UCLA Marginalized Identities in Physics & Astronomy

UCLA Critical MASS mentoring program

We are a peer mentorship program for undergraduate students in physics and astronomy who identify as being part of a marginalized identity in our fields of study. Our goal is to improve our sense of community, support, and belonging in the physics and astronomy department. We hope that Critical MASS provides a space for students to share difficulties, successes, hopes, and worries about their college experience.

Critical MASS Program Guide

2024-2025 Program Calendar

Event	Logistics	Event Information	Attendees
Mentorship Groups Released	October 14th	Mentors and mentees will receive an email containing the contact information of their mentorship groups.	N/A
Mentorship Training	October 14th, 1pm, Knudsen 6-107	Training for mentors hosted by Prof. Smadar Naoz. Snacks will be provided! Mentors are required to attend this training to participate in the mentorship program; please reach out to the program coordinators if you are not available.	Graduate student mentors (required) Upper division undergraduate mentors (required)
Fall Quarter Mentorship Social	October 24th, 5pm, PAB 3rd floor patio	Come meet your mentor/ mentees as well as other program participants! Snacks will be provided.	Everyone (optional)
Winter Quarter Mentorship Social	date and time TBD		Everyone (optional)
Spring Quarter Mentorship Social	date and time TBD		Everyone (optional)

Reminder: all mentors are required to attend the mentorship training and expected to attend one mentoring social per term. Once mentorship groups are released, graduate mentors are responsible for coordinating a meeting with their mentorship group at least once a month, as well as a 1:1 meeting with their upper division mentee every month.

Campus Level Support

Links to campus centers and resources. Special thanks to Society of Physics Students (SPS) and Vikram Seenivasan for helping us with this updated list!

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Resilience In Your Student Experience Center (RISE): Extension of CAPS

Community Programs Office (CPO)

UCLA's cross cultural center, provides services such as the Writing/Math Success Program, Computer Lab and Test Bank, Food Closet, and more!

Transfer Student Center

Center for Accessible Education (CAE)

The CAE assists students that have a disability that interferes with their learning and/or need accommodations.

Equipment Lending

If you need to borrow a laptop, iPad, etc. for classes, you can lend them out from the library on a year-to-year-basis.

Academic Advancement Program (AAP) College Counseling

Direct peers here for official counseling from AAP Counselors, peer counseling, DARS questions, college requirement questions, general major/minor questions, petitions submissions, etc.
In-Person: 1205 Campbell Hall
Use the Message Center to contact them as well.
For any major or minor specific questions, refer them to their respective departments instead.
Additional Resources - AAP also offers additional career/mentorship resources such as:

AAP Graduate Mentors: Provides resources for students who plan to go to professional or graduate school
HIGH Aims Scholars: Resources and mentorship for students interested in medical or health careers
McNair Research Scholars: Resources and preparation in Ph.D and research after undergrad! + Get to do an independent research project!
Arts IN (for juniors/seniors/transfers)
Community Development and Social Justice Program - CDSJ (junior/senior/transfer)
Educators for Tomorrow (for juniors/seniors/transfers)
Research Rookies (for second years)
Summer Grad Prep (for second years)
UndocuBruins Research Program (for undocumented AAP junior/senior/transfers)
UCLA Academic Advancement Program Center for Community College Partnerships

REACH Online Center

Online counseling that UCLA students can drop into and talk to a peer counselor for immediate help

Students with Dependents Center

Offers resources for UCLA students who have dependents.

LGBTQ Resource Center

Undocumented Student Program

Offers resources for UCLA students that are undocumented (DACA recipients, AB540, etc.).

First to Go Program

Promotes retention and success of all first gen students through: first to go LLC, mentorship, and programs/events to build first-generation community.

Basic Needs Center

Offers crisis help resources, food resources (580 Cafe, Bruin Dine, CPO Basic Needs/Food Closet), finances, housing, and more!

Student Legal Services

Provides confidential legal services for students in need.
This can include landlord/housing contracts, consultation on legal rights, drafting legal documents or letters, and advising students in finding attorneys for representation in any legal matters.

UCLA Ombuds Services

Provides mediation, dispute resolution, and conflict resolution for students.

UCLA Students in Crisis, Case Management, Economic Response Team

If a peer shares with you concerning experiences or exhibits concerning behavior which can include: expressing hurting oneself or others, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, abuse, or economic stress (homelessness, stress missing payments, food insecurity, etc.), please refer them to these resources.
Case Management: Refer the peer that you are concerned with by completing a form or calling the Case Management office. They will assign a case manager to follow up and assist your peer in getting the proper resources they need (CAPS, Title IX, Legal Counsel, etc.)
Economic Response Team: Refer a peer to the Economic Response Team who can assist with emergency grants, housing, food, etc.
Note: If you hear or witness any concerning behavior, this is the office that can assist.

Title IX Office

Refer peers to this resource if they are experiencing gender-based discrimination, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, domestic violence, etc.
Additional Resources - Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE): for students who were, suspect they were, or have peers who have been sexually assaulted.

Scholarships

Undergraduate Scholarships:

Different scholarships & their deadlines and requirements can be found here: UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships Undergraduate Scholarships Application
For scholarships that require demonstrated financial need, applicants must submit a FAFSA by March 2.
To access the application-specific questions, students must first complete the General Application in the UCLA Scholarship Portal (consisting of general info and a personal statement). Each donor scholarship also requires a personal statement. Your essays may overlap – for our applications, make sure you answer the prompt attached to the specific scholarship opportunity.

Graduate Scholarships:

Some important graduate awards have an application deadline in the year prior to enrollment in grad school. For students interested in pursuing grad school in physics and astronomy, we highly recommend that students consider applying in the fall of their final year at UCLA, as having one's own external funding can be very beneficial as a Ph.D. student.

NSF GRFP (National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program)
- The NSF GRFP provides three years of financial support in grad school with a stipend of $37,000 per year.
- You can apply once prior to starting grad school and once in either the first or second year of your Ph.D. program.

UCLA MIPA 2024

Mentorship Hub

UCLA Critical MASS mentoring program

2024-2025 Program Calendar

Department Level Support

Mary Tran (Undergraduate Student Services Advisor)

Amanda Glover (Undergraduate Student Services Advisor)

Tutoring Center

Campus Level Support

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Resilience In Your Student Experience Center (RISE): Extension of CAPS

Community Programs Office (CPO)

Center for Accessible Education (CAE)

Scholarships

Student Life

Undergraduate Lounge

Clubs

Resources for Mentors

MIPA Critical MASS Guides and Worksheets

External Links and Resources

Contact

Location:

Email: