PACE Fellowship Program

The PACE Fellowship Program application for the 2025–26 academic year closed on August 22, 2025. Please check back during Spring Quarter for details about the next application cycle.

What is the PACE Fellowship Programs?

The Personal and Career Experience (PACE) Fellowship program provides AB 540 and/or CA Dream Act undergraduate students opportunities to participate in an Experiential Learning Opportunity (ELO) on campus that incorporates faculty/staff mentorship, and professional and scholastic development, with financial aid support. Students who participate in the PACE Fellowship program receive a scholarship distributed through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.

The PACE Fellowship Program is funded by the State of California, Budget Act of 2022-23 AB 179, and the University of California President’s Fellowships for Experiential Learning. These funding sources support the program's mission and activities.

Program History and Need for Inclusive Fellowships

Undocumented Student Services (USS) developed the PACE program in response to the need for inclusive fellowships at UC San Diego that provide professional development opportunities to all students – regardless of immigration status – that foster a deeper connection to the institution. 

"Inclusive Fellowships" (a term coined by Immigrants Rising) for undocumented students are experiential learning opportunities hosted by campus units or departments that provide aid (e.g., stipends, grants, or scholarships) for the participating fellow regardless of the student's immigration status.

Inclusive fellowships do not require recipients to have work authorization or a social security number. Inclusive fellowships are flexible mechanisms by which educational institutions support the learning and professional development needs of undocumented students who are unable to secure a campus job or internship.

The PACE Fellowship Program was created following the guidance of Immigrants Rising in conjunction with UCSD's outlined Competencies.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to participate in the PACE Fellowship Program if you are:

An undergraduate with current enrollment at UC San Diego for the current academic year in which you apply.
Ineligible for federal financial aid (e.g., Pell Grants, Direct Loans).
Have AB 540 California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption.
Have a California Dream Act (CADAA) Application on file.
Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI) is equal to or less than the maximum to qualify for a Pell Grant ($6,600).
Demonstrate sufficient financial need.

Don’t meet the PACE Fellowship criteria? Visit the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office to explore other available scholarship or fellowship opportunities.

Guidelines for Experiential Learning Opportunity

Participants of the PACE Fellowship Program learn under the guidance of a mentor associated with an on-campus host site. The Experiential Learning Opportunity (ELO) is a key component of the PACE Program and is critical in helping students thrive and learn important skills needed to be successful in the professional world. There are two methods students can use to find ELOs for the year: 

The first way is for students to work with their mentor to design and implement an experiential learning opportunity aligned with their personal interests and professional needs. For students wanting to create their own ELOs with a mentor, check out our  How to Find a Host/Mentor and  Developing an ELO guides. We highly recommend reviewing these documents before applying! 
The second way is for students to review the Experiential Learning Opportunity Directory to explore opportunities Undocumented Student Services has found for PACE fellows. As campus Departments submit ELO’s we will upload them to the directory, so continue to check back for updated information. 
If students are interested in any of the ELO’s listed, they must follow the instructions before applying to the program: 
1. Make an appointment with Pricila Rodriguez here to get you connected to the Host Department.
2. Students, mentors and the Program Coordinator will all meet to conduct an informal interview about the ELO being offered.
3. If the interview goes well and the mentor and student have agreed on the ELO, students will submit the ELO when they apply to the PACE Program.

Please don't reach out to the Host Department on your own, as the PACE program is a collaboration between USS and the Host Department, therefore all parties need to be present to have an informative discussion.

Track 1 & Track 2 Structure Overview

For the 2025-26 year, the PACE program will offer a two-track structure.

The first track students will attend their experiential learning opportunity (ELO) and take part in a research-based Academic Internship Program (AIP) Course. This track follows a  cohort-based learning model where students meet regularly with their cohort to develop community, participate in discussions, and work on their project for the PACE End of Year Symposium.

The second track primely focuses on the experiential learning opportunity and project-based professional development. Students do not enroll in the AIP course but still work with their mentor on their project for the PACE End of Year Symposium.  

The two tracks offer flexibility to accommodate student’s capacities and needs better. Please note that each track has a different scholarship amount attached to it. Students are eligible to receive up to the full amount of the scholarship if they have room in their financial aid packages.   

Track 1: AIP + ELO (Up to a $7,200 scholarship)

Commit 10 hours weekly to an ELO for the entire academic year
Complete all PACE requirements for the academic year:
- Welcome Retreat/Orientation - in person in October
- Submit Quarterly Program Assessments
- Enroll in PACE AIP course all three quarters and attend in-person class bi-weekly – no exceptions.
  - Class is Pass/No Pass
  - Complete research component of course
- Visit USS space to study/hang out 10 hours per quarter
- Meet one-on-one with mentor each quarter
- Meet one-on-one with USS staff each quarter
- Participate in End of Year Symposium

Track 2: ELO (Up to a $4,500 scholarship)

Commit 8-10 hours weekly to an ELO for the entire academic year
- Welcome Retreat/Orientation - in person in October
- Submit Quarterly Program Assessments
- Complete all PACE requirements for the academic year:
  - Visit USS space to study/hang out 5 hours per quarter
  - Meet one-on-one with mentor each quarter
  - Meet one-on-one with USS staff each quarter
  - Participate in End of Year Symposium

Application Materials

In order to apply to the PACE Fellowship Program students must submit the following in order to be considered. Please be aware that each track has slightly different requirements.  

