URI’s First-Gen Support Group assists students whose parent or legal guardian has not
completed a four-year college degree

The Counseling Center offers a wide variety of support, therapy, and wellness groups free for all University of Rhode Island students. Some require registration while others are open to anyone who simply wants to drop in and join. In our ongoing effort to keep students aware of the resources available on campus, we’re chatting with the leaders of each group, so you know what to expect and where to go if you’re interested in participating. Stay well!

KINGSTON, R.I. – Nov. 6, 2025 – Thousands of undergraduates at the University of Rhode Island qualify as first-generation students, which are students whose parent or legal guardian has not completed a four-year college degree. Additionally, one out of three full-time first-year students and three out of four transfer students at URI qualify as first-generation while approximately 33% of all students nationwide are the first in their family to attend college.

The university has several support systems in place to help its first-generation population adjust to campus life, including Rhody F1rst, a collaborative network of faculty and staff – many of whom were first-generation students themselves – that supports first-generation students from the moment they step foot on campus until the day they graduate.

First-generation students can also help one another through the Counseling Center’s First Gen Support Group, a relatively new wellness group launched in 2004 by University Psychologist Tyler Delaney, Ph.D., and Clinical Counselor Alondra Berrios, LICSW. The group discusses topics such as imposter syndrome, how to find available resources, financial and family stress, academic struggles, and the overall university experience as a first-generation student.

Delaney and Berrios bring a high level expertise to the table as proud first-generation college graduates. Berrios came to URI in 2024 specifically to help first-generation students after previously working with high-school students on substance abuse prevention. Delaney previously served as a graduate assistant for the McNair Scholars and McNair Exploratory program at Boston College, which supports first-generation college students from underserved backgrounds, an experience that “strengthened my awareness of my own first-generation college identity and my passion for supporting this group of students.”

In today’s spotlight, we check in Berrios to learn more about how this group started and what specific supports are offered for first-generation students adapting to URI. Visit URI’s wellness groups webpage for more information on other groups and stay tuned to the Student Affairs news site throughout the year as we profile others making a difference at URI.

What is the primary goal of this group and what are some of the biggest issues and concerns facing students who join?

“The First-Gen Support Group was developed in 2024 and is co-facilitated by Tyler and I. It was created as a welcoming space for first-generation college students to connect, share their experiences, and grow together. As first-gen graduates ourselves, we understand the unique challenges of navigating college without a roadmap, such as, balancing academics, family expectations, financial pressures, imposter syndrome, and the overall adjustment to campus life. While these struggles aren’t exclusive to first-gen students, they often show up in distinct ways. I remember the well-meaning support from my family, but also the limitations that came from their unfamiliarity with the college system.”

How does this group work toward addressing those issues and helping students reach their potential in and out of the classroom?

“This group provides a safe and supportive environment where students can speak openly, build community, and learn from one another, with guidance and encouragement from two fellow first-gen graduates who have walked a similar path.”

When and where does this group meet and how would one inquire about joining?

“The group is scheduled to begin during the spring semester and will be held weekly on Wednesdays from 5–6 pm at the Counseling Center [in Roosevelt Hall]. Any student who is interested in joining or has questions, can contact me at alondra_berrios@uri.edu, by calling the Counseling Center at 401-874-2288, or complete the interest form.”

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Michael Parente, director of communications and marketing in the URI Division of Student Affairs, wrote this news release.