Part of the Division
of Student Affairs

Academic Initiatives supports collaborative programs for students and finds opportunities for partnerships with and beyond Student Affairs.

A primary objective of Academic Initiatives is to better integrate campus departments and faculty with the work of the Division of Student Affairs, creating a bridge between academics and student support services.

Academic Initiatives's partners include EOP, CLAS, OSL, Wellness and others. Directed by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Academic Services, Academic Initiatives is the home of the Gene & Susan Lucas Undergraduate Research Fund and the Michael D. Young Internship program.

The Claudine Michel Fund

After more than three decades of service to UC Santa Barbara, Associate Vice Chancellor, Black Studies Professor, activist, colleague, and friend, Dr. Claudine Michel is now officially an "emerita"!

Gene & Susan Lucas Fund

The Gene and Susan Lucas Undergraduate Research Fund was created to help first-generation undergraduate students experience research alongside UCSB faculty. 

Kennedy/Graves Award

Shirley Graves Kennedy arrived in Santa Barbara in 1970 where she found a small, marginalized African American community and other people of color who faced job and housing discrimination.