Due to recent University of California budget cuts, the single
largest undergraduate retention program in the country has had to
make significant reductions in the services it provides.
Located on the first floor of Campbell Hall, UCLA’s
Academic Advancement Program serves about 6,000 undergraduate
students, many of whom are from working-class, low-income or
immigrant family backgrounds.
The effects of the AAP budget ““ which has been cut by 8
percent ““ have currently become more apparent, as students
cope with a decreased number of tutors and decreased number of
courses for which tutoring is offered. Since late January, the
program has lost $133,000.
Students in AAP are feeling the effects this quarter more than
ever before, as more students typically use the program’s
services in the fall.
“Before, it was easier to work with my schedule, but now
there are limited tutoring options and hours,” said Cassondra
Lopez, a second-year undeclared student.
Tutorials, counseling and the mentoring program were some of the
services affected. These services saw reductions in the number of
staff members, impacting at least 1,000 students directly.
Though the 8 percent cut may sound minimal, it’s about
perspective and the thousands of students it affects, said AAP
director Adolfo Bermeo.
AAP found itself making cutbacks in its program at a time when
its population, as well as the utilization of its services, had
significantly increased.
Yet, keeping in line with its goal to build an academic
community and provide high levels of support for its students, AAP
has made every attempt to avoid cuts that would directly affect
students, Bermeo said.
“We are striving to maintain our quality, but not without
difficulties,” said Emmanuel Owaka, coordinator for the math
and science tutorial labs.
Course tutorials, one of the most widely used services, saw a
significant reduction in courses for which tutoring was offered,
along with the number of tutors. Bermeo said many courses with high
enrollment and those required for majors or minors were kept.
Second-year psychobiology student Carlos Castellanos said he
noticed the reduction in tutorials in comparison to last year,
before the cuts. However, Castellanos was able to find tutorials
for two classes that were prerequisites for his major.
“I consider myself lucky in terms of the tutoring being
offered for my classes. I just feel bad for those that really need
the help and can’t get it,” he said.
Though cuts will be a factor in AAP’s effectiveness for
the remainder of the year, many new students praise the program for
the help they have been receiving.
Omar Ortiz, a first-year political science student, believes the
tutorials help reinforce lectures while counseling helps him with
his courses.
“Without them I’d be lost,” Ortiz said.
Though frustrated by the cuts, Bermeo said he will not let the
quality of the program dwindle.
Everyone in AAP has continued to keep a positive attitude
because they love what they do, and have been able to continue
going strong and make do with what they have, Bermeo said.
Since its founding in 1969, AAP has increased UCLA graduation
rates by over 30 percent.