Growing Our Own Initiative

montage UCSC students

The UC Growing Our Own Initiative aims to equip students to apply to graduate school, continue their research in a UC doctoral and post-doctoral program and ultimately become UC faculty members. The goal is that by 2030, over 40 percent of UC PhDs will have come from a University of California or California State University campus.


UC Santa Cruz is increasing its outreach, encouraging more students to get involved in research – the sooner, the better, especially those who haven’t been exposed to research or the careers it can lead to. Research experience is a critical component in opening doors to career opportunities and to preparing undergraduates to apply to graduate school. A series of videos have been created to support the first step on this path, encouraging students to see themselves as future researchers.

Last modified: May 18, 2023