A student and his professor casually chat about the day’s events over a cup of coffee before they begin to engage in a serious conversation surrounding the student’s research findings.
Guardian
Another student, thinking about attending medical school, interacts with a physician in San Diego to gain insight about the profession while experiencing the working environment of a health care clinic.
A group of student scholars take a tour of a local high-tech company to better understand the working conditions of a site at which they might consider working in the near future. These students attend UCSD, and such occasions are all part of the Academic Enrichment Program experience that more than 1,200 students take advantage of yearly.
The AEP, which was established in 1989 by Joseph Watson, vice chancellor of student affairs, now consists of seven programs that are closely connected with each other, but differ in size, objective and students served. Each of the programs in the AEP serve undergraduate students who are thinking about attending graduate or professional school by providing them with research opportunities and other academic enrichment experiences beyond the classroom.
“”I think the idea of AEP has been consistent over the years,”” said David Artis, director of AEP. “”The AEP staff and our supporters among the faculty, administration and community believe that students considering graduate or professional school will benefit greatly from the experience of mentored research in all fields, or exposure to working conditions in the sciences or medicine.””
Students who participate in one of four individual research-oriented programs within the AEP have the opportunity to perform research under the supervision of a faculty member in a structured program where they attend seminars on how to write and present a research paper, receive graduate school and fellowship information, witness the routine of scholarly life and participate in many more enriching activities.
Research programs are designed in conjunction with the students’ research interests. Students have the opportunity to work closely with a UCSD faculty member who serves both as a role model and a mentor.
“”All who complete these programs should be in a position to receive enthusiastic and thorough letters of recommendation from their mentors,”” Artis said.
Through the Faculty Mentorship Program, students have the opportunity to present their findings at the annual FMP Research Symposium that takes place at the end of the academic year. Students work as research assistants to UCSD faculty members for at least ten hours per week for two quarters and receive four units of independent study credit for each of the quarters.
“”This program gave me the opportunity to learn more about research with legitimate training instead of just looking at books,”” said Stella Chern, a FMP alumnus and Eleanor Roosevelt College senior.
The UC Leadership and Excellence through Advanced Degrees in Science program, with the goal to develop future leaders of California in government, industry and academia, gives students the opportunity to partake in two years (including two summers) of mentored research and scholarly activities. One summer of research experience is conducted at UCSD while the other is completed at another UC campus. UC L.E.A.D.S. students have a strong interest in pursuing a doctoral degree in math or science at a UC campus. Also, UC L.E.A.D.S. scholars travel to research conferences at other UC campuses.
Students who hope to spend their summer preparing for graduate school or working closely with a UCSD professor can apply to participate in the Summer Research Program. The SRP is a highly competitive program that provides stipend support and housing, as well as research opportunities and Graduate Record Examination training for all juniors and seniors.
The McNair Program, funded by the U.S Department of Education, serves a mix of low-income and first-generation college students or underrepresented minority juniors and seniors with a 3.0 GPA. These students possess a strong interest in obtaining a doctoral degree in any field.
The program’s main objective is to provide such students with effective preparation for doctoral study. Along with writing and presenting research proposals and papers, students attend a variety of seminars designed to prepare them for graduate school.
“”We’ve had a lot of success with our McNair alumni, who are in PhD programs at MIT, Berkeley, Yale, Cal Tech and many more,”” said Norienne Saign, McNair Program coordinator. “”We also have 24 students who have completed their PhDs and many more who are about to finish.””
Saign meets with McNair students individually and works closely with the students, helping them to fine-tune their graduate school applications.
“”This program was a big impact for me because I gained actual research experience, and now I know that I want to become a research scientist,”” said Eun Hee Han, an Earl Warren College junior. “”Prior to the program, I did not perceive that as a concrete goal.””
Students who enroll in the Health and Medical Professions Preparation Program (HMP3) or the California Alliance for Minority Participation, or who receive the Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship, prepare to become better candidates for admission to highly competitive graduate or professional schools through contact with UCSD faculty and professionals in the San Diego community.
In the HMP3, students have the chance to interact with faculty members of the UCSD School of Medicine, community health care providers and other professionals in the students’ field of interest.
The HMP3 also offers sub-programs that help students prepare for health-related careers. More than 1,000 students are enrolled in HMP3 while more than 200 students participate in the Health Professions Mentor Program. Dozens participate in the Peer Discussion Series and several hundred have attended this year’s “”Inside the Doctors Lounge: Real Life Scrubs”” and standardized exam and application workshops.
C.A.M.P. is federally funded and serves black, Latino and American Indian students who seek bachelor’s degrees in chemistry, physics, engineering and other sciences. It also offers tours of faculty laboratories, visits to conferences, forums, research institutes and various career preparation workshops. Students get in contact with UCSD faculty members as well as professionals in the science field while receiving tutoring and earning book scholarships.
“”C.A.M.P. has helped me to meet professors, find research opportunities and get ready for graduate school,”” said Revelle College senior Larry Hernandez said.
Computer Science, Engineering & Mathematics Scholarship students can gain research experience or take internships related to their majors. They also have regular meetings with faculty advisers, departmental staff and Artis. The CSEMS Program is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation with a focus on increasing the participation of low-income and underrepresented minority groups in computer science, engineering or mathematics.
CSEMS Scholars work on cutting-edge research projects supervised by nationally renowned members of the UCSD faculty. CSEMS scholars can also expect to serve as mentors and tutors to UCSD freshmen and students in San Diego elementary and secondary schools as a way to give back to their community.
The scholars receive annual scholarships of $2,500 for a total of $5,000 over two academic years if they commit themselves to the program, remain enrolled full time at UCSD in a CSEM major and maintain a quarterly GPA of at least 2.8.
Located at University Center Building 411, the inviting AEP office includes a small library with a bountiful collection of graduate school preparation books, a conference and study room, a computer room, information about summer research programs, and, according to Artis, “”a very dedicated, hard-working, permanent staff of six.””
The staff assists students, coordinates the programs, matches students with faculty and professionals and conduct an immense amount of other duties. These devoted staff members along with UCSD faculty members, watch their AEP students go off to pursue PhDs, MSs, MDs and JDs at some of Americas most renowned institutions. They hope to continue to make a contribution to educational advancement, and most of all, help students to gain confidence in their own abilities.
