UCLA reaches out to the best and brightest students from all walks of life, Chancellor Gene Block told an audience Monday night, and nowhere is that more evident than in the campus's Academic Advancement Program.

 

In his first official visit to the AAP, Block praised the program, which serves first-generation, low-income and traditionally underrepresented students through academic advising, tutoring, scholarships and other support services. The AAP also provides mentoring for students who apply to professional and graduate schools.

 

"AAP has been remarkable in identifying and nurturing talent and providing support," said Block, who also took a tour of the AAP facilities and chatted with students about services the program provides. "The mentoring here is second to none."

 

Block also took questions from AAP students, who wanted to know whether he thought UCLA should offer more services to transfer students and what the university is doing to increase the number of African American students on campus.

 

The program, which was started in 1971 and serves 6,000 students annually, will celebrate its 35th anniversary at a special event on Feb. 28, 2008, at 7 p.m., in Royce Hall. The AAP will honor alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers and the program's supporters.