In fall of 2016, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded a generous grant to the UC San Diego School of Arts and Humanities, in partnership with the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), which encompasses three campuses – City College, Mesa College and Miramar College.
The grants various facets aimed to support transfer student success at UC San Diego and ultimately aspired to create a new generation of thought leaders reviving the value of the humanities. The program was quickly named PATH, an acronym for Preparing Accomplished Transfers to the Humanities. Given the interconnection of arts and humanities, the decision was made shortly after to expand the scope of the project to include the arts as well, while keeping the already-established acronym the same.
Faculty and staff at both UC San Diego and SDCCD began a collaborative effort to build connections across the regional higher education system, create new opportunities for students from traditionally disadvantaged communities, and support students in the transition from community college to life at the large research university, and in preparation for careers beyond. The program has expanded its reach outside of the San Diego Community College District with the help of generous donors.
STATS
PATH PROGRAM:
- 2016: Year Founded
- 8 Consecutive Summer Academy Programs
- 169 Summer Academy Participants
- 18 Ph.D. Integrated Fellows
Key PATH Program Components
Summer Academy
An academic transition program for transfer students accepted into UC San Diego studying a major within the School of Arts and Humanities. The program prepares students for success at the university and in careers beyond!
Ph.D. Integrated Fellowship
A unique year-long fellowship opportunity open to UC San Diego graduate students in the Humanities, offering hands-on experience and critical mentoring, aiming to highlight diverse academic and administrative career opportunities at the San Diego Community College District.
Faculty Connections
The program connects faculty from UC San Diego with the San Diego Community College District to share collaborative research, innovation in pedagogy and opportunities to further recruit and support community college transfer students for success at the university level.
Other PATH Components
Across three grants and over eight years of programming, the key program components of PATH have remained, but many have shifted. Learn about the various components included in the previous iterations of the grants supporting PATH on the programs and grants page.