Resources for Faculty to Engage Students
Mentoring opportunities:
ACCESS (Assisting Computer Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Student
Success)
The ACCESS Scholarship program provides two-year scholarships of up to $10,000 for each
year to high-achieving, financially disadvantaged students, particularly women, pursuing
degrees in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering at the Baskin
School of Engineering, UC Santa Cruz. The ACCESS Scholarship program is open only to
students at the freshman level. To be considered for an ACCESS award, students must apply to
UC Santa Cruz using the general UC Application for Admissions during the application-filing
period November 1-30. Students being considered for an ACCESS scholarship may be asked to
submit additional materials. https://ua.soe.ucsc.edu/scholarships/access
The Baccalaureate Bridge to the Biomedical Sciences
Baccalaureate Bridge is an academic bridge program for community college students interested
in pursuing a career in research science. Its mission is to provide students with opportunities to
acquire knowledge and skills that will increase their transfer eligibility and academic success,
and lead to greater diversity among university undergraduates in the biomedical sciences. The
program focuses on students whose academic goals and potential have been affected by
disadvantageous circumstances and/or students who belong to groups with below-average UC
enrollment rates. The program is designed to offer two broad areas of support services to
Cabrillo, Gavilan, Hartnell, and Monterey Peninsula College students.
http://access.ucsc.edu/
CBSE (Center for Bio-Molecular Science and Engineering) Research Mentoring Institute (RMI)
This program offers diversity-oriented fellowships to graduate students, and awards to
undergraduates interested in pursuing research projects in areas relevant to the human genome.
Students participating in RMI receive mentoring from faculty advisors, other students, and the
program coordinator. The program exposes students to the nature and rigors of a research
environment, thus enhancing preparation for and success in graduate school and beyond. The
institute engages graduate fellows as peer mentors to undergraduate awardees, thereby creating a
pipeline of support and mentorship. https://cbse.soe.ucsc.edu/diversity/rmi
CAMP (California Alliance for Minority Participation in Science, Engineering and Mathematics)
CAMP is a statewide initiative that aims to support and retain underrepresented undergraduates
to achieve their degrees in the biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and
engineering. By integrating research and undergraduate education, CAMP creates a cohesive set
of experiences that fully prepares undergraduates for graduate education and influences career
choices. CAMP programs motivate participants through cooperative learning, internships, faculty
mentored research, and funding for travel to professional conferences, in order to present their
findings, and learn about graduate school opportunities. http://stemdiv.ucsc.edu/camp/
AGEP (Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate)
AGEP is a program sponsored by the National Science Foundation whose goal it is to
significantly increase the number of African American, Latino, Native American, and Pacific
Islander students earning PhDs in the physical and life sciences, math, and engineering and to
foster their interest in and commitment to an academic career. The UCSC AGEP program is
designed to increase the number of graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) fields while also providing special programs addressing the diverse and
specific educational needs of incoming graduate students.
http://graddiv.ucsc.edu/archive/agep/agep-programs.html
EOP (Educational Opportunity Programs)
The mission of EOP is to promote the retention, academic success, and graduation rates of first
generation college students from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
EOP provides an array of services including orientation, academic and personal advising, peer
advising, tutorial assistance in specific subject and writing areas, and preparation for graduate
and professional schools. http://eop.ucsc.edu/
IMSD (Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity)
The Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity Program, IMSD, (formerly known as MBRS –
Minority Biomedical Research Support) provides undergraduate and graduate students with the
opportunity to receive an in-depth experience in the academic and experimental aspects of
biological research. The undergraduate IMSD program consists of a summer research institute
during the summer and laboratory research projects during the academic year. Graduate students
receive Graduate Student Research (GSR) support and laboratory supply allotments.
http://stemdiv.ucsc.edu/imsd/
The MARC (Minority Access to Research Careers) Program
The MARC (Minority Access to Research Careers) Program offers research training to
participating honors students to help prepare them to compete successfully for entry into
graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences. Funded through the National
Institutes of Health, the MARC program’s goals are to increase the numbers and capabilities of
underrepresented scientists and to prepare students for careers in biomedical research.
