First Generation Resources

Academic & Mentorship Centers

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP): The primary hub for first-gen and income-eligible students, providing holistic advising, peer mentorship, graduate school prep, and cultural support.
ONDAS Student Center (OSC): Located in Davidson Library, ONDAS focuses specifically on first-gen student success with peer-led study sessions, faculty lunch hours, and transition workshops.
Transfer Student Center (TSC): Tailored support, community space, and academic guidance for transfer students, a high percentage of whom are also first-gen.
Campus Learning Assistance Services (CLAS): Free academic tutoring, writing workshops, and exam review sessions for undergraduate coursework.

Research & Scholarship Initiatives

McNair Scholars Program: Prepares qualified first-gen and underrepresented undergraduates for doctoral studies through paid research, faculty mentorship, and GRE/application support.
Gene & Susan Lucas Undergraduate Research Fund: A specialized micro-grant program dedicated to funding independent research projects led by first-generation UCSB students.
Promise Scholars & Yardi Scholars Programs: Comprehensive financial aid and academic enrichment initiatives aimed at high-achieving, first-generation scholars.
Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships (CSEP): Offers structured research opportunities, mentorship, and professional development programs (like CAMP and MARC) for STEM majors.

Community, Culture & Basic Needs

First-Gen Faculty Initiative: A network connecting students with UCSB professors who were first-gen students themselves, helping demystify academia.
EOP Cultural Resource Centers: Spaces designed to foster belonging, including the Chicanx/Latinx, African Diasporic, Asian, American Indian, and Middle Eastern Resource Centers.
UCSB Basic Needs Resources: Offers emergency financial assistance, the Associated Students Food Bank, and CalFresh application assistance to ensure non-academic barriers are minimized.

General Undergraduate Grants & Fellowships

URCA Grant (Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities): Awards up to $750 for student-initiated independent research or creative projects across all disciplines. Recipients present their work during campus-wide research events.
TSRA Grant (Transfer Student Research Award): Specifically provides up to $750 in funding for transfer students conducting original research or creative endeavors.
Conference & Mini Presentation Grants: Micro-grants (up to $250) available to assist undergraduates with registration or travel expenses when presenting their research at academic conferences.
FUERTE (Field-based Engagement through Research, Teaching, and Education): An NSF-funded initiative offering paid field research experiences in conservation and environmental sciences, specifically supporting underrepresented and first-generation students.
CEES (Center for Equitable Environmental Sciences): Offers environmental justice internships, mentorship tracks, and research pathways in environmental studies.

STEM & Biomedical Research Programs

MARC Scholars Program (Maximizing Access to Research Careers): A two-year NIH-funded scholarship for juniors and seniors in STEM that includes paid research stipends, tuition assistance, and graduate school prep.
CAMP (California Alliance for Minority Participation): Supports underrepresented students in STEM through faculty-mentored research positions, summer research stipends, and travel grants for scientific symposia.
CSEP Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF / RISE): Programs managed by the Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships providing hands-on lab training and paid summer research opportunities across physical sciences and engineering.

Campus Research Registries

FRAP Directory (Faculty Research Assistance Program): A centralized database where professors post open assistant positions for undergraduates to gain direct lab or field experience.
Undergraduate Research Directory: UCSB's official portal listing open research positions, project opportunities, and lab openings across all academic departments.

Cultural Centers & Community Spaces

Chicanx/Latinx Cultural Resource Center (CLCRC): Located on the first floor of the Student Resource Building (SRB), the CLCRC offers study areas, cultural programming, and space to build community.
El Centro Arnulfo Casillas (Building 406): A historic hub for Latine student activism and organizing that serves as a meeting and study space for affiliated student organizations.
La Familia de Colores: A supportive student group housed under the Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (RCSGD) for LGBTQIA+ Latine/o/x students.

Academic & Professional Associations

UCSB Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Chapter: A recognized student organization and national chapter that supports Latine, Chicanx, Indigenous, and underrepresented students in STEM. It offers professional development workshops, undergraduate research support, conference travel opportunities, and community networking to foster success in higher education and scientific careers.
Los Ingenieros (SHPE Chapter): A student organization dedicated to supporting Latine students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through peer mentorship, tutoring, and career development.
Hermanas Unidas Inc. (HaU) & Hermanos Unidos (HuO): Organizations providing peer networks focused on academic excellence, community service, and personal development to assist in the transition through college.

Academic Departments & Graduation Celebrations

Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies: Offers interdisciplinary coursework, research grants, and honors programs exploring Chicanx, Latine, and Indigenous histories and contemporary social issues.
Comunidad Latinx Graduación (CLG): A student-led organization that hosts a culturally grounded annual commencement ceremony honoring Latine graduates and their families.

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