Student Support & Inclusive Communities

Student Support & Inclusive Communities

First Gen students BBQ 2024
Photo credit: Amina Lampkin

The Honors College at the University of Maryland is committed to several key objectives:

  • Ensuring a diverse student body that reflects the demographics of the state of Maryland through effective recruitment and retention efforts.
  • Facilitating connections between students and support from staff, faculty, and student leaders to address their health and wellness needs.
  • Creating inclusive spaces that are diverse and promote connections, thereby enhancing students’ sense of belonging within the Honors College.
  • Introducing students to communities and programs that concentrate on service, social justice, and social change.

Honors College Initiatives

The BHC, founded in the Honors College in November 1971, supports members of the Black community across the Honors College through academic and social support. The mission of the Black Honors Caucus is to provide a space for Black students to convene on the basis of scholarship, creativity, and camaraderie to support the achievement of its members.

The Black Honors Caucus is established for the purpose of building cohesiveness among Black members of the Honors community and promoting activism within the Black community. This organization aims to serve the university as a whole by providing a forum for discussion about the community’s greatest concerns.

Although the organization is sponsored by the Honors College, membership and activities are open to all UMD undergraduate students.

Staff Advisors: 

PrePAIR Connections Mentoring Program (paused for 2025–2026)

The PrePAIR Connections Mentoring Program is designed to support first-year underrepresented minority and first-generation students as they build community, navigate college life, and grow professionally within the Honors College. While the program will be paused during the 2025–2026 academic year, we remain committed to fostering a strong sense of connection and support for our first-gen and underrepresented students.

Although PrePAIR will not be running this year, there are still vibrant ways to engage and connect with fellow first-generation and underrepresented students through:

  • First-Generation Student Association (FGSA) – A student-led organization dedicated to building community, promoting academic success, and celebrating the first-gen identity.
  • Black Honors Caucus (BHC) – A community within the Honors College focused on connection, empowerment, and celebration of the Black student experience.
  • Honors College/Living-Learning Programming – We will continue to offer events and initiatives throughout the year, separate from FGSA and BHC. These programs provide opportunities for connection, resource sharing, and community building within your specific Living-Learning Programs and across the Honors College.

We encourage you to get involved with one (or more!) of these opportunities to find support, resources, and community throughout your time in the Honors College.

We look forward to bringing PrePAIR Connections back in the future and continuing to build meaningful pathways for connection, mentorship, and success.

If you have any questions or would like help connecting with FGSA or BHC, please reach out to our Assistant Director of Recruitment and Inclusive Communities, Ms. Chantelle Smith, at casmith@umd.edu.

The mission of the First-Generation Student Association is to enhance the overall success of first-generation college students within the Honors College. Through our intentional and proactive efforts, we will offer student-centered opportunities designed to support the academic, professional and campus engagement experiences for UMD students.

Although the organization is sponsored by the Honors College, membership and activities are open to all UMD undergraduate students.

Contact information: