Near-peer mentoring & tutoring program

• U.S. citizens and legal U.S. permanent residents.
• Undergraduate students in STEM majors from College of Natural Science and Mathematics (CNSM), or College of Engineering (COE) at CSULB. Pre-STEM majors in COE and CNSM students are eligible to apply.
• Demonstrated need of support to improve academic performance, graduation, and GPA during academic semester.

1. Complete the online Fall 2024 ASCEND application via this link or (https://csulb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_envtBuZ1Fr3drAq).
    
2. Statement of ASCEND academic support services impact toward student’s success and ASCEND-AANAPISI program’s missions that address the following areas:
   • the needs for ASCEND academic support services and impacts of ASCEND participation toward target student’s success. How does near-peer tutoring and mentoring enhance student’s success? Challenges can be included to justify the needs. What happens or will happen if the student is not selected as one of ASCEND participants during the academic semester that the student would like to participate in (Fall or Spring)? (250 words minimum to 300 words maximum). 
     
     Remark: - Challenges that justify the need for these services include the increasing complexity of academic coursework and the diverse backgrounds of students, which may include first-generation college students, those from underrepresented communities, and those facing socio-economic challenges. Without the support of ASCEND, students may struggle to navigate these difficulties, leading to lower academic performance and decreased retention rates. If a student is not selected as an ASCEND participant during Fall or Spring semester, they might miss out on these crucial support services. This lack of support could hinder their academic progress, reduce their engagement with the academic community, and limit their access to valuable mentorship opportunities. Consequently, the student's overall college experience and long-term success might be adversely affected.
      
   • short- and long-term academic and professional goals and barriers that the student encountering/encountered that prohibit the student to achieve their goals and how ASCEND Program can assist the student to achieve these goals. (250 words minimum to 300 words maximum).
      
   • how to enhance ASCEND:AANAPISI’s missions? One of ASCEND: AANAPISI grant’s missions is to enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion toward Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) and underserved populations. Include student’s contribution toward steps to counter racist attacks on AANAPI or the applicant's contributions to stop racism, bias, and discrimination against AANAPI. Experience on AANAPI anti-racism activities can be included as an example to support ASEND:AANAPISI missions. (250 words minimum to 300 words maximum).

1. Needs justification.
2. Impacts of ASCEND program toward student’s success.
3. Ability to enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion on CSULB STEM learning climate.
4. Potential to advance ASCEND-AANAPISI missions.
5. Passion for learning (achievable plan and ambitious goals).
6. Quality of application package.

Once the scholarship is disbursed, ASCEND scholarship awardees

1. must provide their informed consent to participate in ASCEND research titled, “Academic Intervention via Near-Peer Mentoring & Tutoring Progressing Educational Success for Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) & Underserved Students in their STEM major.” It is mandatory to provide informed consent and participate in ASCEND study to receive ASCEND support.
2. must primarily utilize the ASCEND support for their STEM academic support, primarily for tuition, as prioritized at CSULB through the CSULB Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.
3. ASCEND scholarship awardees must remain enrolling at CSULB without withdrawing from any courses during the semester that the students receive ASCEND support. Please contact ASCEND leadership team (ASCEND.AANAPISI@csulb.edu) if the award recipients encounter challenges that cause their academic difficulties after the ASCEND scholarship is disbursed.
4. are highly recommended to take Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander relevant General Educational courses (G.E. foundation, G.E. exploration or upper division G.E.) within one year after receiving ASCEND scholarship.
        If students have enrolled in or completed one of the suggested G.E. courses, students are not required to take an additional course. The courses under the following course prefixes are considered:
   1. Asian & Asian American Studies (AAAS)
   2. Asian Studies (A/ST)
   3. Cambodian (KHMR)
   4. Chinese (CHIN)
   5. Filipino (FIL)
   6. Japanese (JAPN)
   7. Korean (KOR)
   8. Vietnamese (VIET)
5. are required to complete at least one ASCEND professional and leadership workshop (TBA: see ASCEND website at www.csulb.edu/ascend for more details).
6. must meet their academic advisor during Fall or Spring semester.
7. must being active in the program and enroll in a Fall/Spring class (optional for Plan A only).
8. must meet ASCEND mentor, tutor or advisor as specified at least 10 times throughout the semester.
9. must grant ASCEND team permission to track student’s academic performance to evaluate ASCEND’s impacts towards student’ success for reporting to the granter and disseminating general knowledge towards ASCEND student academic success.
10. must complete annual ASCEND evaluation and survey forms for reporting and dissemination of the study outcomes. Informed consent form is required for award disbursements.
11. must agree to be included in the ASCEND email list, ASCEND discord group and ASCEND LinkedIn.
12. must agree to share their name and CSULB ID to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to verify the award allowance.
13. must complete two questionnaires: ASCEND Student Support Services need during and after the program.

The ASCEND program eliminates barriers, gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age and assures equitable access to, and participation in the program.