Antonio Sandoval  Sandoval is a
fifth-year political science and history student. He will serve as
this year’s chairperson for the Campus Retention Committee.
E-mail questions to [email protected]. Â Â
July of 1995 was a period of intense student activism. Forces
all around us were talking about affirmative action, its impact,
and its elimination. The spotlight was directed on former Gov. Pete
Wilson and his attempt to subvert the educational system for his
political gain. He used his position on the UC Board of Regents to
end affirmative action and moved to spread dissolve it in all of
California’s public education through Proposition 209.
Since then, students have been calling for meaningful
educational reform and a restoration of programs that once brought
underrepresented students to the university at unprecedented
levels.
While students have demanded that the university take
responsibility for its actions against affirmative action, students
have also continued their mission to ensure that those limited
number of underrepresented students at UCLA graduate. These student
efforts are collectively known as the Student Retention Center.
The Student Retention Center was established and funded by the
Campus Retention Committee in 1988. The SRC’s focus was on
specific populations on campus, which had historical evidence of
low retention rates.
Money from the Special Education referendum was used to fund the
SRC’s first program, the Academic Supports Program. This
innovative program was established to combat high attrition rates
of African American students at UCLA. Realizing that admission into
UCLA did not guarantee successful completion of university
requirements and graduation, students felt a growing need to take
control of their academic future.
The creation of additional projects by other underrepresented
communities contributed to the expansion of the SRC. MEChA
Calmécac was established to serve Chicana/o and Latina/o
students; Pilipino students created SPEAR; American Indian students
created the Retention of American Indians Now project; and
Vietnamese students created the South East Asian Campus Learning
Education and Retention project.
These projects started with a challenge that fundamentally
sought to redefine the paradigm on which education was based. SRC
projects moved away from the conventional way students were advised
and instead implemented a broader approach to include
students’ personal concerns, worries and strengths. With an
understanding that there was more to a student’s academic
performance than just will, our counseling addressed cultural,
social, political and personal issues that impacted the individual
students’ goal of academic and personal success.
In addition, there is an attempt to redefine power structures
that have served as obstacles in our lives as students.
Today, SRC projects specialize in one-on-one peer counseling,
which still reflects the original goals that were established to
combat high attrition rates and to challenge educational norms. In
addition, the projects have implemented other components such as
mentorship programs that seek to ease the transition that first
year and transfer students have at UCLA. ASP’s mentorship
program is called African Brothers and Sisters; MEChA
Calmécac’s program is called Calpulli; RAIN’s
program is called Supporting Undergraduate Natives; SPEAR’s
program is called One Step Ahead; and SEACLEAR is establishing
their program this year.
The SRC projects also strive to play a vital role in providing
resources that allow for personal growth. Examples of these
resources are the internship and study group programs provided by
each project. Internship programs allow for those who use the
services provided by the projects to learn more about the CRC, the
SRC, the university and the community. The study group components
allow for continual development of study skills, and collective
learning techniques while establishing a sense of community at
UCLA. Overall, these programs provide the resources to create
awareness and promote growth.
The projects also have unique programs, which seek to address a
need in their specific community. ASP has the Rights of Passage
program, which assists students in their development of personal
and community ties as they progress through their first year at
UCLA. MEChA Calmécac has the Centro Coatlicue program which
works to address issues of gender and sexuality. This program also
works with student parents and coordinates programs to create
awareness on campus on how these issues impact students.
SPEAR has created the leadership development component, which
strives to foster growth in skills and will ultimately benefit
students after graduation.
The SRC also provides general services to all students. There
are exam files that help students learn ways to improve test-taking
abilities. There are professor and class evaluations available for
students to know what other students think about specific
professors and classes. An SRC study list exists as well. An
expansion of a resource that is used in the residence halls, the
study list is a detailed list of all students who are taking part
in a SRC project.
Finally, the SRC provides a study space in Ackerman Union
year-round. This space provides an environment in which students
can study individually or together. This year, the SRC will
implement a tutorial program to assist students in various
subjects. All students will be informed about this service and it
will be open to all.
As you can see, students have worked hard to provide a service
that challenges students to do well and become informed of their
surroundings.
Since 1988 there has been a conscious effort to provide services
to students that will directly impact their retention at UCLA.
Since the CRC’s creation, retention rates have risen and
students have played a direct role. The SRC is a response to the
results caused by insufficient efforts made to keep students that
are the greatest risk of falling on academic probation or being
dismissed from the university.
The SRC is open every day and is willing to assist you with any
concern that you might have. Stop by and see for yourselves. SRC is
here for you.