Join the Common Ground Collective!

The Common Ground Collective is a cooperative of campus departments including the Ethnic & Gender Programs, International Students and Scholars Office, Student Disability Resource Center and the Well. Members include a variety of staff members, current students and alumni who are passionate about community building, diversity training and social justice education. 

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BCG Lead application are now open:   https://highlanderlink.ucr.edu/submitter/form/start/635408

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Building Common Ground 2024 - BCG Lead Application

Be part of welcoming new students to our diverse campus! Each summer during Highlander Orientation, all incoming students participate in community building activities facilitated by current UCR students, including the Building Common Ground activity led by student BCG Leads.

BCG Leads participate in an educational experience and are eligible for up to $1,500 in scholarships for their time in training to learn BCG Lead skills and for facilitating the BCG activity during Highlander Orientation and Transfer Highlander Orientation. Scholarship payments are distributed in three $500 awards over the summer.  Please note that students graduating in Spring 2024 are eligible to apply to be BCG Leads.  Please also note that students must have unmet need in their Financial Aid package for 2024-25 to accept the scholarship.

BCG Leads will:

• Learn public speaking and small group facilitation skills.
• Create positive peer-to-peer interactions for incoming students.
• Facilitate understanding and insight into the complexities of diversity.
• Focus on the nature of building relationships and establishing community.
• Help evaluate and improve the BCG activity.

BCG Leads must be available for the following time commitments:

• Training from 1-5pm, June 24-28 & July 1-2.
• Highlander Orientation BCG sessions on Mondays and Thursdays, July 8 – August 15, 3:15pm-6:15pm (13 sessions)
• Transfer Highlander Orientation BCG sessions on August 22, 23, 26, 27 from 12:30pm-3:30pm
• Additional educational activities will be scheduled to evaluate and improve BCG sessions during and after Highlander Orientation.

Questions should be directed to the Building Common Ground email: bcg@ucr.edu 

Ethnic & Gender Center staff will interview BCG Leads applicants in Spring quarter. Please check your UCR email address for communications from bcg@ucr.edu.