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ADVISING AND ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE

Academic assistance is available in the form of staff and student counselors, faculty advisers, student services, tutorials, and special programs.

New Student and Transition Programs

UCLA’s New Student and Transition Programs welcome new undergraduate students to UCLA and ease their transition into and throughout the first year. New Student Orientation introduces students to UCLA through academic counseling and educational planning and orients students to all the special programs available to them. During Orientation, students work in small groups with peer counselors and gain insight into necessary academic skills. They learn how to plan their academic program and become familiar with educational opportunities, student services, and facilities available at UCLA. Individual counseling sessions help students adjust to University life and fulfill the advising requirements of the College or school. Sessions for family members are also offered.

New Student Orientation sessions are three-day, two-night residence hall live-in programs for first-year students and one-day programs for transfer students. There is a fee for participation.

During the academic year, additional programs are offered to provide academic advising and successful transition to the second year. For more information, contact the New Student and Transition Programs office in 201 Covel Commons, (310) 206-6685. See http://www.newstudents.ucla.edu.

College and School Advisers

The College and each school and academic department at UCLA have a staff of academic counselors and advisers to help students plan their academic program, monitor their progress toward the bachelor’s degree, provide information about degree requirements, and assist with academic problems. See the Schedule of Classes for a listing of counselors and advisers.

ASK Peer Counselors

The ASK Peer Counseling Program is an extension of College Academic Counseling. ASK peer counselors are undergraduate students from the College of Letters and Science trained to respond to student questions and concerns in several convenient settings. No appointments are required, just walk up and ASK. Peer counselors make referrals and provide information about academic rules and regulations, deadlines, and petitions and, as peers, can provide valuable personal experience.

Students can find ASK peer counselors weekdays when school is in session at various locations across campus. For details about locations and operating hours, see http://www.ugeducation.ucla.edu/counseling/ask/. Students may also e-mail questions to ask@college.ucla.edu.

College Academic Mentors

Letters and Science college academic mentors (CAMs) are graduate students who mentor primarily undergraduate lower division students to successfully navigate a large research university. In addition to addressing issues related to academic success, CAMs provide information and referrals to campus resources that focus on undergraduate achievement. Many CAMs have served as teaching assistants and can give unique perspectives on faculty members, course selection, major requirements, and preparation for and application to graduate school. See http://www.ugeducation.ucla.edu/counseling/cam.html.

For appointments, go to Window 1, A316 Murphy Hall. CAMs are also available in selected departments and through http://my.ucla.edu via the Virtual Counseling link.

Academic Advancement Program

The Academic Advancement Program (AAP), built on principles of social justice, has a threefold mission: (1) to ensure the academic success, retention, and graduation of students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, (2) to increase the numbers of AAP students entering graduate and professional schools, and (3) to develop the academic, political, scientific, economic, and community leadership necessary to transform society. AAP promotes academic achievement and excellence by providing students with an array of academic services.

Students are eligible for AAP if their academic profiles and personal backgrounds may impact their University experience and their retention and graduation from UCLA. Students are also eligible if they are part of any federally funded program that requires counseling, tutoring, or mentoring. For more information, contact AAP New Student Programs in 1230 Campbell Hall. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu or call (310) 206-1571.

Academic Counseling

College counselors at AAP holistically counsel students to facilitate their academic and personal success by empowering them with the knowledge and guidance to thrive in their undergraduate careers and beyond. Counselors work with students to plan their academic programs, monitor progress toward the degree, provide information about degree requirements, and discuss graduate school and career options. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/counseling/overview.html or call (310) 825-1481.

Center for Community College Partnerships

The Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) develops academic partnerships between California community colleges, particularly those with large underrepresented populations, and the University to improve student competitiveness for UC admissions and increase the diversity of the UCLA transfer admit pool. The CCCP Scholars Program offers peer mentoring and several academic residential summer programs to help prepare students for transfer to a four-year university and to help institutions develop a transfer culture through a critical race theory framework. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/cccp/overview.html or call (310) 267-4441.

