Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for UndocuPathways

If you can’t find an answer, or if you have follow-up questions, please email the career staff at: undocumented@ucdavis.edu. UC Davis Student, please use your UC Davis email address.

Eligibility 

• Who is eligible to apply for experiential learning funding through UndocuPathways?
• To be eligible you must: 
  - Be currently enrolled UC Davis student in at least 12 units of full-time status as defined by your degree objective
  - Identify as AB 540–eligible for tuition purposes  
  - Have submitted a California Dream Act Application (CADAA)  
  - Demonstrate financial need, as determined by CADAA 
  Students with work authorization (such as DACA or TPS) are now eligible, if they meet all other criteria above. If you are unsure whether you qualify, feel free to contact us before applying at undocumented@ucdavis.edu.  
• How do I know if I qualify for this funding?
• To be eligible you must: 
  - Filed a California Dream Act Application (CADAA) 
  - Identify as AB 540–eligible for tuition purposes 
  - Have submitted a California Dream Act Application (CADAA)  
  - Are engaged in or are actively searching for an experiential learning opportunity
  - Demonstrate financial need, as determined by CADAA
• Do I need to be enrolled in a specific course to qualify?
• Undergraduate students must enroll in a 1 unit, credit-bearing course with the USRC that accompanies their experiential learning activity. This course will be part of the UndocuPathways Experience and Support Experience provided to encourage opportunities for self-reflection and developing a growth mindset.  
  Enrollment instructions in the 1-unit course will be shared with program participants once USRC Staff confirms program eligibility for prospective applicants.  
  For undergraduate, graduate and professional students, enrollment on the 1-unit course can be substituted for a previously or currently taken 3- or 4-unit course that directly aligns with your experiential learning opportunity and post-graduation goals.  

Types of Opportunities

• What is Experiential Learning and what types of experiential learning opportunities are covered by this funding?   

• At UC Davis, experiential learning is an educational approach where students learn by doing, applying classroom knowledge to hands-on and real-world settings.  

  This learning by doing method moves beyond traditional academics to build skills and understanding through direct experiences. Experiential learning opportunities include, but are not limited to the following examples:  
  
  - Entrepreneurship and creative endeavors
  - Research and fieldwork (in or out of courses)
  - Internships (including those with domestic travel opportunities such as UCDC or UC Center Sacramento)  
  - Clinical experiences (Legal clinics, medical clinics, etc.)
  - Community engagement (participation in activities that involve community service)  ---- Supervised volunteering (for example executive position within a registered student organization, volunteering with your church, Gurdwara, mosque, synagogue, temple, etc.)  
  - Applied Coursework and Practicums (Independent Study, Honors Thesis, etc.) 
  - Service learning and student leadership projects (participation in Vice Chancellor Cabinet of Student Leaders, Chancellors Undergraduate Advisory Board, ASUCD Engagement, etc.)  
  
  Your opportunity must be directly supervised and involve active participation in a learning process that connects to your academic, professional, or personal goals.  If your experiential learning activity involves direct experience in support of academic or career goals and is supervised, it likely qualifies. 
  Please contact undocumented@ucdavis.edu if you have questions on whether your engagement opportunity qualifies for UndocuPathways Funding. 

• How often do I need to engage in my experiential learning opportunity to qualify for funding?
• To make the most out of your experiential learning opportunity, you will need to commit to showing up for it regularly! As part of the application process, you will be asked to indicate the number of hours per week you will engage and how many times you check in with your supervisor (e.g., weekly, daily). 
  - Less than 5 hours/week
  - 5-10 hours/week
  - 11-20 hours/week
  - More than 20 hours/week
  However, it is worth noting that funding eligibility does not depend on meeting a certain number of hours per week or per quarter, as we understand the need for flexibility to humanize students’ experiences in higher education by allowing them to prioritize competing priorities throughout the duration of the program.  
  How often do I need to engage in my experiential learning opportunity to qualify for funding?
• Can I apply if my experiential learning opportunity is remote?
• Yes, remote opportunities (not location-specific) are eligible for funding. Whether your work is in California, out of state, or entirely virtual, the key factors are that your opportunity is supervised, connects with your academic or career goals, and meets the program's criteria.
• What if my experiential learning opportunity is unpaid? Can I still receive funding?
• Yes, this program is to support unpaid experiential learning opportunities, and you are eligible for funding as long as they meet the program’s criteria. The key factors are that your experience must be supervised and should connect with your academic or professional goals. This funding supports students who engage in meaningful, educational, and career-relevant activities. Be sure to provide specific details about your opportunity, even if it’s unpaid, in your application.
• Are there any restrictions on the types of organizations or companies where I can engage in experiential learning activities?
• In general, there are no restrictions on the types of organizations or companies that you can participate in, as long as your experiential learning opportunity meets our involvement criteria. However, the organization or company must be reputable, and your role must be directly supervised. Activities in non-academic or non-professional settings (e.g., personal or family businesses) may not qualify unless there is clear academic or career relevance.
• What if I am not sure how many hours, I can realistically commit to my experiential learning opportunity?
• If you are not sure about how many hours you can commit to your opportunity, provide an estimate based on your expected availability. The number of hours should reflect your genuine commitment to the opportunity in a way that supports your pos-graduation goals at a comfortable pace and without compromising your health and overall wellbeing. If your schedule changes after you apply, we understand and would like to hear from you regarding changes as soon as possible.  
• Can I apply for funding if I am working on a personal or self-directed project?
• Funding is primarily intended for supervised experiential learning opportunities that connect to your academic, professional, or personal goals. While personal or self-directed projects may be considered, they must be clearly linked to your career or academic development and involve supervision or mentorship. If you are unsure, feel free to contact the UndocuPathways team for clarification at undocumented@ucdavis.edu.  
• I am not sure if my internship qualifies as experiential learning for this funding. Can you help? 

