UC San Diego Guarantees a Pathway for Transfer Students with UniversityLink

Article Content

Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

The University of California, San Diego has updated its UniversityLink program, providing guaranteed admission for eligible local students to encourage them to attend UC San Diego. The initiative seeks to increase the number of students who transfer to UC San Diego from participating community colleges in the San Diego and Imperial counties.

“UC San Diego is one of the greatest universities in the country and part of that greatness can be attributed to the campus’s dedication to remaining accessible to students of all backgrounds,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “We want to ensure that if students in our community work hard and do their part academically, we are ready and able to help them succeed at UC San Diego.”

To be eligible for UniversityLink, students must come from a low-income background (having a family income of $40,000 or less). Students may enroll in UniversityLink as high school seniors planning to attend one of the partner community colleges, or as a first-year community college student attending one of the participating community colleges. Partner schools include Cuyamaca College, Grossmont College, Imperial Valley College, Miracosta College, Palomar College, San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College and Southwestern College.

In addition, UniversityLink is open to all student veterans, active duty service members and former foster youth regardless of their college year status.

“We are delighted to offer this program which will allow greater access for bright, motivated local community college students to attend our campus,” said Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Alan Houston. “Community college is an important route to UC San Diego, and our transfer students bring a unique perspective that adds to the vitality, strength and diversity of our student body.”

In order for students to enroll in the program, they have to submit an online UniversityLink application during the spring of their senior year in high school or during the first year at the community college. Admission requirements for the program include completion of a minimum of 60 UC-transferable semester units (90 quarter units) by the end of spring term prior to fall admission. In addition, students must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA. Students also must declare a major when they complete the UC admissions application, and have taken any required courses for their chosen major.

According to Mae Brown, assistant vice chancellor of Admissions at UC San Diego, UniversityLink also includes outstanding services for participating students, including individual counseling and activities to facilitate a smooth, timely transfer from high school to a community college, and ultimately, to UC San Diego

Services include one-on-one academic counseling with a UC San Diego admissions officer, assistance with choosing courses to fulfill general education and major preparation requirements, workshops for college and transfer success, invitations to special events at UC San Diego and contact with current UC San Diego students for up-to-date perspectives on transferring.

Access and affordability have emerged as goals in the campus-wide strategic planning process. The UniversityLink program, which responds to the campus goal, also highlights UC San Diego’s ongoing commitment to the region. Providing opportunity for all qualified students is a priority for the campus, and UniversityLink helps to ensure that students from all backgrounds and income levels have access to a top-notch UC higher education.

Applications for UniversityLink are available as of fall 2013. For more information on UniversityLink, go here.