Our History

FUP was founded in 1984 by undergraduate students Kathy Fitzgerald, Brian Palmer, and Jennifer Childs-Roshak during a pivotal time of student activism. In the early 1980s, Harvard’s campus was a hub of political engagement as students confronted global injustices like South African apartheid and local challenges exacerbated by a deep economic recession. These movements highlighted critical issues of equity and access, inspiring the creation of FUP as a space for students passionate about civic engagement and community service.

FUP began as a student-led initiative designed to complement Harvard’s only other pre-orientation program at the time, the First-Year Outdoor Program. In 1984, the first FUP was comprised of just 8 first-years and 4 student leaders, but since its founding, its mission has resonated with a growing number of students. By 1997, FUP had expanded to include 90 first-years and 30 leaders, and today, 40 years since its founding, it served 120 first-years and 33 leaders. FUP’s growth has not only increased its capacity but also broadened its impact for students and community partners alike. The program brings together a diverse student community and serves a broad range of grassroots organizations throughout Cambridge and Boston.

Beyond its immediate impact, FUP acts as a powerful student leadership pipeline, with many participants and leaders going on to hold key roles in organizations across campus such as the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA), the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship, the Harvard College Women’s Center, the Office of BGLTQ Student Life, and the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations.

Have any photos from FUP Past? Send them to us at fup@fas.harvard.edu.