Designed specifically for talented high school students, COSMOS is a four-week summer residential program at four UC campuses that provides students with an unparalleled opportunity to work side-by-side with outstanding researchers and university faculty, covering topics that extend beyond the typical high school curriculum.

The CfAO Professional Development Program (PDP) is a flexible, multi-year program for scientists and engineers at the early stages of their careers, with a primary focus on graduate students. Participants attend workshops and have a practical teaching experience, usually at the college/undergraduate level. PDP participants leave the program as highly trained, innovative, and reflective scientist/engineer educators.

This program offers diversity-oriented fellowships to graduate students and awards to undergraduates interested in pursuing research projects in areas relevant to the human genome, including the ethical, legal, and social implications of genome research. Students participating in RMI receive mentoring from faculty advisors, other students, and the program coordinator. The program exposes students to the nature and rigors of a research environment, thus enhancing preparation for and success in graduate school and beyond.

The COSMOS Teacher Fellows program provides opportunities for outstanding high school teachers to participate in the UC Santa Cruz COSMOS summer program. Each Fellow works with a team of university faculty to implement the academic portion of COSMOS. Teacher Fellows serve as the pedagogical bridge between high school student learning and university faculty teaching. They directly participate in all classroom and laboratory work as well as field trips (Monday - Friday 8:30-4:30). They serve a valuable role as liaison between the residential and academic programs. Teacher Fellows may also be called upon to consult with faculty on course design, provide supplemental instruction, mentor students, and supervise course projects.

DEEP identifies and supports community college students from underrepresented populations to enter the field of engineering and provides ongoing advising, academic support, and enrichment opportunities to help students create a successful educational plan leading to a career in engineering.

Inspiring students to envision themselves as future engineers and scientists, Girls in Engineering brings middle school girls with an interest in mathematics together for a unique, two-week introduction to engineering at the UCSC Jack Baskin School of Engineering during the summer.

MESA is a statewide program through the UC Office of the President, which provides academic development for middle and high school students to prepare for baccalaureate degree programs in mathematics and science and careers in engineering and other mathematics-based scientific fields.

MentorNet's One-on-One Mentoring Programs focus on matching women and underrepresented minorities with female or male professionals from all sectors as mentors for one-on-one, email-based mentoring (e-mentoring) relationships. MentorNet proteges are in the engineering and science fields and are community college, undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and untenured faculty. UC Santa Cruz partners with MentorNet to provide this service to UCSC students.

The Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP), also known as the MESA Engineering Program, is the university level component of the statewide Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA)—a program of the University of California Office of the President. At UC Santa Cruz, MEP is supported by the Baskin School of Engineering with its goal to promote diversity and facilitate the retention and graduation of a diverse population of students, especially groups which continue to remain the most underrepresented in engineering studies. The program received the 2004 UC Santa Cruz “Excellence Through Diversity Award” which is presented to programs or individuals for efforts which promote a diverse and inclusive environment.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Information Technology (SURF-IT) offers opportunities for both UCSC students and non-UCSC students. SURF-IT will provide an intensive and personalized summer program with a focus on women, minority, and disadvantaged undergraduates. SURF-IT includes a research experience supervised by a UCSC faculty member in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or bioinformatics.