• AAP consist of a collection of innovative programs serving approximately 5,600 student members from multi-ethnic, low-income, first generation, and multiracial backgrounds.
  • AAP was created in 1971 out of the consolidation of UCLA’s Educational Opportunity (EOP) Program and High Potential Program (HPP), two early efforts to widen access for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
  • Approximately 69% of AAP students are from historically underrepresented backgrounds (Hispanic/Latino, African American, and Native American).
  • Approximately 80% of AAP students are the first in their family to attend college.
  • Approximately 27% of the undergraduate student population are AAP members.
  • AAP graduates the highest percentage of historically underrepresented students in the UC system, the California State University system, and among major public research universities in the country.
  • Approximately 91% of AAP students said that participation in AAP increased their sense of belonging to the larger UCLA academic community. AAP helps students understand the challenges and opportunities of becoming competitive for graduate and professional opportunities through mentoring programs provided by student leaders and peer counselors.
  • AAP has been recognized as one of the “most creative, successful, and innovative” student retention program in the country.

New Student Programs

  • AAP hosts annual welcome days, known as “Bruin Day” that invite over 3500 high school admits and “AAP Transfer Scholars Day” for over 1600 community college admits.
  • Over 80% of admitted students who attend AAP welcome day events matriculate to UCLA in the
    Fall.
  • AAP welcome day events have been extremely successful in recruiting underrepresented admits.
  • AAP hosts summer transition programs for up to 500 entering Freshmen and Transfer students – mostly from underrepresented, low-income, immigrant and/or first generation populations.
  • Approximately 90% of Freshmen Summer Program (FSP) and Transfer Summer Program (TSP) students become eligible to join the College Honors Program after completing the program.

Counseling

  • AAP’s academic counseling team, comprised of College counselors and peer counselors, assist students in navigating the university.
  • The counseling team fosters student empowerment through a developmental approach and philosophy, facilitating transitions to the university and towards degree completion.
  • The AAP Counseling team promotes community building by participating in cross-campus collaborations with partners such as the Career Center, Community Programs Office (CPO), Bruin Resource Center (BRC), and Transfer Center.

Peer Learning

  • AAP offers peer learning in over 100+ courses each quarter across the mathematics, sciences, humanities and social sciences disciplines.
  • More than 1700 AAP members take advantage of peer learning services each quarter.
  • Peer learning helps students build critical thinking and intellectual independence through questioning and dialogue.
  • Conducted in individual and small group sessions, peer learning fosters an environment that encourages discussion and allows students to articulate new and different perspectives.
  • Approximately 91% of AAP members said peer learning had an important and very positive impact on their academic confidence and effectiveness.
  • Peer Learning Facilitators (PLFs) are current UCLA students who have been trained to effectively lead peer learning sessions. Many PLFs are AAP members who were once students in peer learning session themselves!
  • AAP employs over 130+ PLFs each year; many have received academic recognition and have gone on to attend some of the top graduate and professional schools in the nation.
  • PLFs have reported that their service in this role has had a positive effect on their academic confidence and competence, their knowledge of the subject(s) for which they facilitated sessions, and their post baccalaureate trajectories.

Graduate Mentoring and Research Programs and McNair Research Scholars Program

  • AAP’s Graduate Mentoring and Research Programs (GMRP) unit offers AAP undergraduate students and alumni access to Graduate Student Mentors from a variety of UCLA graduate and professional programs. AAP students and alumni meet with Graduate Mentors about research and how to apply to graduate or professional schools.
  • There are also specific Graduate Mentors for Pre-Law and Pre-Med/Health undergraduates.
  • Graduate Mentors provide one-on-one mentoring; workshops; lead graduate school application preparation courses over the summer; and coordinate multiple cohort programs designed to prepare AAP undergraduate members and alumni for graduate and professional school.
  • In addition, GMRP offers unique cohort programs that prepare AAP members for graduate and professional school. Those programs include Research Rookies, Educators for Tomorrow (EFT), Arts Initiative (ARTS IN), Community Development and Social Justice (CDSJ), High Achievement in Math and Science (High AIMS), UndocuBruins Research Program (UBRP), and the McNair Research Scholars Program.
  • The UCLA McNair Research Scholars Program is a federally-funded TRIO program designed to prepare AAP members for doctoral study.
  • Each year, 14 AAP members with junior standing are selected as McNair Research Scholars. As part of the rigorous two-year McNair program, students conduct an original research project under the guidance of McNair graduate student and faculty mentors and present at national research conferences.
  • McNair scholars have successfully attained their PhDs from some of the country’s top graduate schools including Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Harvard, UT Austin, and USC.
  • Students in GMRP cohort programs present their research during the annual UCLA Undergraduate Research Week and many have been awarded Dean’s Prizes in recognition of their work.

Center for Community College Partnerships

  • The Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) develops and strengthens academic partnerships between UCLA and California community college to increase the diversity of the transfer applicant pool.
  • CCCP works closely with other UC campuses and UCLA offices focused on assisting and supporting transfer students through all stages of University life.
  • CCCP serves more than 3,900 students annually who are from ethnically/racially diverse backgrounds.
  • CCCP is responsible for a series of summer programs which seek to inspire and motivate first generation, low income, and underrepresented community college students to transfer to UCLA. Summer program students are introduced to the rigors of university life and provided with information that will assist them with successfully transferring to the university.
    Summer program participants are assigned a Peer Mentor during the academic year to assist them with the transfer process.
  • CCCP currently works with 21 community colleges in Los Angeles County.
  • CCCP also works closely with community college TRIO, PUENTE, UMOJA, MESA and other similar programs to increase opportunities and transfer for students from these programs.

Vice Provost’s Initiative for Pre-College Scholars

  • The Vice Provost’s Initiative for Pre-College Scholars (VIP Scholars or VIPS) program is a partnership between UCLA and the Los Angeles and Pasadena Unified School Districts.
  • VIPS prepares historically underrepresented students in ten high schools to become competitively eligible for admission to UCLA and other flagship universities, and encourages pursuit of graduate and professional education.
  • VIPS prepares students to become critically conscious through holistic year-round programming and a cohort model that promotes community and accountability.
  • Since its inception in 2005, VIPS has served over 400 underrepresented students in 13 cohorts as well as informally served many other students in these schools.
  • Approximately 97% of all VIPS cohort students have matriculated into a four-year private or public university.
  • Approximately 63% of all VIPS cohort students have matriculated into a UC.
  • Approximately 51% of all VIPS cohort students have been accepted for admission to UCLA with 76% at UCLA.
  • VIPS cohort students who complete two residential summer programs receive a $20,000 Wasserman scholarship upon enrollment at UCLA.
  • The matriculation rate for all VIPS cohort students enrolled at UCLA is 84%.
  • VIPS employs and trains 13 UCLA undergraduate mentors each academic year to provide weekly one-on-one academic and college prep advising at one of ten partner high schools VIPS mentors and staff begin advising students as early as 9th grade and recruit cohort participants in 10th grade.