Who are we?
Mission and Approach
The SEED Scholars Honors Program’s mission is to cultivate the minds of 21st century STEM students and create a community of scholars at Berkeley focused on the interdisciplinary nature of science. Our program aspires to provide a multidimensional support system given the diversity of students’ life
experiences.
Preparing students to enter the world of STEM requires an acknowledgement that the field is ever changing. We focus on growth through actualization, recognizing the unique needs of each student, and their individual wants for success. SEED works with scholars to develop their academic, research, and professional selves as they enter Berkeley, matriculate as an undergraduate, and go forth after graduation.
We aim to support our scholars by promoting a sense of belonging and providing mentoring by peers, graduate students, and faculty.
SEED also immerses students in research and instills in them a passion for innovation and academic excellence, challenging notions about underrepresented communities. The goals and successes of SEED have changed scholars’ own thinking about their academic and professional aspirations. These changes have a ripple effect on the perceptions of faculty who interact with SEED scholars and on the perspectives of other UC Berkeley students who learn beside them. Our hope for the scholars is that they become leaders in a multicultural society, educating and inspiring others to reach their full potential.
Together, we in the SEED Scholars Honors Program aim to change the face of STEM research and industry, making our program a place where the next generation can grow to become their best self.
Our History and Scope
Meyerhoff Model
Based at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the Meyerhoff Scholars Program began in 1988 focusing on providing financial assistance, mentoring, advising, and research experience to African American male undergraduate students committed to achieving Ph.D. degrees in STEM; in 1990 the program would extend its reach to African American women. By 1996 Meyerhoff would become available to people of all backgrounds, emphasizing a commitment to increasing the representation of minorities in science and engineering.
The program adheres to 13 key components, each serving as a means to promote the overall success of their scholars. Meyerhoff students are encouraged to create environments of both challenge and mutual support that allows for scholarly growth and accountability. Between their summer bridge program, academic advising, and participation in research, conferences, and internships, scholars receive a message that nothing is impossible if they put their mind to it.
Empowered by the Meyerhoff legacy, on April 9th 2019, UC Berkeley would initiate a replicate program, titled the SEED Scholars Honors Program, to apply Meyerhoff's models of success while supporting our own student populations.
Program Adaptation
The SEED Scholars Honors Program broke ground in 2019, with program development completed by Summer 2020 to welcome its inaugural cohort of 20 scholars on July 5, 2020. The program covers all STEM-based disciplines in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society; College of Chemistry; College of Engineering; College of Letters and Science; and Rausser College of Natural Resources. In partnership with UMBC and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the SEED Scholars Honors Program is one of just two programs in the state of California to adopt the successful Meyerhoff model to a preeminent research-intensive institution, the other being UC San Diego's PATHS Scholars Program.
With a commitment to building a scientific community that is diverse in all forms and meanings, the program promotes understanding of identity and experiences, while continuing to provide academic and professional support to scholars. The program is guided by the motto Fiat Lux, bringing knowledge to light, illuminating solutions to better the human condition, and serving as a beacon of opportunity for promising minds.
The SEED Scholars Honors Program is guided by six pillars grounded in academic excellence, community, research experience, cultural change, and accountability.
Our pillars are:
Character
The essence of who we are as people, character allows us to understand ourselves and others. It is how we live out our values, contribute to society in a positive manner, and guide us towards the realization of who we are and who we want to be. For SEED it helps us to ensure that we, as a program, encourage each other's whole-self and uplift our peers.
Resilience
The ability for people to endure despite systemic issues that create adverse conditions for success. Educational resilience refers to the capacity to succeed in school despite exposure to personal and environmental adversities. At SEED this means pushing through problems, putting your best foot forward, and not giving up despite what comes your way. For us, it is recognizing that you have the ability to succeed, knowing how to ask for help and when to give it, acknowledging you have a team behind you should you need help, and an understanding that, though you may stumble, you will make it.
Professionalism
What it looks like to present oneself outwardly in professional settings to others. It is an understanding and acceptance that professionalism looks different for everyone, and a promise that our professionalism does not stop others from being their most full self in a space due to outdated modes of thinking. SEED aims to not perpetuate harmful ideologies on professionalism through unpacking of norms and what it means to show up in spaces.
Leadership
Belief that the recognition of strengths in oneself and others can better bring about positive change. It is an understanding that to be a leader means to acknowledge different perspectives, recognize you are not above learning from others, and use inclusivity in your approach to empower people. Leadership looks different to everyone and should not be seen as a hierarchy.
Service
The human component to STEM. To give back to others, go out into the community with learned skills to teach and help. It is here we uplift the whole, not just the self. However, we must stay mindful of three things:
-
Service can take place anywhere
-
To provide service is to exert energy. Be cautious of fatigue and acknowledge when care must be taken for oneself.
-
What some see as service, others see as free labor. Know your boundaries and stake claim to your worth and work.
Unity
The ability to support each other, and aid in the assurance of individual and group successes. The ability to come together as a community, to be representatives of our program, and empower each other. In SEED we speak up for, and raise up others, never put them down.