Undergraduate Student Initiated Education (USIE) is an innovative program designed to provide a select group of juniors and seniors with the opportunity to develop and facilitate, under close faculty supervision, a lower division seminar for their peers.
The USIE Program was created in 2005-06 when a group of undergraduate students approached then Dean/Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Judith L. Smith, with a proposal for student-initiated courses.
As of Spring 2023, more than 130 students have designed and offered their own seminars, enrolling over 3100 undergraduates.
The application and selection period is during Spring quarter. During the Fall and Winter quarters (of the next academic year), Student Facilitators work closely with their Faculty Mentors in two 1-unit independent study courses (one each quarter) focused on the content-area of their proposed seminar. In addition, Student Facilitators enroll in two 1-unit pedagogy seminars (one each quarter) in which various facilitation strategies and techniques are discussed in preparation for leading a Spring seminar.
Through the independent study courses and pedagogy seminars, Student Facilitators develop a formal syllabus for their Spring seminars for review and approval by the USIE Faculty-Student Advisory Committee and the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC).
Elizabeth Bjork, Chair
Professor of Psychology
College of Letters and Science
Jennifer Lindholm, ex officio
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Education
and Director, Honors Programs
Christopher Mott
Lecturer in English
College of Letters and Science
David Rigby
Professor of Geography
College of Letters and Science
Hannah Whang Sayson
Assistant Director, Center for Educational Assessment
Center for the Advancement of Teaching
Selection Process
Interested in facilitating your own seminar? USIE is a unique program designed to allow students to facilitate a seminar of their own design and enhance their overall undergraduate experience at UCLA. The USIE Program has received glowing reviews from students, faculty, and administrators, and is considered a true gem in undergraduate education.
Eligibility
- Please refer to the Student Facilitator Checklist for a complete list of eligibility requirements. Be mindful that students must be enrolled students for the entirety of the 2024-25 academic year in order to participate in the USIE program.
- Please have your Faculty Mentor review the Faculty Mentor Checklist for a complete set of expectations.
Application Materials
- Completed Application form and Resumé. Upload these files into a single PDF with your first and last name.
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- You may attach a separate document in response to the questions on the Application Form, but please make sure all required materials are uploaded as a combined PDF.
- Completed Faculty Mentor Agreement Form – emailed from your faculty mentor who has agreed to advise you. Please send to usie@college.ucla.edu.
Apply
The application deadline for participation in 2024/2025 is Monday, April 22, 2024, 5:00pm PST. The completed materials (application form and resumé) will need to be combined in a single pdf and uploaded in box. Your Faculty Mentor will also need to send in their Faculty Mentor Agreement SEPARATELY to the USIE Coordinator via e-mail at usie@college.ucla.edu. Please return to this site for the most updated information.
Frequently Asked Questions
More questions? Check out the informational USIE Workshop (held on January 29, 2021). To access the recording of the workshop, please click on the slide above or access the link here.
Are you considering enrolling in a USIE seminar this Spring quarter? Check out the USIE seminars available on the Schedule of Classes! In the drop down menu, select ‘Spring 2024′, Undergraduate Student Initiated Education (USIE) Seminars. Classes labeled ’88S’ are the most current available courses.
Prospective Student Facilitators, for your reference, here is a list of previous USIE seminars to review as you develop your application.
Prospective Student Facilitators, for your reference, here is a list of Faculty Mentors who have previously served as mentors in the USIE Program. However, you are encouraged to choose a Faculty Mentor you are familiar with who can mentor you closely throughout the year.
Student Facilitators
Who is eligible to be a USIE Student Facilitator?
Applicants must have 90+ units upon completion of this Spring quarter, be in good academic standing.
Can a USIE seminar be facilitated by more than one Student Facilitator?
The USIE program is ideally designed for a single student to create and facilitate his/her own spring seminar. While co-facilitation is not encouraged, those interested will have to complete the following:
- Schedule a meeting with the Director and Program Representative of the USIE Program
- Provide a statement that justifies why you wish to co-facilitate and how it will enhance your spring seminar
- Provide a letter of support from your faculty mentor in which he/she agrees to mentor both facilitators and explains why he/she is in support of the co-facilitation
- Complete and submit separate USIE applications
When can I expect to find out if my proposal was selected?
Offers to participate in the USIE program will be made after Week 8 of Spring Quarter.
If selected, when do I facilitate a USIE seminar?
Following successful completion of the pedagogy courses and 188S course contracts during Fall and Winter quarters, and Academic Senate approval of the seminar syllabi, student facilitators offer their seminars during Spring quarter.
How many times can I facilitate a USIE seminar?
Students may only offer a USIE seminar once during their undergraduate career.
Do Student Facilitators have to take pedagogy courses during Fall and Winter quarter?
Yes, all selected facilitators must enroll in Honors 101E. No exceptions will be made for scheduling conflicts. All prospective student facilitators should make a note of this when selecting their Fall and Winter classes. Please check the Registrar’s Schedule of Classes for the Honors Collegium 101E schedule.
How many units is Honors 101E and what is the grade type?
Honors 101E is 1 unit per quarter and Pass/No Pass only.
How many units are the Fall quarter 188SA and the Winter quarter 188SB courses and what are the grade types?
Both the 188SA and 188SB are 1 unit per quarter and Letter Grade only.
How many units is the Spring quarter 188SC course and what is the grade type?
The 188SC course is 2 units and Letter Grade only.
Student enrolling in a USIE seminar
How many times can I enroll in a USIE seminar?
Students may enroll in a USIE seminar twice during their undergraduate career.
How are USIE seminars graded?
USIE seminars offer one unit of academic credit and are graded Pass/No Pass.
Is there a wait list for USIE seminars?
A wait list capacity of five (5) students will be added to each seminar. In order to provide an intimate and engaging environment for discussion, each seminar is capped at 20 students. All student who are still on a wait list after Friday of Week 2 will automatically be dropped.
Faculty Mentors
A student asked me to serve as his/her USIE Faculty Mentor; what time commitment is required?
During Spring quarter, the student applicants work with their faculty mentors to select a topic and develop a course proposal. During Fall and Winter quarters, approved student applicants meet regularly with their mentors to work on the course outline and syllabus, including readings and written assignments. During the following Spring quarter, students facilitate their course and faculty mentors are encouraged to attend at least one of the sessions. Also, regular meetings between student facilitators and faculty mentors are recommended to provide additional guidance and feedback. Faculty mentors are responsible for submitting final grades of students enrolled in the seminar at the end of Spring quarter. Attendance at the year-end USIE reception is also highly encouraged.
Why is my name listed on the Schedule of Classes for a USIE seminar?
USIE seminar cannot be listed on the Schedule of Classes without a faculty member, or instructor of record. We do our best to make undergraduate students aware that these courses are, in fact, led by undergraduate students, NOT the faculty member listed.
Do I have to teach in my Student Facilitator’s seminar during Spring Quarter?
Faculty Mentors are encouraged to attend class sessions, but are not required to teach. The decision to guest lecture is ultimately up to the Faculty Mentor.
For information and questions about the Undergraduate Student Initiated Education Program, please contact:
Jennifer Sandel
USIE Coordinator
Email: usie@college.ucla.edu
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