Mentoring and Research Programs

AAP offers several programs aimed at helping students achieve academic and professional goals beyond the bachelor’s degree.

Community Development and Social Justice Program

The Community Development and Social Justice (CDSJ) Program assists undergraduate students interested in graduate and professional schools. The program works in the fields of public health, public policy, social welfare, and urban planning to increase enrollment of AAP students committed to working toward social equity. Students work as interns, under the supervision of a professional staff member, at a community-based organization. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/mentoring/cdsj.html or call (310) 794-4186.

Educators for Tomorrow Scholars Program

The Educators for Tomorrow (EFT) Scholars Program aims to advance a new generation of socially conscious leaders interested in careers in education. It provides AAP students with opportunities to meet faculty members and students in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies to get involved in community service programs, internships, and service learning courses. Students in the program work with teachers at local public schools as volunteers and participate in educational roundtables. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/mentoring/eft.html or call (310) 794-4186.

Graduate Mentoring and Research Programs

The Graduate Mentoring and Research Programs offer all AAP students one-on-one mentoring in preparation for graduate studies and professional school admission. The office also offers a variety of workshops on graduate school topics. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/mentoring/grad_prep.html or call (310) 794-4186.

Junior Scholars Program

The Junior Scholars Program gives second-year AAP undergraduate students the opportunity to develop entry-level research projects in the humanities and social sciences. Over two academic terms, students meet regularly with graduate mentors and a faculty member. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/mentoring/junior_scholars.html or call (310) 794-4186.

McNair Research Scholars Program

The McNair Research Scholars Program prepares low-income, first-generation, and historically underrepresented undergraduate students for the best graduate programs in the country. The program works with 26 students annually to prepare them for Ph.D. programs in the humanities or social sciences. Students conduct an independent research project and participate in an intensive summer program. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/mentoring/mcnair.html or call (310) 794-4186.

Peer Counseling

Peer counselors are upper division AAP students who assist entering students with the transition to the University and provide them with a perspective on life at UCLA. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/counseling/peer_counselors.html or call (310) 825-1481.

Peer Learning

AAP Peer Learning services promote academic excellence. Most peer learning facilitators are upper division AAP students who provide the intellectual challenge, encouragement, and personal support that students need to recognize their own authority as thinkers and learners. Most sessions are held in small groups that foster discussion and allow students to listen to and articulate new and different perspectives. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/tutoring/peer_learning.html or call (310) 206-7771.

Scholarships

There are many opportunities for eligible students in AAP to receive need-based scholarship funds. Some awards require application; others are available through nomination. Call (310) 206-1805 for further information.

Summer Programs

AAP’s six-week intensive academic residential summer program for incoming freshman and transfer students prepares historically underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation college-going students with the academic rigors and demands of a research university. Students are able to build a network of academic resources and friends prior to the regular school year that provides interaction with students from diverse backgrounds and broadens life experiences.

Students enroll in two or three University courses that meet UCLA requirements for graduation and receive support in small groups or individual sessions from teaching assistants and peer learning facilitators. Freshmen have the option of taking classes offered in the writing or mathematics/science intensive programs. Transfer student preparation involves the social and life sciences. Academic counselors are available to assist students in shaping their educational plan toward graduation. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/new_students/ftsp.html or call (310) 206-1571.

Vice Provost Initiative for Precollege Scholars

The Vice Provost Initiative for Precollege Scholars (VIPS) program is a partnership between UCLA and the Los Angeles and Pasadena school districts that prepares historically underrepresented students in 10 high schools to become competitively eligible for admission to UCLA and other flagship universities and to encourage pursuit of graduate and professional education using a social justice framework and holistic approach. VIPS offers peer mentoring, summer programs, Saturday Academies, and research opportunities to scholars and their families. See http://www.aap.ucla.edu/vips/overview.html or call (310) 825-2366.