Mechanical engineering student Eunbee Park ’19, computer science and engineering student Max Nedorezov ‘19 and civil engineering students Claudia Plascencia ’19 and Tadewos Getachew ’19 are just a few of the students at University of California, Davis, who have the chance to achieve their dreams thanks to the growing Avenue^E program.

The program was developed in 2016 by UC Davis Office of the Provost and founding corporate partner, Chevron, in collaboration with the Koret Foundation, and the Los Rios, Peralta, San Joaquin Delta and Contra Costa Community College districts to provide a smooth transition from community college to UC Davis for students interested in engineering or computer science.

There are currently 26 students in the Avenue^E program, but over the next two years the number of students will increase. There will be four cohorts, each totaling 30 students – 60 students will be enrolled at UC Davis, while 60 additional students will be in the program in the community college pipeline.

“Avenue^E performs the critically important function of helping talented and motivated transfer students in STEM succeed and complete their undergraduate degree at UC Davis,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter. “The program enhances the university’s ability to serve students from all backgrounds — and change lives. In addition, Avenue^E students enrich our community with new perspectives and priorities.”

Avenue^E helps high-potential, low-resource students achieve their dreams in growing, high-demand fields. First-generation college students make up 80 percent of the Avenue^E 2017 cohort. Additionally, 50 percent of participants are from historically underrepresented groups, and 30 percent are female, with many students falling into two or more of these groups.

“There’s a very strong need for engineers to solve problems and create innovative solutions to address challenges in our society,” said Cynthia Murphy-Ortega, Chevron University Partnership Program manager. “The Avenue^E program is one of the engineering pathways programs that Chevron is developing to support diversity and inclusion as well as inspire future engineers.”

Building a bridge between community colleges and UC Davis

Avenue^E students get a unique opportunity to join an intensive transfer preparatory program prior to entering their final year at community college. The following summer, the students embark on a two-week summer bridge program prior to beginning their first quarter at UC Davis. During these two weeks, the students are immersed in the Davis area and the UC Davis community as they learn about all the resources available to them as students of UC Davis.

“The Avenue^E program helps the University of California address some of its highest priorities: supporting California community college transfer students, increasing diversity in STEM fields, and expanding educational and research opportunity for all of our students,” said UC President Janet Napolitano.

The program is in addition to the resources already available to all transfer students through the campus Transfer and Reentry Center, which helps transfer and reentry students connect with campus resources, develop academic skills, find community and prepare for career or graduate school.

Each Avenue^E cohort member receives a scholarly award for the Transfer Bridge summer program, as well as up to $4,000 for the two subsequent years at UC Davis. Students also get the chance to attend group outings, social activities, speaker presentations and workshops that provide opportunities to engage in peer-to-peer learning, community building and career exploration.

Meet Four of the Participating Students

We introduce you to four of the students participating in AvenueE. They all transferred to UC Davis from the Los Rios Community College District.

“We are lucky to have such a great program that helps us connect to all the amazing resources UC Davis offers for students,” said Park.

The cohort meets weekly to discuss topics or hear a guest speaker, which is coordinated by Nancy Davis, an undergraduate student advisor in the College of Engineering and Avenue^E academic advisor.

“My favorite part is seeing how the students grow in confidence,” Davis said. “They begin unsure of how they will succeed at UC Davis, then they make their way through class, learn how to create a resume that will help them find an internship or undergraduate research and eventually go on to a meaningful career.”

Participating students receive intensive personal and professional development coaching to build strong resumes and cover letters and create connections with the Internship and Career Center, where they can identify available opportunities in their field of choice.

Getachew, for example, hopes to do more research in the area of solar energy and attain a graduate degree.

“I want to create new knowledge and do something no one has ever done before,” he said. “The Avenue^E summer bridge program has introduced me to undergraduate research programs that can help me get started in my path towards attaining a Ph.D.”