Enhanced Academic Success Experience Initiative

The Enhanced Academic Success Experience (EASE) initiative intends to promote academic success for the 1st year students in the School of Biological Sciences. EASE is comprised of cohorts of no more than 30 first year students who take their Biology and Chemistry courses together throughout their 1st year at UCI.  Each cohort will have a dedicated EASE Peer Coach and Academic Counselor to provide added support and guidance.  In addition, cohorts will receive further assistance through a weekly EASE seminar.  EASE guarantees its participants priority enrollment into Biology and Chemistry courses throughout their 1st year.

Benefits Enjoyed by Ease Participants

Smaller Classrooms

You will take courses with the same 30 students.

“I liked how I always knew someone in my class before I had it and how everyone was friendly with each other.  UCI is a big school and it’s nice to feel like you know a couple of familiar faces” – Student from 2014-2015 Cohort

Guaranteed Enrollment

Get access to courses before the normal enrollment windows open.

“You don’t have to worry about signing up for your core bio classes.  The times are usually really good and structured well in the week.” – Student from 2014-2015 Cohort

Connect with Students

Make friends, create study groups, and have a closer connection to the Biological Sciences School of Bio Sci.

“I have made amazing friends in my cohort. EASE has helped me find my ‘people’ at UCI that I can have fun with as well as study and learn from. EASE gave me a ton of resources” -Student from 2015-2016 Cohort

FAQ

Invitation based process: Specific 1st year Biological Science majors will be invited via email to the EASE Initiative.

*Due to scheduling limitations, Athletes and Honors students will be excluded from this initiative.

The EASE Seminar is a one, 50 minute session a week.  It is led by an EASE Peer Coach, which is an upperclassman Bio Sci student.  These students will help provide support in Biology and General Chemistry courses.  They have a background in tutoring and have excelled in the courses themselves.  In addition, the EASE Peer Coaches serve as guides to all campus resources and opportunities.

Fall

Winter

Spring

Bio Sci 2A Bio Sci 94 Chem 1C
Bio Sci 93 Chem 1B Chem 1LC
Chem 1A & Chem 1X Bio Sci 2D EASE Seminar Bio Sci 2D EASE Seminar
Bio Sci 2D EASE Seminar    

If you received an invitation and applied to the EASE Initiative, you will be notified if you are a member of the cohort via email before your SPOP (Student Parent Orientation Program) Academic Advising Session.

Next Step:

You will receive your EASE course schedule during your SPOP Academic Advising Session. At that time you will enroll in 1 additional course for Fall quarter.

THEN YOU ARE READY FOR FALL!

For Winter and Spring Quarter:

You will receive more information in Bio Sci 2A regarding Winter quarter enrollment.

The Biological Sciences Student Affairs office will remain in close communication and will guide you along the registration process.

Have more questions?

Contact the Directors:

Kristin Fung & Melanie Nakanishi

BioSciEASE@uci.edu

949.824.5318