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College Citizens

Seeking Wisdom, Truth, and Virtue: Building First-Generation College Citizens

This summer, thanks to generous funding from the Teagle Foundation, the University of Dallas invites you to a crash course modeled after our distinctive curriculum.

Students will engage in a rigorous two weeks of in-depth reading, writing, and discussion about some of the most fundamental topics in our society: What is citizenship? What does it mean to pursue truth or seek a virtuous life? What is our responsibility to the members of our community?

During the 2023-24 academic year, the University of Dallas will also support the College Citizens with the college admissions process and scholarship applications, while providing college readiness workshops to program graduates.

If you are interested in developing a deeper understanding of the world around you, charting your future, and putting yourself on a path to be a leader in your community, then apply today!

Apply Now

To be accepted into the Program students must:

  • be Juniors in High School
  • attend High School in the DFW area
  • have parents who have not completed a four-year degree
  • be prepared to demonstrate that they are likely to be eligible for a Pell-Grant or the equivalent when they begin college

Program Details:

We plan to host the program in person at the University of Dallas, Irving Campus, June 18 - July 1, 2023

During the two-week summer program, students will receive the following free of charge:

  • Tuition/Room and Board
  • Cultural Excursions and Field Trips into DFW
  • Programming (Guest Speakers, Extracurricular Activities)
  • Mentorship by University of Dallas Faculty, Staff, and Students
  • Three General Studies College Credits

Students will also participate in a civic engagement project during the program and throughout their senior year of high school.

 

About the Program: 

The University of Dallas in collaboration with the Teagle Foundation, have prepared a wide-ranging liberal arts curriculum that addresses the central questions that are at the heart of our goals as educators in a liberal arts tradition:

What is our responsibility to others? How can we pursue a moral and ethical life?

Informed by our university’s belief that the Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts provide a necessary foundation from which to embark upon our society’s greatest challenges, our program guides students through consequential thinkers that range from Plato, Aristotle, and Sophocles to Bartolomé de las Casas, Martin Luther King, and Albert Einstein.

“College Citizens” then invites students to consider the diverse experiences and challenges faced by those in their own community in light of the valuable questions posed by a liberal arts curriculum. Located in the thriving and diverse metropolis of Dallas-Fort Worth, we look forward to facilitating the intellectual and personal development of historically underserved members of our community, while providing a deep appreciation of the liberal arts and their inestimable value in a rapidly changing world at UD. First-generation students, coming from a wide swath of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, comprise a record 20% of the freshman class.

UDALLAS RELEASE: Seeking Wisdom, Truth and Virtue: UD Aims to Build First-Generation College Citizens

First Gen Stories

Jessica Quiroz, BA '23

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National Resources

I'm First!

I’m First!, an initiative of Strive for College, is an online community celebrating first-generation college students. Check out video stories from first-gen students, read student blogs and discover colleges that have special programs to support their first-gen students. We feature YouTube video testimonials from first-gen students and graduates from across the country.

Are You A First-Generation Student?

The Center for First-generation Student Success serves as the premiere source of evidence-based practices, professional development, and knowledge creation for the higher education community to advance the success of first-generation students. This means that we help colleges and universities help you succeed as a first-generation college student. While we do not offer direct support to first-generation students in high school, college, or university, we want to help you navigate and locate more information.