UC LISTEN! Listening to Youth to Improve Access to the University of California System

• In Event: Youth and Student Voices From the Margins: Advocacy, Access, and Aspirations in the Education System

Abstract

This study utilized Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) methodology to explore access to the University of California system via youth-driven, equity-focused, college access projects. We recruited and trained 4 teams of high school students 1) to study teen-identified questions studying barriers to UC aspirations, applications, and/or yield, and 2) to work alongside educators and the University of California San Diego to test change ideas to improve college access, particularly to UC schools, within participating schools/districts. The findings of this study highlighted the powerful role that youth voices can have on understanding complex college access issues.

Authors

• Ivan Valdovinos, San Diego Community College District

• Susan S. Yonezawa, University of California - San Diego

• Minhtuyen Mai, University of California - San Diego

• Annie Pham, University of California - San Diego