The Academic Excellence (ACE) Program reduces the achievement gap for minoritized students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). ACE increases educational equity through community building, peer mentorship, and supplemental active learning experiences aligned with academic coursework.
ACE has a 38-year proven track record of enabling student success. Our newest endeavor is to continue this legacy during the summer months, when we aim to provide STEM Jumpstart workshops to frosh and transfer students. Our summer workshops will give students the opportunity to:
- Get familiar with the university environment, including social and academic resources
- Practice critical, content-specific STEM skills in a supportive, collaborative environment, such as forming hypotheses, turning jargon into plain language, interpreting results, and more
- Network with peers and UCSC faculty
- Present about an area of STEM research they find fascinating, helping them build presentation skills
- Allow students to get familiar with the process of getting involved in research at UCSC
- Get a head start on upcoming course content and build confidence prior to taking the course
In the words of Dr. David Belanger, Professor Emeritus of Physics and previous Acting Dean of Physical & Biological Sciences:
“ACE is a living laboratory for student learning, uniquely situated to provide mentorship, skill-building, and a sense of belonging. Year after year it has been a powerful experience to observe ACE students learning to think like scientists and engineers while forming a strong STEM community. ACE's legacy of rigorous and welcoming teaching during the academic year is a perfect model to expand the program to serve incoming frosh and transfer students wishing to jumpstart their UCSC experience prior to fall quarter. Your support during Spring Give will allow the ACE team to extend their impact into the summer months by supporting these students with a summer bridge program, in which they will build relationships with other STEM students, engage with faculty and mentors, and practice the critical-thinking skills that are paramount to their success at UC Santa Cruz and beyond.”
We are excited to announce that for this Spring Give, ACE has $1,000 in matching funds, generously gifted to us by David and Melca Belanger. For each gift you give, it will be matched up to this amount!
Thank you for your continued dedication and support. Your gift to the ACE Program will bring more diversity to the future of STEM. Each donation makes a difference!