Track 1: AIP + ELO

1-page single-spaced Cover Letter answering the following prompt:
- What does campus community mean to you both professionally and personally and how does the PACE Program inform this understanding? How does your immigration status impact your understanding of community?
Submit a writing sample of 500 minimum to 800 words max
Submit ELO with a confirmed mentor
Resume/CV
Financial Aid screenshot

Track 2: ELO

1-page single-spaced Cover Letter answering the following prompt:
- What does campus community mean to you both professionally and personally and how does the PACE Program inform this understanding? How does your immigration status impact your understanding of community?
Submit ELO with a confirmed mentor
Resume/CV
Financial Aid screenshot

Application Timeline

The PACE Fellowship Program application for the 2025–26 academic year closed on August 22, 2025. Please check back during Spring Quarter for details about the next application cycle.

Stay up to date via our newsletter, Instagram, or Facebook. Contact Program Coordinator, Pricila Rodriguez (brr023@ucsd.edu) for additional information.

PACE Fellowship Mentors

Through the PACE Fellowship Program, participants are paired with mentors from on-campus experiential learning opportunity host sites, receiving guidance and support crucial to their success. Under the mentor's guidance, students design and implement experiential learning experiences tailored to their interests and professional goals. As part of the program, students also complete a project connected to their host site, applying their skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.

Expectations for Mentors/Host Departments

Mentors must be a part of a UC San Diego unit or department. We do not accept mentors outside UC San Diego. Mentors need to be UC San Diego staff or faculty. Graduate students such as TAs or GAs cannot serve as mentors. 
Mentor/Host provide the fellow with an experiential learning opportunity (ELO). The mentor/host create and fill out  ELO Template with roles, responsibilities, expectations, and activities for the fellow. The plan to be developed in consultation with the PACE fellow considering their professional and personal development goals. Review how to Develop an Experiential Learning Opportunity document and the PACE Fellowship Interest Guide for more details about the process.   
Mentors complete the USS UndocuAlly Training module on UC Learning upon confirming participation and the in-person training provided by USS professional staff in September.  
Mentors must provide ongoing feedback pertaining to the learning opportunity and holistic mentorship to support the professional and personal growth of the fellow. 
- The Mentor and the fellow should meet at least once per quarter for a professional or social activity. These activities may include: grabbing lunch, getting coffee, meeting to discuss a relevant topic or even looking over a job application. Mentors should be proactive and take initiative to interact with fellows outside their learning opportunity. These meetings can count as the 10 hours per week minimum.  
Mentors complete PACE evaluation forms or other documentation when needed.
Mentor maintain communication with PACE Fellowship Program Coordinator, Pricila Rodriguez <brr023@ucsd.edu>, as appropriate.

Mentor Application

Are you interested in hosting or mentoring a PACE fellow? Complete the host/mentor interest form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an existing internship or student position be offered as the experiential learning opportunity?

No. An experiential learning opportunity  cannot replace an existing paid position or employee. However, the learning opportunity offered can have similar responsibilities as an existing internship or student paid position — with the addition of holistic mentorship and consideration of the fellow’s professional and personal development needs.

Is the host department guaranteed a student?

No. A host or mentor obtaining a student depends on the student’s interest in pursuing the experiential learning opportunity being offered. However, by filling out the Host/Mentor Application, we recognize that your department is open to hosting PACE fellows and may host fellows for future fellowship cohorts.

Can a host assign more than one mentor to their student?

Yes. More than one mentor can support the PACE fellow as long as the mentorship component is being provided to the student.

Can the host have more than one PACE fellow?

Yes, as long as the mentor assigned has the capacity to provide holistic mentorship to all the PACE fellows they are hosting.

My department/unit is interested in funding a PACE Fellow?

Please contact us at undoc@ucsd.edu for more information.

Is the PACE Fellowship Program open to students who do not have AB540 or CA Dream Act financial aid?

Students who participate in PACE Fellowship program must have AB 540 status or receive the CA Dream Act. 

Can a fellowship commitment be terminated by the PACE fellow or the host/mentor, and if so, under what circumstances?

If the student or host/mentor wishes to discontinue their participation in the PACE Fellowship Program, we ask that they communicate with the USS Program Coordinator for guidance and support on how to move forward. We ask both hosts and fellows to not terminate their commitments without first communicating with the USS team.

Do PACE fellows receive employee benefits when doing a PACE fellowship? Do they need to report the scholarship on their taxes?

As part of this fellowship, UC San Diego is not liable for injury sustained or health conditions that may arise during a student's participation in the PACE Fellowship Program. In addition, since this fellowship is not considered to be employment, you will not receive any of the employee benefits that regular UC-San Diego employees receive, including, but not limited to, health insurance, vacation or sick pay, paid holidays, or participation in the 401(k) plan. Fellowship stipends are not reported on a year-end tax form (either W-2 or Form 1099), but it may be necessary to self-report them on IRS Form 1040 and to make estimated tax payments directly to the IRS. Please check with your tax accountant regarding the need to make estimated tax payments.

PACE Fellowship Report 24-25

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