Resources Abound to Help Students Succeed

RHSA director and Associate Teaching Prof. of English Matthew Hurwitz speaks at induction day in fall 2019 Image by Tory Wesnofske
River Hawk Scholars Academy Director Matthew Hurwitz speaks to first-generation students.

“No one is born as a college student,” says River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA) Director Matthew Hurwitz. “Learning how to be a college student is part of going to college.”

For the 41% of UMass Lowell's undergraduate students who identify as first-generation college students -  the first in their families to attend college - navigating the admissions process and acclimating to college life can be overwhelming.

The university is highlighting and celebrating its first-generation students during the week of Nov. 3-10, with National First-Generation College Celebration Day on Nov. 8.

Support programs such as RHSA offer themed writing courses, workshops and social events throughout the year to help students succeed academically and also connect to their peers, as well as mentoring relationships with Peer Leaders and faculty mentors.

This summer, RHSA piloted First to Launch, the newest of UML’s summer bridge programs, which also include RAMP for engineering majors and SoarCS for computer science majors.

First to Launch is just one way that the RHSA is expanding its services to first-generation college students, thanks to two $100,000 grants it has received from the Cummings Foundation and Bank of America.
This fall, River Hawk Scholars, now in its fifth year, will be able to continue with the full program, including peer mentoring, through their sophomore year. The grants will also allow the RHSA to develop workshops for juniors and seniors that will prepare them for the transition to careers and graduate school, Hurwitz, an associate teaching professor in the English Department, says. 
“Year One is the year of support,” Hurwitz says. “Year Two is the year of opportunity,” when programming will help students dive deeper into their education through experiences including mentoring relationships with adult volunteers, research with faculty, study abroad, service learning and leadership training. 
Four overlapping book covers highlighting first-gen libguide
The University Library partnered with River Hawk Scholars Academy to create library resources reflective of the First-Generation College Experience.

Support Services for First-Generation Students

RHSA logo

River Hawk Scholars Academy

RHSA promotes academic success and fosters active campus engagement for full-time, first-year UMass Lowell students who identify as first-generation college students.
Three DC CAP students posing in front of the sunset. The UMass Lowell DC-CAP Scholars program supports students who were involved in the DC-CAP program in high school.

District of Columbia College Access Program

DC-CAP is a nonprofit that provides students in public and public charter high schools in the District of Columbia, most of whom are the first in their families to attend college, access to counseling and scholarships to enable them to enroll in and graduate from college.
Luis Falcon is the Dean of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at UMass Lowell.

Faculty & Staff Supporters

UMass Lowell has a rich tradition of welcoming and supporting first-generation college students. A number of faculty and staff on campus, including FAHSS Dean Luis Falcon, were first-generation college students themselves, and still more advocate for their success.
Debby Fernand

From Introvert to Team Leader

Debby Fernand says the River Hawk Scholars Academy has introduced her to friends and faculty mentors – and turned her into a leader herself.
Fernand wanted to stay involved with the RHSA after freshman year, so she took a four-session leadership class and applied to be an RHSA peer leader. As a sophomore, she mentored a group of first-year RHSA students. As a junior, she stepped up to team leader, mentoring a group of 12 first-year students and also guiding four peer leaders. And while doing all that, she's being mentored herself by Criminal Justice Asst. Teaching Prof. Yahayra Michel ’07 ’09.

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