Acceptance is competitive and based on above average academic preparation and performance.
http://stemdiv.ucsc.edu/marc/
MEP (Multicultural Engineering Program)
The Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP), also known as the MESA Engineering Program,
is the university level component of the statewide Mathematics, Engineering, Science
Achievement (MESA)—a program of the University of California Office of the President. At UC
Santa Cruz, MEP is supported by the Baskin School of Engineering to promote diversity and
facilitate the retention and graduation of a diverse population of students. The program received
the "2004 UC Santa Cruz Excellence Through Diversity Award” which is presented to programs
or individuals for efforts which promote a diverse and inclusive environment.
https://mep.soe.ucsc.edu/
UC LEADS (Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees)
The University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS)
program educates California's future leaders by preparing students for graduate education in
STEM fields. UC LEADS identifies promising upper-division undergraduate students who have
experienced conditions that have adversely impacted their advancement in their field of study.
Once chosen as UC LEADS Scholars, the students embark upon a two-year program of scientific
research and graduate school preparation guided by individual Faculty Mentors.
http://stemdiv.ucsc.edu/ucleads/
Resource Centers
African American Resource & Cultural Center (AARCC)
The African American Resource & Cultural Center (AARCC) provides a wide range of support,
resources, and programs for students from the African diaspora at UCSC. It encourages and
facilitates student involvement and success in campus life, student organizations, academic
excellence, and community engagement. The center provides leadership training, confliction
resolution, advisement, and advocacy for the diasporic community on campus. Since the
founding as the first ethnic resource center at UCSC, it has striven to create and foster an
environment in which students of African/Black descent excel personally, professionally, and
academically through our commitment to celebrating our culture and providing multifaceted
support and resources to students. http://aarcc.ucsc.edu/
American Indian Resource Center
The AIRC is dedicated to supporting the needs of American Indian students and increasing Native visibility on campus by advocating student centered programs, cultural events, and tools for academic success and well being. The center serves as a vital link between American Indian students, the University, and tribal communities to foster growth through mentoring, leadership opportunities and scholarly development. The AIRC also serves as a supportive space for students to help ease the transition from home to campus life. http://airc.ucsc.edu
Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center
The Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC) first opened in April 1999 due
to the tireless efforts of student activists and supportive staff/faculty. AA/PIRC's mission is to
provide and enhance opportunities for developing leadership, building a stronger sense of
community on campus and linking students to community service opportunities. Ultimately,
AA/PIRC offers education and dialogue on issues affecting Asian American/Pacific Islanders
toward addressing students' multiple and diverse academic, social, cultural and other cocurricular
needs. Students can also gain leadership experience through the AA/PIRC Internship,
volunteering, and/or participating in student programs. http://aapirc.ucsc.edu
Cantú Queer Center
The Cantú Queer Center at UC Santa Cruz exists to provide an open, safe, inclusive, intercultural
space, promoting education about all genders and sexualities, and empowering self-exploration
of these identities. We support same-gender-loving students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as
families, friends, and the entire campus community. We serve as a resource to LGBTQQIA
students by providing opportunities for leadership and personal development, and by creating
programs and services that work to eliminate heterosexism, bi-phobia, and gender-identity
oppression. We strive to develop an atmosphere of acceptance and well-being from which the
campus community can fulfill the academic mission of the university. Besides the Cantú Queer
Center, there are two queer spaces on campus tucked within McHenry Library: the GLBTI
Reading Room on the 4th Floor, and the Gloria Anzaldua Reading Room on the 3rd Floor. Both
spaces have beautiful displays that will make you feel at home. You may always drop by and use
these rooms if they are available. It's also possible to reserve the rooms for individual or group
use. http://queer.ucsc.edu/
CEMELA (Center for Mathematics Education of Latinos/as )
The Center for the Mathematics Education of Latinos/as (CEMELA) is an interdisciplinary,
multi-university consortium focused on research and practice that addresses mathematics
learning and teaching with Latino/a students in the United States. Consortium members are The
University of Arizona, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Illinois at Chicago,
and The University of New Mexico. At UCSC, CEMELA offers Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral
fellowships through the Education Department for students and researchers in mathematics
education. http://math.arizona.edu/~cemela/english/
Center for Cultural Studies
The Center for Cultural Studies at UC Santa Cruz was founded in the Spring of 1988 as a part of
the University of California's President's Humanities Initiative. It is now in its twentieth year.
