John R. Lewis College Distinction

This will be a part of the forthcoming Good Trouble Academy, tune in here for updates

John R. Lewis College strives to recognize students who incorporate the social justice and community theme in their undergraduate career. To encourage outstanding achievement, students may be recognized with a “John R. Lewis College Academic Distinction” upon successful completion of research experiences, course work, service and leadership and/or writing intensive courses focused on social justice and community themes. We acknowledge that learning styles and educational commitments are unique and personal. “Academic Distinction” is unique from other college awards, in that all qualifying work is based on research experiences and academic courses taken for credit towards a UCSC undergraduate degree.

This award comes with special recognition at commencement, a certificate of achievement signed by the John R. Lewis College Provost, and can be used on future resumes and graduate school applications. 

Directions: Self-nomination is required. To submit a nomination for yourself please either fill out this survey or make a copy of this document (File > Make a copy), and fill it out. To submit, click submit on your survey or share your document, or download it as a pdf, and send it to the John R. Lewis College Advisors (jrlcadvising@ucsc.edu). The deadlines to apply for distinction are also the deadlines to apply for graduation.

Eligibility Criteria

1. UCSC cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher at the time of application and in the quarter in which the student is graduating.

2. Proof of completion of at least 15 units relevant to social justice and community with a combined GPA of 3.5 or higher in those courses. Provide an explanation of each course with attention to how the course fulfills the thematic and academic requirements. Examples include:

   1. CLTE/JRLC 35: Knowledge and Justice

   2. CLTE/JRLC 135: Apprenticeship in Community-Engaged Research

   3. CLTE/JRLC 85: Social Justice Issues

   4. CLTE/JRLC 95: Rumi’s Field: Nonviolent Communication and Social Justice

      1. (Fill in, please describe) Other departments offer relevant coursework, including:

      2. CRES: Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

      3. Sociology

      4. Community Studies

   5. Other Departmental courses related to the theme of social justice and community

3. Proof of completion of at least 2 credits or the equivalent (6 hours/week) focused on the application of topics related to the theme, such as:

   1. Peer-to-peer or student taught classes, such as: 

      1. CLTE/JRLC 191: Teaching Social Justice Issues Workshop

      2. Social justice and community themed tutoring positions

      3. Other student-led departmental courses related to the theme of social justice and community

   2. Research internship (including for-credit, volunteer, and paid positions), related to the themes through on- or off-campus organizations such as:

      1. Everett Program

      2. Blum Center

      3. Community-Initiated Student-Engaged Research (CISER)

      4. Institute for Social Transformation (Social Sciences)

      5. Science & Justice Research Center 

      6. Undergraduate research with HACER 

      7. Other theme-related community engaged scholarship/research

   3. A senior thesis, capstone project, or other independent research related to the application of the theme of social justice and community

4. Completion of 2 of the 3 reflection questions below.

Submission of this Survey or Application by the deadline.