AAP Newsletter

From the Director's Desk:

Dear Staff, Students, Alumni, and Friends:

The staff and student workers of AAP would like to welcome you to a new academic year. We send a special welcome and congratulations to all of the new students. I hope by now that you are adjusting to academic life and enjoying your time at UCLA. I just want to remind you that AAP is your academic home and we are here to support you and help you achieve your career goals.

AAP provides an array of academic support services that encourages and promotes academic achievement and excellence. More specifically, the following services are available to you:

*Peer Learning: small group tutoring; collaborative learning workshops; and one-on-one composition tutoring

*Academic counseling

*Peer counseling

*Opportunity to join a program for first-generation, low-income UCLA freshmen

*Graduate School mentoring

*Research opportunities and stipends
*Opportunities to participate in pre-health professions programs

*An accessible and open Computer Lab

*Scholarships Opportunities

AAP also sponsors a variety of workshops, a speaker series, and film screenings throughout the academic year. There are also employment opportunities available to interested students.

This year we welcome two new staff members. Dr. Alice Ho was hired as the Director of Mentoring and Research Programs. She replaced Dr. Latonya Rease Miles who left the university in April 2010. Dr. Ho is a former AAP student and student employee and we are fortunate to have her on board. Ms. Sandra Arreguin, another former AAP student and student employee, was hired as an AAP Counselor this summer. She filled the position left vacant by Ms. Alejandra Escobar. Ms. Arreguin is also a doctoral student in the School of Education. Again, we are fortunate to have her on our staff. On a sad note, AAP Counselor Ms. Kehaulani Vaughn recently left AAP and she will be truly missed; however we hope to fill her position in the near future.

Like all departments in the University, AAP is feeling the affects of the budget cuts and a slow economy. This has hampered our efforts to raise funds to build the Campbell Hall Peer Learning Center and support student scholarships. However, we were the recipient of a one million dollar gift this past year. This special gift will allow us to maintain the scholarship levels that AAP awards each year to returning students. We are hopeful and optimistic that the economic climate will improve. The staff of AAP will continue to work hard to ensure that student academic services remain strong and available.

We are excited about the opportunity to work with you during your stay at UCLA, and hope you will take full advantage of our services. Visit our website at www.aap.ucla.edu to learn more about AAP's programs, staff, and services. Or come by our offices in Campbell Hall to speak with any member of our staff. Again, welcome and I wish you continued success.

Sincerely,
Charles J. Alexander, PhD.
Director, Academic Advancement Program (AAP) and
Associate Vice Provost for Student Diversity

Unit Highlight: Center for Community College Partnerships -

CCCP is responsible for developing and strengthening academic partnerships between UCLA and California community colleges, particularly those with large underrepresented student populations. The Center works closely with the UCLA Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Community College Transfer Recruitment staff and other campus offices to help coordinate UCLA's overall efforts with community colleges. In addition to its regular session outreach efforts, the Center 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 by introducing them to the rigors of university life and by providing them with the necessary information to transfer:

SITE: Summer Intensive Transfer Experience - SITE is a 5-day residential program that will teach students how to navigate the community college system; complete the appropriate coursework; and maximize their time in order to make a smooth, quick and successful transition to a University of California campus.

STEP: Summer Transfer Enrichment Program - UCLA's Office of Summer Sessions & Special Programs along with the Center for Community College Partnerships invites selected students to take a FREE Course at UCLA through the Summer Transfer Enrichment Program (STEP). The courses are offered through the regular summer sessions course schedule. The program covers the cost of the course, registration fees, books and, if needed, some of the transportation expenses. This is a commuter program, NOT a residential program.

STP: Summer Transfer Program - STP is a 5-day residential program that prepares students who are close to transferring with the skills to complete the appropriate coursework and assists them with the application process. In addition, students receive individual advising and personal assistance to complete the application and personal statement. Students explore their career options, graduate school and financial resources available to them. The program introduces them to research opportunities, the demands of University writing, and the many support programs available. The program focuses on the history of and resources available to African-American students at UCLA.

AAP Staff in the News:

Marquette University will honor AAP Director Dr. Charles Alexander with the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award at their Awards and Conferral event on April 22nd 2010. Marquette University President Robert A. Wild will honor ...alumni with outstanding commitment to the Marquette mission and Jesuit traditions.

Please join me in honoring alumni with outstanding commitment to the Marquette mission and Jesuit traditions. It is difficult to walk away from their stories without feeling an increased sense of pride. All have distinguished themselves in such a way that their peers have suggested them for the honor of an alumni award. Together, as members of the Marquette community, we all take pride in their accomplishments.
President of the Marquette University Alumni Association, Dr. Charles M. Bell

The AAP staff congratulates him on this award and feels fortunate that he is using his energy and skills on behalf of our students.

Contacts

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