UCLA‘s Vice-Provost’s Initiative for Pre-College Scholars
General Info
UCLA’s Vice-Provost’s Initiative for Pre-College Scholars (VIP Scholars or VIPS) Program was established in 2005 in collaboration with key stakeholders at UCLA in response to the declining number of underrepresented students admitted to and enrolled at competitive four-year universities. VIPS is a partnership between UCLA and the Los Angeles and Pasadena school districts that prepares historically underrepresented students in 11 high schools to become competitively eligible for admission to UCLA and other flagship universities, and to encourage pursuit of graduate and professional education using a social justice framework and holistic approach.
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Mission
The Academy
UCLA’s VIP Scholars Program is a partnership between UCLA and the Los Angeles and Pasadena Unified School districts that uses a social justice framework and holistic approach to prepare historically underrepresented students, particularly African American students, to become competitively eligible for admission to flagship universities like UCLA, and encourages their pursuit of graduate and professional education.
Day One
The VIPS Day One program is a complementary component to the traditional VIPS Academy program that responds to the academic and holistic needs of Black males at our partner high schools. Day One endeavors to impact the college identity and affinity of Black males starting in the 9th grade and to encourage a college-going culture and career exploration.
Partnership Schools
VIPS Schools
Los Angeles Unified School District
Alexander Hamilton Senior High School
Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES)
Rancho-Dominguez Preparatory School
Susan Miller Dorsey High School
Westchester Enriched Science Magnets
Pasadena Unified School District
FAQs
| I am not enrolled at a partnership school. Can I still apply to VIPS?
Yes, students not enrolled at VIPS partnership schools can apply to VIPS. If accepted, they will receive VIPS Please email us for the application. |
| Does VIPS have a program similar to Day One for girls?
As of now, there is no official program for 9th grade girls, however, students can connect with the mentor(s) at their schools prior to applying to the program. |
| I am interested in applying to the program, when does recruitment start?
VIPS recruitment start in January. We highly recommend you to connect with your VIPS mentor(s) as soon as possible. See who your mentor is by clicking the meet the team tab above. |
| Can VIPS service non-partnership schools?
Due to the nature of our program, VIPS is unable to provide our services to non-partnership schools. If you are interested in your school being added to the partnership, please contact us at VIPS@college.ucla.edu. |
| I am a current VIP scholar and I can’t get in contact with my mentor. What should I do?
If you are having issues with connecting with you mentor, please inform the VIPS Site Coordinator at arhymer@college.ucla.edu. Be sure to check the spam folder in your email to make sure you did not miss any VIPS related emails. |
| I am a VIPS Scholar and was not admitted to UCLA, will I still be a VIPS student if I attend another university?
Yes, VIPS scholars who enroll at a university other than UCLA will remain a VIPS scholar and receive support from the VIPS retention Program until they graduate university. |
VIPS Literature
Please check out our latest book, Expanding College Access for Urban Youth: What Schools and Colleges Can Do (2016) available on Amazon and other book outlets.
The VIP Scholars Program includes academic-year and summer programming. VIPS programming is designed within a social justice framework that seeks to both increase students’ academic competitiveness and challenge students to think critically about the world around them.
Each year during spring semester, we recruit a cohort of 35-50 high school freshman males to participate in a one-year VIPS experience (Day One) and a cohort of 35-50 high school sophomores to participate in a two-year VIPS experience (The Academy). The experience begins with a summer residential program at UCLA.
All VIPS programming is FREE including all food, field trips and materials!
The Retention Program
Since the inaugural VIPS cohort, 100% of VIPS students graduate from high school and go on to enroll at an institution of higher education. 79% of students attend 4-year public institutions–with 53% attending UCLA–while 18% attend 4-year private institutions and the remaining 3% attend community colleges. Our goal is to ensure all of our students feel supported no matter what college they choose to attend and are immediately connected with resources and stakeholders on their chosen campus.
