Program Overview

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UC LEADS Funding

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.

The UC LEADS program thanks the Koret Foundation for its funding of the UC LEADS Symposium and student scholarships through a generous endowment to the UC Office of the President. Learn more about the Koret Foundation's support of UC LEADS and other UC programs in the publication the Koret Foundation Catalyst.

 

UC LEADS Program Guidelines

Introduction

The University of California makes a unique contribution to the State of California by preparing future generations of leaders in industry, government, and academia. California’s many economic challenges include the imperative to develop leaders with multicultural competence who can guide the State and nation in a global economy. The University of California seeks to educate dynamic leaders who can keep pace with the world's science and technological innovations and also work effectively in the cultural diversity of the global economy.

Objectives

The UC LEADS (University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced DegreeS) program identifies, encourages, and trains undergraduates who have potential for leadership as graduate students and also as future leaders committed to address the educational and economic factors leading to underrepresentation of domestic minorities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The UC LEADS program provides students with the tools that prepare them to meet California’s continuing scientific, economic, and social challenges. UC LEADS scholars are empowered with research experience, advanced educational credentials and leadership skills. UC LEADS undergraduates prepare themselves to earn Ph.D.s in STEM fields offered by the University of California. UC LEADS scholars, as future leaders, will be:

  1. Able to function with vision and sensitivity in a diverse society to lead others in creating an environment that meets the needs of a diverse workforce;
  2. Able to assist the State through the creation of new knowledge, industries, and the development of a technically competent workforce;
  3. Ready to assist in preparing future generations of students in the STEM fields at the University of California and reach out to the diverse talent pool that is available within the State of California;
  4. Able to provide leadership in addressing the underrepresentation of domestic minorities in STEM fields; and
  5. Able to assume future leadership roles in industrial, governmental, and academic positions.

Selection

The UC LEADS program identifies students who have:

  1. Experienced educational barriers to their academic progress, or who express a commitment to address the barriers that prevent participation of students from underrepresented groups in graduate academic programs.
  2. Experienced situations or conditions that impacted their advancement or ability to advance in a STEM field (e.g. the absence of a role model in the STEM field, absence of a family member who received a four-year college degree, or graduation from a high school with poor financial or curricular support).
  3. Leadership potential to address the issues of underrepresentation of domestic minorities in the STEM fields.
  4. The potential to gain the personal and multicultural competency skills necessary to address the needs of a diverse State and global community through science and technology.

Eligibility

To be eligible for selection, applicants must be

  1. Enrolled in, or about to be enrolled in, a UC undergraduate degree program in the sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics;
  2. On track to receive a bachelor’s degree at the conclusion of the second year of the UC LEADS program (i.e. should apply prior to junior year or prior to the fourth year if on a five-year plan);
  3. In good academic standing in undergraduate degree program;
  4. Able to demonstrate potential for success in a graduate program; and,
  5. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Program Components

UC LEADS will achieve these important aims by providing faculty mentoring, experiential learning in summer and academic-year research programs, involvement in professional and scientific societies, exposure to the UC graduate environment, and participation in key academic enrichment programs, including leadership development activities.

  1. Undergraduate Mentorship Experience

    Scholars are matched with UC faculty members who serve as advisors and mentors. Mentors assist the scholars in developing and completing an educational action plan that includes structured research, graduate school preparation and exploration, and participation in professional and/or scientific society meetings. This action plan should a) clearly describe the expenses required to support the scholar’s research activities that will be supported by the UC LEADS program, and b) be approved by the scholar, mentor, and campus coordinator. Mentors also provide academic counseling related to challenges encountered in implementation of the educational plan.


  2. Academic Year Research

    The scholars will participate in an organized research program during each academic year, under the direction of the faculty mentor.


  3. Campus Academic Enrichment and Leadership Development Opportunities

    Scholars will participate in academic enrichment programs providing special training in areas critical to academic and professional success, such as scientific writing, preparing and making academic presentations, and development of specific research or research-related skills. By the end of the second summer, scholars will have participated in Graduate Record Exam (GRE) preparation training activities.

    During the second academic year of the program, scholars will prepare a graduate academic admission application and an appropriate fellowship application.

    Campus coordinators will assist scholars in developing leadership skills through participation in supervised experiential learning opportunities (e.g. occasions to lead or mentor scholars within or outside the program) or workshops (e.g. time management, communication, modes of working with and promoting diversity, course-work success).


  4. Annual University-Wide Symposium

    All UC LEADS Scholars will participate in the annual Koret UC LEADS Research and Leadership Symposium. The event features:
    • All scholars presenting their research results and methodologies with feedback from their colleagues, graduate students, and faculty members;
    • Opportunities to network with fellow Scholars, graduate students, graduate program administrators, and faculty members;
    • Scientific and academic presentations by leaders in the STEM fields of study, covering such topics as diversity in science, leadership in academia and industry, laboratory ethics, financing graduate education, and balancing family and graduate school;
    • Presentations by national leaders in government, business, or industry addressing issues of leadership in an increasingly diverse STEM environment; and,
    • Opportunities to learn about mentoring future generations of students who may face obstacles to participation in higher education similar to those that they may have experienced in their own life.

  5. Summer Research Program Experience

    UC LEADS Scholars participate in two summer research experiences. The first takes place on the Scholar’s home campus. Scholars must commit to working full time on a research project during the summer (40 hours/week). They receive a minimum summer stipend of $3,000 and housing or housing compensation.

    The second summer research experience occurs at another UC campus. Scholars must commit to working full time on a research project during the summer (40 hours/week). They receive a minimum summer stipend of $3,000 and housing or housing compensation.


  6. Involvement in Professional and Scientific Societies

    Scholars are encouraged to participate in national or regional professional or scientific society meetings. UC LEADS provides support for registration, travel, and accommodation costs of attending these meetings.


  7. Scientific Research and Presentations

    In addition to the Koret UC LEADS Research and Leadership Symposium and their summer presentation, Scholars will present their research at least one time per year. UC LEADS encourages Scholars to present their work at national or regional scientific meetings.


  8. Travel to Other UC Campuses for Training and Exposure to Campus Graduate Study Opportunites

    Scholars are expected to travel to at least one UC campus each year (in addition to second summer research travel). Scholars have the opportunity to meet with graduate students and faculty, and participate in campus tours designed to acquaint scholars with various aspects of campus life and graduate programs. These visits provide the Scholars with the opportunity to make informed decisions about their second summer placement as well as learn about graduate programs of study within the University of California. UC LEADS provides travel support for these campus visits.

Further Information

For further information and an application, contact the campus UC LEADS Coordinator.

Koret Foundation

An entrepreneurial spirit guides the Koret Foundation and its sister philanthropy, the Koret Fund, in addressing societal challenges and strengthening Bay Area cultural and community life. By investing in pioneering, strategic solutions, Koret helps develop models that inspire replication in communities across the nation and around the world.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Koret focuses its support on strengthening organizations that improve the quality of life in our region. By promoting educational excellence and opportunity, shaping a diverse cultural landscape, and bolstering agencies that are innovative in their approach to meeting community needs, Koret adds to the region's vitality and opportunity. Internationally, Koret Israel Economic Development Funds (KIEDF) provide loan guarantees to small businesses, and Koret Fellows pursue policy reform to help move Israel toward a free-market economy.

The Koret Foundation and the Koret Fund are private philanthropic organizations run by independent boards of directors. Since 1979, these boards have directed more than $315 million toward projects that reflect a new philanthropic vision for our region.

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