Through an ensemble of research clusters, conferences, workshops, visiting scholars,
publications, film series, and a Resident Scholars Program, the Center has encouraged a broad
range of research in the rapidly evolving field of cultural studies. http://ccs.ihr.ucsc.edu/
Center for Jewish Studies
Jewish Studies at Santa Cruz is an interdisciplinary program that offers students a broad
knowledge of Jewish culture, especially its literature, art, and history, as well as its perspectives
on community, ethics, identity, and philosophy. Our program focuses on the modern era, and
analyzes the impact of the changes brought by modernization to Jewish life, and by the Jews to
modern culture. This emphasis on and interrogation of the promise and peril of Jewish
participation in modern culture differentiates our program from most other Jewish Studies
programs. http://cjs.ucsc.edu/
Center for Justice, Tolerance and Community
The Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community - (CJTC) at UC Santa Cruz is a progressive,
applied research institute that focuses on issues of social and economic justice, dialogues across
diversity, and the building of collaborative communities. Our faculty affiliates tackle a broad
range of issues including the roots of prejudice, the sources of economic inequality, and the
obstacles to the building of community. Combining cutting-edge research with an emphasis on
public dissemination of findings and collaborative partnerships with community-based
organizations, the Center aims to make a difference in people's lives by providing information
and analysis for action. http://cjtc.ucsc.edu/
Center for Labor Studies
The UCSC Center for Labor Studies, founded in 2007, is dedicated to the study of working
people, the labor movement, and the challenge of the broader global economy as it impacts the
working people of California and beyond. Through conferences, workshops, public lectures, and
a range of guest speakers – the focus, in particular, is on the relationship between the labor
movement (broadly defined), social movements, and democratic practices; on gender, race, and
ethnic dynamics; and on labor activism in international context. The goal is to serve UCSC
students, staff, and faculty while reaching out to the broader community of the Central Coast of
California and beyond. https://labor.ucsc.edu/
Center for the Studies of Pacific War Memories
The Center for the Study of Pacific War Memories was established in the fall of 2006 to
facilitate curricular and research projects across the Asia-Pacific region related to memories of
the Pacific War (1937-1945). The Center seeks especially to promote transnational, collaborative
teaching and research. http://cspwm.ucsc.edu/Site/About.html
Chicano/Latino Research Center
The Chicano/Latino Research Center (CLRC) is an internationally recognized site for the support
of scholarship on Chicano and Latino issues. Promoting cross-border perspectives linking the
Americas and the study of U.S. changing demographic and cultural panorama, the Center focuses
on globalization and transculturation, processes that are redefining cultural, social, and political
identities in the Americas. http://clrc.ucsc.edu/
Disability Resource Center
The Disability Resource Center at UC Santa Cruz has been part of this historic movement toward
equal educational access since 1977. The goal is to support retention and graduation of students
with disabilities; collaborate with students, faculty, staff and community resources to provide
effective academic services; promote a non-discriminatory campus environment and encourage
student development and independence. http://drc.ucsc.edu/
ElCentro Chicanx Latinx Resource Center
The Chicano Latino Resource Center was established in 1995 as a response to the educational needs of Chicanx Latinx students at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Better known as "EL CENTRO" by students and staff, the Center serves as a hub of organized activity and resources that support student transition, retention, graduation and academic advancement.
Through campus and community partnerships the mission of EL CENTRO is to promote a critical understanding of Chicanx and Latinx within the United States and internationally. We accomplish this mission by offering workshops as well as an extensive programming calendar. Our efforts promote cultural affirmation, social justice values and community service. Students attending our activities gain insight into cultural dynamics, social and political processes and the historical significance of the contributions that Chicana/os and Latina/os have made to the U.S and to the broader world community.
EL CENTRO offers a comfortable space for students who are eager to learn more about campus resources, Chicanx Latinx student organizations, faculty and staff connections, and about opportunities for campus involvement. Additionally, integrated into all programming are efforts that raise awareness of the social, political, economic, historical, and cultural realities of Chicano and Latino populations.
