UC LEADS

UC LEADS (University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees) program is a top-tier capstone undergraduate research program. The goal of UC LEADS is to educate California's future leaders by preparing promising UC undergraduate students for success in UC graduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs. Over the course of two academic years and two summers, UC LEADS Scholars participate in a series of activities designed to strengthen their academic, research, and leadership skills and to assist them in developing the most competitive graduate application possible.

A long-term goal of this program is to help broaden and expand the pool of academically talented young scholars committed to careers in university teaching and research. Selection of participants is based on academic merit and availability of appropriate faculty mentors. Special consideration is given to applicants whose socioeconomic background, access to educational opportunities, and/or other life experiences suggest that they would especially benefit from this type of program, and who demonstrate potential to contribute to the diversity and excellence of research and teaching in higher education. At UCLA, applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

UC LEADS funding comes in part from the State of California as part of the Student Academic Preparation and Educational Partnerships (SAPEP). The University of California's SAPEP programs seek to raise student achievement levels generally and to close achievement gaps between groups of students throughout the K-20 pipeline so that more educationally disadvantaged students are prepared for postsecondary education, to pursue graduate and professional school opportunities, and to achieve success in the workplace.

Link to UC LEADS webpage:  http://www.ugeducation.ucla.edu/urc-care/scholucleads.htm