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RISE Scholars

RISE stands for Rising, Inspiring & Science Excellence. RISE is a first-year experience program that serves 30-60 frosh each year who have EOP status and who are proposed majors or advising clusters within the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences (PBSci).

Application

The RISE Program application opens at the beginning of fall quarter each academic year. RISE Scholars is a year-long program.

If you have any questions or concerns, email us at eop.rise@ucsc.edu. 

About Our Program

Benefits 

  • Receive guidance throughout the academic year in your transition to college and path towards a STEM degree.
  • Connections to academic and personal support resources, social activities, research opportunities, and professional development.
  • Get to know fellow STEM students and get connected to opportunities early on at UCSC!

Activities

  • Meet with a peer mentor bi-weekly.
  • Meet with an EOP Counselor two times a quarter.
  • Attend mandatory community events each quarter.
  • Attend STEM tutoring (ACE/MSI) to get support in your STEM classes.

Our History

The RISE Scholars program, formerly the SEMILLA Scholars program, is designed to support students as they transition to UC Santa Cruz and to ensure they are successful in their aspirations to obtain a STEM degree. The program connects students to holistic counseling, peer mentoring, academic enhancement activities, and STEM-focused workshops and events. RISE Scholars will have the opportunity to build community with other STEM students in the program at the beginning of fall quarter and through their first year at UCSC. 

RISE pays homage to our roots - SEMILLA (seeds), sprouting and rising up. The RISE Scholars program was made possible through the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Initiative called SEMILLA. SEMILLA Scholars successfully served four cohorts of students and we look forward to continuing this program in the future. Starting in 2022 - 2023 we are no longer funded through HSI and are now permanently funded through EOP. Updating the name ensures we continue to pay homage to our roots but build a legacy for this program moving forward. The program components will remain the same with the new name.