RayFASC
The Satyajit Ray Film and Study Collection (Ray FASC) is a non-profit educational organization
dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Satyajit Ray's cinematic, literary and artistic
oeuvre. It is organized as a Focused Research Activity in the Humanities Division of the
University of California, Santa Cruz. http://satyajitray.ucsc.edu/
Women’s Center
The UCSC Women's Center affirms the dignity and diversity of all women. The Center
continues and challenges feminist traditions by creating community space for all women and
allies to achieve individual and social change. The Women's Center's work focuses on retaining
students, staff and faculty while promoting their successes within the academy and beyond. We
strive for an inclusive and equitable campus community through advocacy, education and
support services. The Center promotes an understanding of the role and impact of gender in our
lives and society. The Center challenges sexism, racism, heterosexism, ageism, able-ism, classism
and other barriers that inhibit full inclusion and equal power in society. We acknowledge and
celebrate the diversity and commonalities reflected in our communities. http://womenscenter.ucsc.edu/
Societies and groups
SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers)
SHPE-UCSC is a student organization founded in 2000. The origin of the student chapter began
when a group of Latino engineering students decided to form a support group to share common
goals and aid each other in developing the skills needed in the professional workplace. SHPEUCSC
has grown to be an organization to have recruited different types of members of all
science and mathematics majors, as well as non-Latino students. The goal is to serve members in
the advancement of their math, science, and engineering education. https://shpe.soe.ucsc.edu/
SWE (Society of Women Engineers) SLUGS
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is a not-for-profit educational and service organization
that empowers women to succeed and advance in the field of engineering. Founded in 1950,
SWE establishes engineering as a desirable career for women through an array of training and
development programs, networking opportunities, scholarships, etc. https://sweslugs.soe.ucsc.edu/
Rainbow Theater
Rainbow Theater was established in 1994 with a mission to create unity, higher visibility and
understanding of various cultures within our communities. The goal is to foster the spirit of unity
by breaking down cultural walls, providing an outlet for creative talents of various ethnic
communities by giving voice, promoting dialogue as well as celebrating diversity and fostering
communities. http://www.cadrc.org/rainbow-theater.html
Other programming
Chancellor’s Achievement Awards for Diversity
These awards honor and showcase academic and staff employees and programs that have made
outstanding contributions in furthering diversity at UCSC. UCSC has many academic and staff
employees and programs that contribute significantly to our diversity efforts. Some examples of
achievements include: developing cutting-edge recruitment programs; developing successful
mentoring and retention programs; providing opportunities for faculty and staff to advance in
their careers; influencing peers on decisions that affect equal employment opportunity,
affirmative action, inclusion and diversity at UC Santa Cruz; and advancing the understanding
and field of diversity through research, publications and other media. The Chancellor’s
Achievement Awards for Diversity reinforces diversity as a priority and the necessity of
diversity in maintaining institutional excellence. http://diversity.ucsc.edu/diversity/caafd/index.html
CfAO PDP (Center for Adaptive Optics Professional Development Program)
The CfAO Professional Development Program (PDP) is a multi-year program for scientists and
engineers at the early stages of their careers, with a primary focus on graduate students.
Participants attend workshops and have a practical teaching experience, usually at the
college/undergraduate level. PDP participants leave the program as highly trained, innovative,
and reflective scientist/engineer educators. http://isee.ucsc.edu/programs/pdp/description.html
Latino Literacy Cultures Project/Proyecto culturas literarias Latinas
The Latino Literary Cultures Project/ Proyecto culturas literarias latinas is an interdisciplinary
initiative of the Chicano/Latino Research Center dedicated to studying and promoting creative
writing by and about U.S. Latinas and Latinos, past and present. It stages a biennial conference
that is innovatively structured to bring together writers with scholars and students, translators and
reviewers, librarians and archivists, booksellers and publishers, along with a wide range of
readerships. http://culturas.ucsc.edu/
Campus Diversity Officers Herbie Lee and Ashish Sahni – Office for Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion
Faculty are encouraged to contact Herbie Lee (Campus Diversity Officer – Faculty) and Ashish
Sahni (Campus Diversity Officer – Staff and Students) to collaborate on new programming
aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion on campus. The Office for Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion advances the University’s teaching, research and service mission and commitment to
excellence by working collaboratively with others throughout the institution to promote a
campus climate that values diversity, equity and inclusion, and is free of bias and harassment.
Office initiatives and activities are designed to cultivate a climate in which all students, staff and
faculty are treated fairly and able to thrive and succeed; and everyone including current affiliates,
alumni, supporters and community members is welcomed. Office staff members work to ensure
that UC Santa Cruz is compliant with nondiscrimination and affirmative action policies and laws
for staff and faculty, and all applicants and employees are afforded equal opportunity in
employment. https://diversity.ucsc.edu