GATEWAY SCHOLARS

Our Mission

The Gateway Scholars Program is run by Student Success Initiatives (SSI) with the collaboration and support of the Student Outreach & Retention (SOAR) Center. Our goal is to support eligible students throughout their time at UCI by giving them the knowledge and resources needed to successfully navigate campus and prepare for life after college. Educational partnerships make up a cohort of students consisting of first-year, continuing, and transfer students who will receive support through intentional programming and advising to meet their academic, personal, and professional needs as they make their transition into UC Irvine.

Eligibility

In order to apply, students must be a participant from one of the following educational partnerships:

Santa Ana Unified School District
Santa Ana College Promise Program
Anaheim Union Education Pledge (Anaheim Union HS District, Cypress and Fullerton Colleges)
KIPP Students
Reality Changers of San Diego
Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano

Advantages

Gateway Scholars will have access to the following resources and services:

1:1 academic counseling
Peer mentorship with SOAR Pathfinders
Specialized workshops and events held by SSI as well as SOAR
Access to SSI’s Learning & Academic Resource Center (LARC) scholarship each quarter
Access to SSI’s Item Loan Program
Free testing materials (Blue Books, scantrons, etc.) from SOAR and SSI
Free to low cost printing from SOAR and SSI
Specialized senior support (organizing post graduation plans, graduate school, etc.)
Community with both SSI and SOAR
GRADUATING SENIORS: program graduation stole for Spring 2025 commencement*

Program Requirements

Gateway Scholars must complete/meet the following requirements throughout the academic year:

All Gateway Scholar Cohort Participants

Commit to the program for the entirety of the academic year
Must attend the Gateway Scholar Orientation
Must meet with your Counselor at least ONCE per quarter.
Must meet with a Pathfinder at SOAR (Peer Mentor) at least ONCE per quarter
Must attend academic enrichment workshops each quarter.
Complete all program logs and evaluations

How to Apply

Applications open in the summer prior to each academic year. As Gateway Scholars is an opt in program, all students, new and continuing must apply each year. Eligible first year students will be contacted directly.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.

Please check back in Summer of 2025 for the 2025-2026 cohort.

Gateway Scholar Workshops & Events

Winter Welcome: Charcuterie & Chat

Thursday, January 12th
11am – 12pm
Student Services II, Room 1010AB
Hybrid option is available*
Register on Campus Groups

Career Exploration Workshop

Wednesday, February 1st
1pm – 2pm
Student Services II, Room 1010AB
Register on Campusgroups

Senior Meeting - Managing Stress & Anxiety of Transition

Thursday, February 23rd
11am – 12pm
Register on Campusgroups

SSI Family Feud - End of Quarter Event

Thursday, March 2nd
4pm – 5:30pm

Student Success Initiatives

Office: 2200 Student Services II
Email: ssioffice@uci.edu