The UC San Diego Academic Community for Engineering Success (ACES) Program is a two year program that engages and supports highly motivated engineering students from economically and educationally underserved backgrounds. ACES focuses on enhancing student success in their chosen engineering major through faculty mentorship, scholarships, a collaborative peer support community, and additional academic enrichment.
ACES Offers Students
- Participation in a Summer Program - ACES scholars will attend a summer program immediately before their freshman year. As part of this program, ACES Students will:
- Receive support in making the transition from high school to the rigors of a university-level engineering curriculum, such as coaching on study skills and habits necessary to succeed in engineering.
- Be introduced to living on campus and get familiarized with the UC San Diego campus.
- Begin forming a supportive peer network with other engineering students and fellow ACES Scholars.
- Faculty Mentorship - A key component of the ACES program is faculty mentorship. ACES students are partnered with faculty mentors with whom they meet throughout the year in one-on-one and group sessions. Faculty mentors provide guidance as well as an introduction to engineering research.
- Collaborative Peer Support Community - Each year, the ACES cohort is made up of roughly 25 students that act as a peer support community. Younger scholars have the guidance and support from upperclassmen ACES Scholars. In addition, ACES students will attend socials and form study groups with their ACES peers creating a supportive environment where they can develop confidence, strengthen study skills, learn the value of collaborative study, and establish lifelong friendships.
- Academic Enrichment – ACES students have access to additional academic enrichment opportunities and support services such as guaranteed placement in Engineering Learning Communities, access to professional and skill-building workshops, and one-on-one mentoring with ACES staff and Jacobs School students.
- Additional Scholarships - ACES Scholars receive access to National Science Foundation scholarships throughout the two-year program.
The ACES Program is a 4-year NSF Funded program which has ended in 2020. We are no longer taking any more applications for ACES Scholars!
Contact
Jessica Baldis
Academic Success Coordinator
jbaldis@ucsd.edu
858-534-6779