---
title: "College Citizens: A Taste of Catholic Liberal Arts Education"
description: The first-generation initiatives in the Office of Academic Success make a difference in the lives of UDallas students — and for the past four years, they have been making a difference in the lives of local high school students, too.
image: https://blog.udallas.edu/hubfs/NHR53926.jpg
---

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# College Citizens: A Taste of Catholic Liberal Arts Education

[ UD Relations ](https://blog.udallas.edu/presidents-report/author/ud-relations)

 Oct 22, 2025 12:47:19 PM

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The [first-generation](https://udallas.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-of-liberal-arts/first-generation-students/index.php) initiatives in the [Office of Academic Success](https://udallas.edu/life-at-ud/student-support-resources/academic-resources/academic-success/index.php) make a difference in the lives of UDallas students — and for the past four years, they have been making a difference in the lives of local high school students, too. The university’s [College Citizens program](https://udallas.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-of-liberal-arts/first-generation-students/college-citizens-en.php) brings DFW-area juniors who would be first-generation college students to campus for two weeks in June to experience a taste of a Catholic liberal arts education. Students participate in daily lectures and seminar classes alongside the university’s Arete program, receive mentoring from graduate students and Academic Success staff, and participate in a service project in the local community.

Doctoral candidate **Darcy Stubbs**, who has served as a seminar leader and mentor to the College Citizens students for the past two years, describes how students begin the program hesitant and unsure but then learn to challenge one another in a healthy way through their seminar dialogue. The program culminates in a final paper and oral presentation, where Stubbs says students offer thoughtful and encouraging questions to their peers.

 

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*“It honestly changed my life.”*

**ALEXIA BARRIENTOS, PROGRAM PARTICIPANT**

---

 

![NHR53922](https://blog.udallas.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/NHR53922.jpg?width=8192&height=5464&name=NHR53922.jpg)

 

“We guide them into valuing their voice,” said **Dr. Christi Ivers**, who co-directed the program this year alongside Executive Director of Academic Support **Matt Spring**, PhD ’15.

Read the full story [here](https://udallas.edu/news/2025/college-citizens-a-taste-of-catholic-liberal-arts-education.php).

 

 

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### Read All Stories

The President’s Report on University Achievements and Impact

[ READ ALL ](https://blog.udallas.edu/presidents-report/tag/service-to-church-and-country)

 

[Service to Church and Country](https://blog.udallas.edu/presidents-report/tag/service-to-church-and-country)

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### [Oct 22, 2025 12:20:55 PM A Summer Like No Other: Rome Edition](https://blog.udallas.edu/presidents-report/summer-rome)

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