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ASCEND Student Experience

We are excited to welcome students for Fall 2025!

Every Fall, the ASCEND Student Experience is offered to help students with their academic transition to UC Merced. ASCEND provides incoming first-year and transfer students with essential academic skills and an understanding of university expectations, and it connects you with vital campus resources to help you continue your successful transition to life as a Bobcat. 

All new UC Merced students will participate in the ASCEND activities during the first two weeks of the Fall 2025 semester. Workshop descriptions and details can be found further down this page. You can also look up the ASCEND schedule on your mobile device.

 

 For the best experience and most up to date information, make sure to download the UC Merced Connect App!

After downloading the app, log in with your UCM student credentials. Once logged in, you will be able to view the homepage where the ASCEND Module will be located. Press the ASCEND New Experience box or "module", where you can view the conference schedule and navigate it throughout the conference!

 

UC Merced campus map can be found here (you may also download the campus map directly to your device from the link provided). 

First-Year Students

Students will complete:

Transfer Students

Students will complete:

Workshops

ChatGPT

This workshop will introduce students to generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools with a particular focus on large language models like ChatGPT. Students will learn about ethical, environmental, and social issues surrounding AI tools in our wider society and implications for their own ethical, responsible use of this type of technology.

Participants will engage in a conversation about what it means to be an undergraduate at a research university and the university’s culture of academic honesty, and reflect on their personal choices when considering using this technology. 

  • Monday, August 25th, 11:00 am in the Student Services Building, Room 170 (SSB 170)
  • Monday, August 25th, 2:00 pm in the Student Services Building, Room 170 (SSB 170)
  • Monday, August 25th, 3:00 pm in the Student Services Building, Room 170 (SSB 170)

IT101 – Tech Essentials for New Students

Attend this session to learn the basics about IT at UC Merced.

In the first half, we’ll cover the services we offer students (at no additional cost!), how to get help if you have tech problems, some basics about keeping your information safe, plus insider tips about computer labs, printing, and gaming/device registration on campus.

In the second half, we open the presentation to the audience to get all those burning tech questions answered!

  • Workshop Times
    • Monday, August 25th, 9:00 am in Student Services Building, Room 160 (SSB 160
    • Monday, August 25th, 10:00 am in Student Services Building, Room 160 (SSB 160)
    • Monday, August 25th, 1:00 pm in Student Services Building, Room 160 (SSB 160
    • Monday, August 25th, 2:00 pm in Student Services Building, Room 160 (SSB 160)
  • Other Resources

More information about the Office of Information Technology can be found here. 

Bobcats Live with Integrity: Academic Integrity & Campus Conduct 101

This interactive presentation breaks down the Code of Student Conduct in a way that actually makes sense. We’ll cover the essentials: academic integrity, hazing, and social behavior. Expect real talk, relatable examples, and the chance to ask questions. Let’s make sure your college experience starts on the right foot!

  • Monday, August 25th, 1:00 pm in Student Services Building, Room 120 (SSB 120)
  • Monday, August 25th, 2:00 pm in Student Services Building, Room 120 (SSB 120)
  • Monday, August 25th, 3:00 pm in Student Services Building, Room 120 (SSB 120)

More information about Academic Integrity can be found at the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities Website.

   

Pre Health: Preparing for Health Professional Schools (CANCELLED)

This session is for pre-health/pre-med students interested in how to plan and make choices about their undergraduate degree, experiences, activities, clubs, volunteering, employment etc. in pursuit of applying to health professional schools (MD, DO, DVM/VMD, Nursing, PharmD etc.) Discover competencies needed to the health professions. Learn about suggested tips and resources to stay informed for your planning.
  • Monday, August 25th, 9:30 am in Student Services Building, Room 170 (SSB 170)

More information on Pre-Health can be found here.

