CENTRAL COAST — UC Santa Cruz and Hartnell College have long shared a commitment to empowering students from California’s Central Coast to achieve their educational and career goals. Now, thanks to a two-year, $250,000 American Talent Initiative (ATI) IDEAS Grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the two institutions will strengthen that partnership and expand opportunities for students.
The grant will support the Pathways to Success program, designed to streamline the transfer process and provide more holistic guidance for students to accelerate social mobility and advance economic development in the region.
The IDEAS (Innovation Driven by Evidence-Based Advanced Strategies) Fund grant program saw submissions from 47 ATI member institutions, with only 16 selected for funding. UC Santa Cruz and Hartnell College’s proposal was the only one awarded from California, recognized specifically for its emphasis on increasing social mobility through a K-16 comprehensive approach to student success.
“We’re thrilled and grateful to be the recipient of a two-year IDEAS Grant that will brighten the futures of aspiring scholars throughout our region,” said UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive. “Created in partnership with Hartnell College, our Pathways to Success program focuses on expanding opportunities for low-income, first-generation students, streamlining their ability to transfer to our campus, earn a bachelor’s degree, and ultimately launch careers in high-demand fields.”
As Hispanic-Serving Institutions, UC Santa Cruz and Hartnell College are committed to affordability and access, building a strong partnership grounded in shared values.
“The transfer pipeline between Hartnell College and UC Santa Cruz represents a significant step toward providing our students with a seamless transition to UC Santa Cruz by empowering them to pursue their career goals through guidance, support, and opportunity,” said Hartnell College Superintendent/President Michael Gutierrez.
The Pathways to Success program builds on existing UC Santa Cruz transfer initiatives focusing on affordability and comprehensive student care. The program highlights the affordability of a UC Santa Cruz degree by highlighting funding opportunities such as donor-funded transfer scholarships and grants from the campus, the State of California, and the federal government.
For student care, it promotes family housing and a new childcare center currently under construction, and the counseling and mentorship provided by UC Santa Cruz’s Services for Transfer, Re-entry, and Resilient Scholars (STARRS) program — the first of its kind in California.
“Meeting students where they are and addressing their needs is central to our mission. We want students to see that there is a clear path for them to complete a 4-year degree at a high-impact research university,” said Richard Hughey, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education and global engagement at UC Santa Cruz. “These are talented, high-performing students. We want them to know they belong here and ultimately that their presence will make our community stronger.”
The Pathways to Success program is grounded in a K-16 approach to educational equity, leveraging the programs and partnerships of UC Santa Cruz’s Education Partnership Center, which is dedicated to expanding access to higher education for underrepresented K-12 students across the Central Coast.
The program provides clear academic and career pathways, particularly in high-demand fields such as community health, creative technologies, environmental science and agroecology. Faculty from both institutions will collaborate to align curricula, ensuring students are well-prepared to transfer into bachelor’s programs and have access to internships and research opportunities that strengthen their career readiness.
To offer students a sense of belonging before, during, and after the transfer process, the program will integrate personalized advising and a new peer mentorship initiative — where current UC Santa Cruz students who transferred from Hartnell share their experiences.
Designed with scalability in mind, the innovative Pathways to Success program is expected to serve as a model for other UC campuses and community colleges, elevating the transfer experience and success of students across the state.
