National First-Gen Day is celebrated on November 8th every year! We host events throughout the week to hear from study abroad, to prepare for graduate school, to improve scholarship essays, or to meet other first-generation Catamounts among our students, faculty, and staff!
*Requires an RSVP on ENGAGE
11am to 3pm at the Fountain (rain location: 2nd floor of the UC)
Engage Link
4-7pm at Jack the Dipper in Sylva
280 Asheville Highway Suite 4
Engage Link
3:30pm in Killian Annex 136
Engage Link
7pm in the UC Grand Room
Tuesday evening at the Alumni Tower
This lantern walk will celebrate our first-generation Catamounts - students, faculty,
staff, and community partners! Come out and find your bag, take pictures, and honor
their experience.
5:30pm in UC Dogwood Room or virtually (see engage to RSVP for virtual link)
Engage Link
Wednesday evening at the Alumni Tower
This lantern walk will celebrate our first-generation Catamounts - students, faculty,
staff, and community partners! Come out and find your bag, take pictures, and honor
their experience.
4-6pm in Hunter Library 186
Engage Link
2-4pm on the UC Lawn
Engage Link
Friday evening at the Alumni Tower
This lantern walk will celebrate our first-generation Catamounts - students, faculty,
staff, and community partners! Come out and find your bag, take pictures, and honor
their experience.
If you have questions about joining any of these events, please contact us by calling 828.227.7171 or emailing maps@wcu.edu.
MAPS presents First Gen Advocacy Training, a 1.5 hour session meant to advise our campus partners on how to support our first generation Catamounts. This can include reviewing common practices, language used, university policies, and referral methods. We will discuss the profile of a first-gen student at Western, suggest powerful practices, and the future of advocating for our first-gen Catamounts.
The MAPS office will present with affiliates from the First Gen Advisory Board. All participants will receive a First Gen sticker for their attendance and completion of the training.
Sign up on Engage by following the links belowing. Having difficulties with Engage? Email maps@wcu.edu to RSVP!
Use the resources below to learn how to make the most of your college experience and find strategies to aid in your success.
Do not be afraid to ask for help and do it early!
Know you are not alone - connect with others!
Pursue your passions and strengths!
Additional resources
Connect with others!
Do something!
The FirstGEN Advocate program is designed to support new and continuing first-generation college students (FGCS) during their journey at WCU. Advocates are volunteer faculty and staff members who are trained to be cognizant and sensitive to the needs of FGCS.
By engaging with an Advocate, students can expect to be:
Advocates are identified by displaying the FirstGEN symbol on their office door and wearing a FirstGEN pin or t-shirt at campus events. Find a FirstGEN Advocate.