 

Classroom AdvenTOURS

To help you prepare for your first days of instruction, we have partnered with the Welcome Center to host "Classroom AdvenTOURS". These classroom specific tours will help you locate buildings, find your classrooms & labs, and will ensure that you know how to navigate the campus like an experienced Bobcat!

With tours happening daily, there is sure to be a time that's right for you. Registration closes on August 18th, so sign up early! To see available tour times or to sign-up, please click here.

Open Houses: Meet & Greets

All Open House sessions will be happening on Tuesday, August 26th from 1PM-4PM. Make sure to download the UC Merced ConnectApp for location & times for all the following. 

  • Student Career Center
  • Office of International Affairs (OIA)
  • Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC)
  • The Health Promotion Office
  • Calvin E. Bright Success Center (BSC)
  • Office of Information Technology (OIT)
  • Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
  • Basic Needs Office
  • Department of Medical Education (DOME)
  • Kolligian Library 

Bobcat 101

First Year Students

Building off what you learned through Orientation, this workshop dives deeper into UC Merced’s academic experience, including structure, expectations and resources for success. Students will have the opportunity to participate in-person sessions on August 25th. Note, in order to accommodate the most students, (2) Bobcat 101 sessions will be occurring simultaneously at different locations. 

Monday, August 25th

  • 9:00 am at the Arts and Computational Science Building, Room 120 (ACS 120)
  • 9:00 am at the Classroom Office Building 1, Room 120 (COB1 120)
  • 10:00 am at the Arts and Computational Science Building (ACS 120)
  • 10:00 am at the Classroom Office Building 1, Room 120 (COB1 120)
  • 1:00 pm at the Arts and Computational Science Building (ACS 120)
  • 1:00 pm at the Classroom Office Building 1, Room 120 (COB1 120)
  • 2:00 pm at the Arts and Computational Science Building (ACS 120)
  • 2:00 pm at the Classroom Office Building 1, Room 120 (COB1 120)
  • 3:00 pm at the Arts and Computational Science Building (ACS 120)
  • 3:00 pm at the Classroom Office Building 1, Room 120 (COB1 120)
  • 4:00 pm at the Arts and Computational Science Building (ACS 120)
  • 4:00 pm at the Classroom Office Building 1, Room 120 (COB1 120)

Bobcat 201

Transfer Students

Building off your previous academic experiences and what you learned through UCM's Orientation, this workshop dives deeper into UC Merced’s academic experience, including structure, expectations and resources for success. Students will have the opportunity to attend in-person sessions on Aug 26th. 

Tuesday, August 26th

  • 1:00 pm at the Arts and Computational Sciences Building, Room 120 (ACS 120)
  • 3:00 pm at the Arts and Computational Sciences Building, Room 120 (ACS 120)

Resource Remix

This workshop is intended to help you match & identify the resources you were accustomed to at your respective Community College or previous university with the resources available to you here at UC Merced. It will be facilitated by transfer students for transfer students. 

Tuesday, August 26th 

  • 1:00 pm at Granite Pass 135 
  • 3:00 pm at Gtanite Pass 135

Tracking Completion

All first year and first semester transfer students are expected to participate in the ASCEND Experience, however, your completion of ASCEND is by honor system.

Helpful Resources

Check out valuable materials from our campus partners to ensure a successful start to your first semester!

UC Merced Library

New Student Orientation Guide

Looking for a quiet, safe place to study? A comfortable spot to meet up with friends for group work? Somewhere to plug in or recharge devices? Assistance with research resources and projects? The University Library offers all of that and more! 

Visit us in the Kolligian Library Building, next to Scholars Lane Bridge. We want to help you be the best researcher you can be, and we empower researchers every day. 

For more information on resources and services provided by the University Library, please visit us at library.ucmerced.edu. 

This site is maintained by the Division of Undergraduate Education. To submit questions or suggestions about this site, please contact studentsuccess@ucmerced.edu
Learn more about campus safety precautions and associated information about UC Merced at Campus Ready.