The Centenary University First Generation Society (CUFG) aspires to recognize and support First-Generation Students by providing strategies and resources to help navigate their college career.  We work with students to ensure that have successful personal, professional, academic, and social experiences.  Named a top performer for social mobility by US News & World Report in 2023-2024, Centenary is committed to creating a campus that empowers and celebrates those students who are working to change not only their future, but the futures of the generations who follow them.

Community & Belonging

Many times, first generation students work hard to go to college and arrive on campus academically prepared, but with very few ideas about what to expect outside the classroom.  As a result, they are less likely to take advantage of social, leadership, travel, internship, and research opportunities. Centenary University First Generation Society meetings offer students a comforting space in which they can share experiences, expectations, frustrations, and best practices with one another.  It is a chance to build lifelong relationships with others who are experiencing college from similar backgrounds and perspectives.

First Generation and Multilingual Mentors

Our First-Gen Peer Mentor program allows upper class students to share their experiences with first- and second-year students.  Sharing firsthand experiences often prompts new First-Gen students to try something outside their comfort zone.

Students also have the opportunity to work with First Gen and Multilingual students at our local high school, helping them to understand that higher education is obtainable and how to navigate the college application and decision process.  We hope to expand the program to send students back to their high schools to talk about their First-Gen experiences.

Financial Aid & Scholarship Workshops

Often the responsibility to complete financial forms for college falls on a First Gen student and we offer workshops at the start of each semester for students to receive help to complete financial aid forms.

Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha)

Tri Alpha is a national honor society for First-Generation college students and is a nonprofit (501(c)3) chapter-based membership organization located at colleges and universities within the United States.  Centenary inducted it first Tri-Alpha members in November of 2023.