional Success

Our Campus 2 Career group equips first-generation students with essential skills and knowledge for their professional and financial futures. Through the guidance of dedicated mentors, mentees have can gain valuable insights and practical advice on networking, internships, and personal finance.

Past Events

• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Empowered students to recognize their worth and combat feelings of inadequacy.
• Celebrating Hispanic First-Gen Students: Provided, a platform to discuss experiences, cultural strengths, and navigating higher education.
• Navigating Family Pressure: Addressed the complexities of balancing family expectations with personal, academic, and career goals.
• Women’s History Month: Stories of First-Gen Women: Featured accomplished women leaders in various fields who were also first-generation students. In 2024 we talked about the careers of Mary Calkin, Dr. Soper, and Laura I Gomez. In 2025, we invited UD alumnas Veronica Alonzo, Maribel Laguna, and Ana Lima as panelists. 
• Personal Finance : Introduced the principles of investing, wealth building, and budgeting. 
• Optimizing Your Job Search: Guided students on how to create a professional online presence for networking and job searching purposes. 

Impact of Small Groups 

Retention Rates

Understanding Retention in Higher Education and Why They Matter:

In higher education, retention refers to the ability of an institution to keep students enrolled from one academic year to the next. A high retention rate indicates that students feel supported, connected, and are progressing successfully towards their academic goals. Retention is particularly critical for first-generation students because these students often navigate unique challenges including financial constraints, lack of familial experience, and difficulty navigating complex systems. 

Our Impactful Small Groups Initiative 

At The University of Dallas, we are happy to share that In the 2023-2024 academic year, 100% of the first-generation students who interacted with our Small Groups initiative 4 or more times were retained. This includes students who participated in individual mentoring sessions and/or attended our events.

Student Testimonials 

"Being in the First Gen program provided me with many mentors who I am still close with today. One of the most helpful events was the roundtable about the different women in STEM. This event helped me realize that we all have our struggles and often want to give up, but we are fully capable of moving forward and doing great things. I also realized that imposter syndrome is common, even to those who did great things and it is important to recognize our achievements and not doubt them. This event inspired me to continue working towards becoming a hispanic female doctor, since I am motivated by wanting to serve my community and feel fulfilled after I do so." - Nadia, Class of 2025

"I enjoyed how discussions focused on topics that are not always talked about like imposter syndrome and being a first-gen Hispanic student. The collaborative and group aspect of it allowed me to realize that I am not the only one struggling during my time in college. Having other students lead the discussion helped the points they made hit closer to home, especially with the personal examples they provided." - Areli, Class of 2025 

Stay Connected 

• Check out our calendar for locations & times of our events and mentoring meetings. 
• Don't Miss Out! Get the latest on Instagram @udfirstgen
• Reach Out Directly to the Small Groups Coordinator: You can email Ms. Barrera at jabarrera@udallas.edu

DFW Professionals: Make a Difference for First-Gen Students

Were you a first-generation student who would like to speak at one of our events? We'd love to hear about your experience. Email the Small Groups Coordinator Judith Barrera at jabarrera@udallas.edu