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The Office of University Access Programs (UAP) at Southern Connecticut State University celebrates and uplifts first-generation and underrepresented scholars. By providing holistic support, dedicated mentoring, and financial literacy, we create a nurturing environment that inspires academic achievement, personal growth, and professional excellence. We help scholars excel academically, grow personally, and graduate prepared to make meaningful contributions to their communities. 

Vision Statement

We envision a future where first-generation and underrepresented scholars turn barriers into bridges, breaking through obstacles to become leaders who inspire change. Our goal is to help these scholars not only excel in their academic and professional journeys but also lead with purpose, resilience, and a desire to influence and support the next generation. 

 UAP Core Values

  • Integrity: Our quality of being dependable and honest with ourselves and others 
  • Community: Our ability to support in fellowship with one another 
  • Commitment: Our dedication to the student's success. 
  • Positive Attitude: Our expectations that good things will happen, and continuously having that mindset even when we are challenged. 
  • Growth Mindset: Our belief that success depends on time and effort, it is the effort and persistence that inspires us every day

About Our Office 

We are committed to opening doors to higher education and ensuring every scholar has the support they need to succeed. Our programs are designed to help first-generation, low-wealth, and historically underrepresented scholars achieve their academic goals and reach their full potential. 

Our office proudly leads a range of impactful initiatives designed to support scholars at every stage of their academic journey. These include: 

Through these programs, UAP empowers scholars by enhancing enrollment, academic performance, and graduation rates. We work closely with scholars and their families to ensure that higher education remains accessible and achievable. 

UAP Six Strategic Initiatives

The University Access Programs (UAP) focuses on six strategic initiatives to enhance underrepresented students' enrollment, retention, and graduation rates in higher education. By providing comprehensive academic and cultural support, UAP empowers students to successfully navigate their undergraduate journey, achieve academic excellence, and reach their ultimate goal of earning a college degree.

UAP utilizes strategies to increase student enrollment from underrepresented groups by building relationships with local high schools, community-based organizations, and equivalency programs, exposing students to Southern Connecticut State University, and providing them with opportunities to experience college life.

UAP implements a peer-to-peer mentoring model where high-performing upper-level students are trained to mentor first-year and lower-class students. Training focuses on understanding cultural differences, such as race/ethnicity, gender, ability, class, and sexuality, to foster inclusive and effective mentoring relationships.

UAP provides additional academic support through tutoring, supplemental academic programs, learning communities, peer-led tutoring, group tutoring, study groups, and workshops specifically for UAP students to ensure academic accountability and success.

 UAP incorporates activities that help students develop and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, empathize with others, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

UAP collaborates with senior institutional leaders to secure space, financial support, and other resources necessary to sustain and expand programs and services that support underrepresented students.

Each UAP initiative is supported by an advisory committee, which contributes to project development, provides resources, garners additional support, and serves as an ambassador for the program’s mission.