About
You’re accepted to UC Santa Cruz, and you’re counting the days until you come to campus. We get it: Now you can jumpstart your first year with Summer Edge!
Summer Edge (formerly known as Summer Academy) gives incoming first year and transfer students a head start on degree progress and campus life before the rush of fall. For six weeks, eat in the dining halls, live in the residence halls, and earn seven or more credits in much smaller class sizes — all while making friends that will last a lifetime.
Overview and Program Eligibility
The Summer Session office coordinates two early start programs called Summer Edge for new incoming students admitted to UC Santa Cruz for the fall quarter. These programs allow incoming students to get on the fast track to graduation by taking summer classes. The program also facilitates connect with peers, faculty, staff, and building confidence on campus. Eligible students include anyone admitted to UCSC for the fall quarter.
- First Year Edge (formerly known as Summer Academy: First Year)
- Transfer Edge (formerly known as Summer Academy: Transfer)
Course Work
The Edge programs coincide with Session 2 of UCSC’s Summer Session for a total of 5 weeks of course instruction. Throughout the program, the First Year and Transfer Edge allow students to earn credits towards graduation by taking one required 2-credit academic success course offered exclusively to Edge students, in addition to one 5-credit course of choice. For the International Edge, an advanced academic writing course is offered to prepare students for the expectations and workload of writing and research at UCSC.
Summer Session vs. Summer Edge, what is the difference?
The Summer Session office coordinates UCSC’s optional summer quarter (referred to generally as ‘Summer Session’). Summer Session is two 5-week Sessions. Coinciding with Session 1 and Session 2 courses are a smaller number of 8-week and 10-week courses. Summer Session has an open enrollment policy, all UCSC students, junior and senior high school students, students from other universities and members of the community are all invited to take Summer Session courses at UCSC.
The Summer Edge programs are exclusive to incoming fall admitted students with the mission of giving new students a head start academically and to support their transition to UCSC. While the courses taken by Edge students take place during Summer Session’s second session alongside non-Edge students, these programs differ from general Summer Session by:
- Offering an academic success course tailored to new incoming students
- Giving students direct access to a Peer Mentor – second, third, and fourth-year students who provide student to student support, guidance, and role modeling
- Providing students with the opportunity to meet other incoming students
- Engaging students in activities, trips, and workshops planned especially for Edge students
- Giving students a chance to bond and connect with other new students as they build a supportive community of peers before fall
