From the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

November is National First-Generation College Student Month, and Buffalo State is proud to recognize and celebrate our first-generation students, faculty, and staff! 

What does it mean to be first-generation? The term first-generation was created in 1980 by the Council for Opportunity in Education. While definitions of the term first-generation varies from campus to campus, first-generation students are those whose parents did not attend or graduate from a four-year college or university. Ultimately, first-generation students are the first in their immediate family to go to college. 

This month, we invite faculty and staff who identify as first-generation college students to be featured in our First-Gen Directory on the Orientation, Transition, and Family Programs website. This optional directory will showcase photos and brief bios to help students connect with first-generation faculty and staff across campus. 

Submit Your Photo and Bio

To submit your photo and bio for the directory, please click here for the Qualtrics form.

Proud to be First-Gen Day! 

Come out and celebrate First-Gen Day during Bengal Pause! The official First-Generation day is on Saturday November 8th, 2025, however, staff from Student Leadership and Engagement with be tabling in the Student Union Lobby from 12pm-2pm on Thursday November 6th to celebrate our first-generation community! 

Additionally, custom first-generation Zoom backgrounds and email signatures are available for download to show your support through November! 

Let's come together to highlight the success, pride, and resilience of our first-generation community here at Buffalo State!