Fresno State to welcome 270 first-generation students to success camp

Fresno State will bring 270 incoming first-generation students onto campus next week for a four-day camp built to do more than greet them. The second annual LaunchPad: Bulldog Bound Freshman Success Camp is designed to help first-time Bulldogs handle course registration, financial aid and the day-to-day expectations of college before the fall semester begins.

The camp will run June 15 through June 18 at Fresno State and is aimed at students who often arrive without the same family roadmap to higher education as continuing-generation students. University materials describe the program as an onboarding experience meant to build confidence, strengthen belonging and prepare students for a successful first semester.

The stakes are clear at a campus that serves much of the Central Valley. Fresno State says LaunchPad is part of its broader Bulldog Bound guaranteed-admissions program, which began in fall 2023 and gives participating students access to Fresno State ID cards, email accounts, library resources, financial-aid guidance, scholarship opportunities and summer campus experiences. The university’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness tracks first-year retention rates by first-generation status, underscoring that the camp is being measured not just by attendance, but by whether it helps students stay enrolled and succeed.

This year’s program follows a first LaunchPad held in summer 2025, when about 200 incoming first-generation students from Fresno Unified School District took part. Fresno State later said that inaugural camp gave students early exposure to campus resources, helped them build connections and created a stronger foundation for academic and personal success. The 2026 version expands that effort by welcoming more students and offering a more structured four-day schedule.

Eligible students will not pay for the experience. Fresno State says LaunchPad is free and includes transportation, meals, Fresno State swag, one-on-one meetings with advising and financial-aid experts, a scholarship, college credit, Dog Days Orientation and a full class schedule. The university also says students will receive course-registration help, financial-aid resources and academic advising sessions, along with recreation activities and obstacle courses from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The university’s first-generation support network extends beyond LaunchPad. Fresno State points to the Educational Opportunity Program, TRIO programs, the College Assistance Migrant Program and a first-generation honor society chapter as part of a wider system meant to improve retention and graduation outcomes. With its Financial Aid and Scholarships Office awarding more than $250 million to 80% of students, Fresno State is tying the camp to a larger push to remove barriers before the semester starts.