First in the Family

Starting this fall there will be a new Living Learning Community (LLC) in Santa Catalina Residence Hall, “First Generation.”

If a student’s parents are not college educated, than they are a first generation college student. This came about due to a suggestion from Andrea Vargas of the Executive Director’s Office at a Strategic Planning conference. As a First Generation student when she attended UCSB, Andrea was aware of our LLCs coming in as a freshman. She felt like she needed the extra support, but she didn’t feel a connection to any one LLC in particular. Fast forward to seven years later, Andrea heard about a First-Gen living learning community offered at another university, and she immediately realized the importance of the extra support in navigating academics, finances, and the new independence that comes with leaving home. She’s glad the themed living option now exists thanks to Residential & Community Living, and is excited to see what programming, resources, and mentorship that it will provide to future First-Gen students.