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Benefits

Priority Registration

Guardian Scholars are able to register for classes before the general student population as long as they complete ALL of their requirements each semester. This is a huge benefit for all scholars, as you are typically given a week before the general UC Merced population registration. This can be very critical for many of the highly impacted majors at UC Merced, including Psychology, Biological Sciences, Political Science, and Business Management & Economics. This also allows you the most flexibility when creating your schedule so that you are able to really choose the best option for you. 


Move-In Packages

Incoming on-campus scholars will each receive a move-in package graciously donated and put together by the University Friends Circle (UFC). These move-in packages typically include a blanket, sheets, a pillow, and towels and washcloths. 


Priority Housing

All Guardian Scholars will receive priority housing, as long as you submit the application on time. The Guardian Scholars program works closely with Housing to ensure that Guardian Scholars have a place to stay during gap periods (Winter Break, Summer, etc.).​


Emergency Financial Assistance

Guardian Scholars that are in need of additional financial assistance are able to apply for Emergency Financial Assistance through the program. This is for situations where you may not be able to afford rent for a month or if you have an emergency situation. These funds are based on eligiblity and are very limited. They are decided at the discretion of the Program Coordinator. To be eligible for these funds, you must have first exhausted all other financial means. You will be required to meet with the Program Coordinator to come up with a long-term plan. If you are interested in learning more about how you can receive emergency funds, please reach out to the Program Coordinator.


Textbook Assistance

The Guardian Scholars program has a FREE lending library with books for all majors (accessed under Files on Catcourses).​ If you are interested in seeing if we have a book that you need, please reach out to us and we will help you either find that book or provide you with information on how you can loan from our lending library. 

Another way we help with textbooks is to provide textbook stipends made available to eligible scholars via the John Burton Book Fund.​ These are first-come, first-served and are very limited. To be eligible for a Burton Book Fund stipend, you must have been in foster care on or after your 13th birthday, be currently enrolled in 6 or more units in a semester, and have submitted a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. If you think you might be eligible for this and are interested or have any questions about the Burton Book Fund, please reach out to us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.


Grad School Prep

When thinking about going to grad school, it can be very expensive to purchase practice books to prepare for the entrance exams. To help scholars feel more prepared to enter grad school, the program has purchased practice GRE and LSAT books. If interested in checking out these books, please reach out to us.


Graduation Packets

Purchasing a graduation cap and gown can be very expensive for students. We want you to focus on all of the acheivements you have made at UC Merced and celebrate your accomplishment of graduating, so all graduating scholars are eligible to receive a GSP graduation stole and a Cap and Gown. Please reach out to the Program Coordinator to receive more information about this.


Laptop Loaning Program

The Guardian Scholars Program has laptops availble for students that need to borrow a laptop for the semester. These are extremely limited. If you are without a laptop or something happens to your laptop throughout the semester, please reach out to us to see if we have any available laptops. If we do not have any laptops available, we will try to assist you in finding other ways for you to get what you need. If you are interested in loaning out a laptop from the Guardian Scholars Program, please click here or scan the QR code below.