ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Astin Community Engaged Scholars program provides a unique opportunity for undergraduates to spend a year learning about, and then conducting, community-engaged research. As Brian, an Astin Scholar alum (2017-2018), shares, “The Astin program allowed me to cultivate the idea that you can be passionate for disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations….It strengthens you as an academic in a way that is unmatched at UCLA”.
Scholars enroll in a credit-bearing course each quarter, and receive a financial award to engage in research that will support social justice movements. Always keeping in mind our goal of having a positive impact on the communities we work with, the program has continued to
evolve over the years to incorporate more community voice. In its current conception, Scholars spend the fall quarter learning about the principles of conducting community engaged research, and then during winter and spring quarters, collaborate with graduate students and community activists to produce action-oriented research on a specific social issue, as part of the Institute for Research on Labor & Employment’s (IRLE) long-standing Community Scholars program.
The program is named for visionary UCLA higher education scholars Helen (“Lena”) and Alexander (“Sandy”) Astin to honor their nationally recognized body of research in the area of civic engagement.
“The Astin Community Engaged Scholars program was fundamental to my growth as a leader and researcher, as it reinforced the importance of community-based research. We could not research the public education system in Los Angeles without involving the community of students, parents, and teachers in our work. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with community leaders of important organizations and schools in the Los Angeles area and this has reinforced my desire to become a teacher in my postgraduate career. I will take my experience with this program with me to my position as an English Teaching Assistant in Spain next year.” -Aliena Pitts, Political Science major with a Community Engagement and Social Change minor
2020-2021 Astin Scholars Research Week Presentation
Remembering Lena
Helen S. (Lena) Astin was a pioneer in the research of student experiences while in college, specifically on issues related to women, equity, spirituality, and civic engagement. She was a prolific writer, having authored 14 books among her vast accomplishments in a career that spanned over 50 years. But to the students who have been chosen as Astin Community Engaged Scholars, Lena personified what an educator should be: someone who deeply cared about students.
Her insight, encouragement, and warmth were tremendously meaningful for these young scholars learning how to incorporate their passions into rigorous inquiry. And the feeling was mutual — Lena always had a big smile on her face while listening to the students talk about their research. All of us who knew and worked with Lena have been honored by her company. She is so greatly missed.
To learn more about Lena’s life and career, and to share your own memories of her, please visit the Higher Education Research Institute’s Tribute to Lena.
HOW TO APPLY
The Astin Community Engaged Scholars program funds a select group of upper-division students who demonstrate a strong, ongoing commitment to community engagement and social change. The program is named for visionary UCLA higher education scholars Helen (“Lena”) and Alexander (“Sandy”) Astin to honor their nationally recognized body of research in the area of civic engagement.
In partnership with the UCLA Labor Center, Labor Studies, and the Institute for Research on Labor & Employment, students chosen as Astin Scholars will collaborate with university students at the National Autonomous University in Mexico (UNAM) in a unique bi-national, bi-lingual, three-quarter program that explores how migration, transnational solidarity, and rapid expansion of digital technologies are shaping working conditions and labor politics in Mexico and the U.S. Interpretation and translation will be provided (ability to speak Spanish not required). The types of research conducted will vary, but the goal will be to use methods of community-engaged inquiry to support workers’ rights and social justice in Mexico and the US, with particular attention to the border region. Areas of examination will include: How does migration inform working conditions and labor relations in Mexico and the US? How has work changed since the creation of the North American Free Trade zone in 1994? What is the impact of the new US-Mexico-Canada agreement on the US and Mexican labor movements? And in what ways do workers on the US-Mexico border organize transnationally to promote their interests and defend their rights?
Fall quarter will be spent learning about the practice of conducting community-engaged research. In winter quarter, undergraduates will team with their research partners to design the projects and begin collecting data. Spring quarter will be dedicated to analyzing data collected and sharing the teams’ findings.
Each quarter, undergraduates will enroll in a 4-unit upper division course. The chosen recipients will receive a research scholarship during the year. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their major and have junior or senior standing in the fall of the year they begin the program.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on May 22, 2022.
Questions about the application or the program in general can be sent to Dr. Douglas Barrera at dbarrera@college.ucla.edu. Dr. Barrera is also happy to meet with any prospective applicants to discuss their research ideas. Please email him for an appointment.
Apply for the 2022-23 Astin Scholars program here:
2021 – 2022 Astin Community Engaged Scholars
Mina Anochie
Mina’s major is Public Affairs with a minor in Education and Labor Studies.
Valeria Coronado
Valeria is majoring in Labor Studies and Chicanx/Central American Studies with a minor in Community Engagement and Social Change.
Jeniffer Cruz
Jeniffer is double majoring in Public Affairs and Education and Social Transformation.
Patrosinio Cruz
Patrosinio is majoring in Education and Social Transformation with a minor in Chicana/o and Central American Studies.
Chloe Kauffman
Chloe is majoring in Anthropology with a minor in African American Studies.
Jazmin Rivera
Jazmin is double majoring in Labor Studies and Political Science with a minor in Chicanx & Central American Studies.
Lauryn Wang
Lauryn plans to major in History and double minor in Community Engagement and Social Change and Public Affairs.