• If you are unsure whether your internship qualifies, think about whether it meets these key criteria: 
  - Supervised Learning: You must have a direct supervisor who oversees your work and provides mentorship. 
  - Relevant to Your Goals: The internship should be related to your academic, professional, or personal development. 
  - Reflection: The opportunity should involve active reflection on what you're learning and how it contributes to your growth. 
  If you would like additional guidance or clarification before submitting your application, you can email us at undocumented@ucdavis.edu.  

Application

• What do I need to submit to complete my application?
• To complete your application, you will need to provide: 
  1) Your UC Davis student ID and email address. 
  2) A description of your experiential learning opportunity (100 words or less). 
  3) How the opportunity connects to your academic or professional goals (50-100 words). 
  4) Your supervisor's name and email. 
  5) An unofficial transcript to verify your academic standing. You MUST upload your transcript to be able to submit the online application - the portal will NOT allow you to click submit successfully without this option. 
  6) Confirmation that you have filed the California Dream Act Application and meet all eligibility requirements. 
  7) Information about your work schedule, including hours per week and how you engage with your supervisor (in-person, email, video call, etc.). 
  8) Details about your future goals (e.g., graduate school, professional school, entrepreneurship, etc.).
• Do you have any additional tips for first time applicants?  
• Yes! Here are some of our best tips:  
  - Plan ahead: If you need funding for a specific term or project, be sure to apply before the deadline for that quarter.  
  - Contact your supervisor: You will need to provide their contact details, so reach out to them early.  
  - Reflect on your goals: Be clear on how your experiential learning opportunity ties into your personal, academic, or career goals.
  - Consciously commit to the opportunity: note that you will have to do a (1) credit course with us to accompany your opportunity if selected. This course will require you to do 3 things:  
       1) 2-3 page double spaced Engagement report at the end of the quarter/semester you have applied for  
       2) Attend at least (1) USRC Pathways Workshop in Winter or Spring, or a different event 
       3) Review this year’s USRC 101 Slide deck to learn more about additional resources and support you can access as part of the USRC student community at UCD . 

Funding

• Is there a maximum amount of funding I can receive?
• Yes, funding is subject to Financial Aid Review. Limits vary by term and eligibility as outlined below:  
  
  - Undergraduates & Professional Students: *up to $2,400 per quarter  
  (maximum up to $7,200) 
  - Graduate Students: *up to $9,166 per term ($27,500 max per academic year).  
  
  If you are on a semester schedule, it is up to $13,750 per term.  
• When will I receive funding?
• Funding is distributed on a quarterly/semester basis. The application is open quarterly/each semester and reviewed once per term.  
  You will receive information about the timing of fund distribution once your application is approved. Important: Be sure to check the deadlines on our UndocuPathways webpage for each funding round to ensure you apply and receive funding on time.  
• What happens if my application is not approved for funding? 

• If your application is not approved, you will be notified and provided with feedback explaining the reasons for the decision. Additionally, we will offer guidance on other resources available at the Undocumented Student Resource Center (USRC) to support you in pursuing alternative funding sources and opportunities that meet your needs. We encourage you to apply again in future rounds!  

  If you have further questions, feel free to contact via email at undocumented@ucdavis.edu.  We are happy to help! 

• Can I apply for funding in different quarters?
• Yes, you can apply for funding in different quarters, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. Each funding round operates on a quarterly basis, and you may be eligible to apply again in future rounds, depending on your ongoing involvement in experiential learning opportunities.
• If I received funding one quarter and am still doing the same opportunity for the rest of the academic year, do I need to apply for UndocuPathways again?
• Yes, if you are still participating in the same opportunity but are applying for funding in a different quarter, you will need to submit a new application. You should provide updated information, including any changes in your role, hours, or supervisor, and ensure that your activity continues to meet the program's criteria.

After Applying

• How do I report on my experiential learning activities?
• As part of your participation in UndocuPathways, you are required to submit an engagement report at the end of every quarter for which you receive funding support. This report will detail your activities, how they are connected to your personal and academic goals, and lessons learned to incorporate towards your post-graduation goals.  
• What happens if my experiential learning opportunity changes after I apply?  
• If there are any significant changes to your experiential learning opportunity after you have applied, such as a change in supervisor, location, or the nature of your role, you must notify us via email at undocumented@ucdavis.edu. This helps ensure that your application remains accurate and that funding is still appropriate for the new circumstances. You may be asked to submit an updated description of your experience or other relevant documentation. Keeping your application up to date will help prevent any delays or issues with receiving funding in the future.