The VIPS Retention Program supports VIP Scholars’ retention through college by partnering with campus leaders committed to supporting students of color and providing opportunities for students to consistently engage with the VIP Scholars Program. The VIPS Retention Program is committed to providing guidance in navigating institutional structures, creating a sustainable culture of active engagement of students, and encouraging a culture that is student-centered and facilitates and celebrates VIP Scholars’ success.
The Retention Program has hosted events to engage our students throughout the school year and during school breaks. Our retention coordinator has also worked to create relationships with stakeholders at every campus one of our students attends.
If you are a former VIPS high school student or a college campus leader, please feel free to connect with our Retention Coordinator, Jerzy Messan, at jmessan@college.ucla.edu
Retention Schools
Since 2017, our Retention Coordinator has been able to visit and support our students at
Barnard College
California State University, Northridge
Loyola Marymount University
New York University
Pasadena City College
San Diego State University
Santa Monica College
Tulane University
UC Berkeley
UC Irvine
UC Riverside
UC Santa Cruz
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Wesleyan University
The list of retention schools grows every year!
Retention Resources
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UCLA Retention Scholars Resources
Log your VIPS Events here!
In order to remain eligible for the VIPS UCLA scholarship, all VIP Scholars must:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Meet with VIPS AAP counselor, Tim Mahlanza (tim@college.ucla.edu), once per quarter
- Meet with someone from the VIPS leadership team at least once per quarter
- Attend each quarterly VIPS Orientation, every academic year.
- Attend at least 2 AAP Graduate Mentoring workshops per quarter or meet once a year with an AAP Graduate Mentor
- Volunteer 3 hours per quarter. Volunteer opportunities include a VIPS Buddy Day, Saturday Academy, Webinar OR reach out to Retention staff about alternative volunteer opportunities
Events
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Winter 2024 News Letter
Administrative Team
Leadership Team
|
Director Dr. Jonli Tunstall 310-206-5245 |
Assistant Director Ashley V. Williams, M.Ed. 310-267-4676 |
Programing Coordinators
|
Retention Coordinator Jerzy Messan 310-825-2366
|
Site Coordinator Aurelia Rhymer 310-825-2366 |
Graduate Student Researchers
|
Cynthia Estrada |
Jaylen Lowe |
Main Office
|
Ayana Woods & Wynter Hale 310-825-2366 Fax: 310-206-2595 |
VIPS Mentors
LAUSD
| Alexander Hamilton Senior High School
Taylor Green Academy Mentor |
Alexander Hamilton Senior High School
Nicole Onyeagoro Day One Mentor |
| Crenshaw High School
Diana Gonzalez Academy Mentor |
Crenshaw High School
Cole Holden Day One Mentor |
| Fairfax High School
Elon Morris Academy Mentor |
Fairfax High School
Maleeyah Frazier Day One Mentor |
| King/Drew Medical Magnet
India Davis Academy Mentor |
King/Drew Medical Magnet
Michael Udo Day One Mentor |
| Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES)
Isaiah Clark Academy Mentor |
Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES)
Laila Wheeler Day One Mentor |
| Rancho-Dominguez Preparatory School
Janelle Johnson Academy & Day One Mentor |
| Susan Miller Dorsey High School
Anaya Ali Academy & Day One Mentor |
| Westchester Enriched Science Magnets
Eric Musgrave Academy & Day One Mentor |
Pasadena USD
|
John Muir High School Haley Cogshell Academy & Day One Mentor |
| Marshall Fundamental School
Imani Robinson Academy & Day One Mentor |
| Pasadena High School
Jeannine Briggs Academy & Day One Mentor |
Extension/Virtual
Fred Donfack
Academy & Day One Mentor
VIPS is currently looking for mentors for our summer and academic year positions!
If you are interested in supporting our mission, please click here to fill out our mentor application.
Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at vips@college.ucla.edu.
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Mondays – Fridays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
1218 Campbell Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095
vips@college.ucla.edu