Mechanical engineering student Eunbee Park ’19, computer science and engineering student Max Nedorezov ‘19 and civil engineering students Claudia Plascencia ’19 and Tadewos Getachew ’19 are just a few of the students at University of California, Davis, who have the chance to achieve their dreams thanks to the growing .
The program was developed in 2016 by °ϲĻϢ Davis Office of the Provost and founding corporate partner, Chevron, in collaboration with the Koret Foundation, and the Los Rios, Peralta, San Joaquin Delta and Contra Costa Community College districts to provide a smooth transition from community college to °ϲĻϢ Davis for students interested in engineering or .
There are currently 26 students in the AvenueE program, but over the next two years the number of students will increase. There will be four cohorts, each totaling 30 students – 60 students will be enrolled at °ϲĻϢ Davis, while 60 additional students will be in the program in the community college pipeline.
“AԳܱE performs the critically important function of helping talented and motivated transfer students in STEM succeed and complete their undergraduate degree at °ϲĻϢ Davis,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter. “The program enhances the university’s ability to serve students from all backgrounds — and change lives. In addition, AvenueE students enrich our community with new perspectives and priorities.”
AvenueE helps high-potential, low-resource students achieve their dreams in growing, high-demand fields. First-generation college students make up 80 percent of the AvenueE 2017 cohort. Additionally, 50 percent of participants are from historically underrepresented groups, and 30 percent are female, with many students falling into two or more of these groups.
“There’s a very strong need for engineers to solve problems and create innovative solutions to address challenges in our society,” said Cynthia Murphy-Ortega, Chevron University Partnership Program manager. “The AvenueE program is one of the engineering pathways programs that Chevron is developing to support diversity and inclusion as well as inspire future engineers.”
Building a bridge between community colleges and °ϲĻϢ Davis
AvenueE students get a unique opportunity to join an intensive transfer preparatory program prior to entering their final year at community college. The following summer, the students embark on a two-week summer bridge program prior to beginning their first quarter at °ϲĻϢ Davis. During these two weeks, the students are immersed in the Davis area and the °ϲĻϢ Davis community as they learn about all the resources available to them as students of °ϲĻϢ Davis.
“The AvenueE program helps the University of California address some of its highest priorities: supporting California community college transfer students, increasing diversity in STEM fields, and expanding educational and research opportunity for all of our students,” said °ϲĻϢ President Janet Napolitano.
The program is in addition to the resources already available to all transfer students through the campus Transfer and Reentry Center, which helps transfer and reentry students connect with campus resources, develop academic skills, find community and prepare for career or graduate school.
Each AvenueE cohort member receives a scholarly award for the summer program, as well as up to $4,000 for the two subsequent years at °ϲĻϢ Davis. Students also get the chance to attend group outings, social activities, speaker presentations and workshops that provide opportunities to engage in peer-to-peer learning, community building and career exploration.
Meet Four of the Participating Students
We introduce you to four of the students participating in AvenueE. They all transferred to °ϲĻϢ Davis from the Los Rios Community College District.
“We are lucky to have such a great program that helps us connect to all the amazing resources °ϲĻϢ Davis offers for students,” said Park.
The cohort meets weekly to discuss topics or hear a guest speaker, which is coordinated by Nancy Davis, an undergraduate student advisor in the and AvenueE academic advisor.
“My favorite part is seeing how the students grow in confidence,” Davis said. “They begin unsure of how they will succeed at °ϲĻϢ Davis, then they make their way through class, learn how to create a resume that will help them find an internship or undergraduate research and eventually go on to a meaningful career.”
Participating students receive intensive personal and professional development coaching to build strong resumes and cover letters and create connections with the Internship and Career Center, where they can identify available opportunities in their field of choice.
Getachew, for example, hopes to do more research in the area of solar energy and attain a graduate degree.
“I want to create new knowledge and do something no one has ever done before,” he said. “The AvenueE summer bridge program has introduced me to undergraduate research programs that can help me get started in my path towards attaining a Ph.D.”
Media Resources
Laura Pizzo, Development and Alumni Relations, 530-750-3115, lpizzo@ucdavis.edu