UCI: AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE INSTITUTION

The University of California, Irvine has become a premier research institution and a leader in attracting a diverse student population: 60% are first generation college students, 47% are from low-income families and 25% are Latinx, making UCI a Hispanic serving institution. Math CEO leverages UCI’s unique social and cultural capital to inspire underserved Latinx youth to pursue a college education and a career in STEM. Almost all of the participating middle school students in Math CEO are Latinx and come from families with low socioeconomic status who lack familiarity with college.

EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT: SHARING COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE

Math CEO offers a free afterschool program, where middle school kids work with UCI students in small groups on fun and challenging mathematics. Through these weekly sessions, school kids not only gain confidence in tackling math problems but also develop close bonds with UCI students and learn about their experiences in college. Importantly, most of the Math CEO sessions take place on the UC Irvine campus; hence, the school kids gain an invaluable sense of belonging within the college environment. To make sure that the children’s growing interest in a college education is supported by their families, Math CEO also offers bilingual evening college-orientation workshops at local schools, in cooperation with the UCI Office of Admission and Financial Aid.

FINANCIAL AID

Since only 12.4% of Santa Ana residents have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher, the workshops aim to inform parents about different types of college education, admission requirements, and financial aid opportunities. The Math CEO college-orientation workshops have received very positive feedback from parents and school administrators.

“Me impresionó que sus padres son de Mexico pero siguieron sus estudios.” (“I was impressed by the fact that their parents came from Mexico, and yet, they continued their education.”) – Parent of a Math CEO middle school participant

While the information about college preparation and financial aid is well-received by the parents, the most impactful and empowering part are the stories shared by the Latinx first-generation college students about their journeys to college.