Connect with a UCSC Humanities alum. Explore career possibilities. Launch your professional journey. HumLaunch is a summer program (August-September) that pairs UCSC Humanities undergraduate students with alumni for paid short-term mentorship experiences. Program Overview The HumLaunch program pairs current UCSC Humanities students with UCSC Humanities alumni for short-term summer mentorship experiences. HumLaunch opportunities include job shadowing of one to five days and short-term project placements of one to four weeks. HumLaunch offers in-person, hybrid, and remote options with alumni across California. HumLaunch offers mentorship, career exploration, professional development, and a scholarship of $100 per day. Work authorization is not required. Time & Location HumLaunch opportunities range from one day to four weeks and occur between the beginning of August and the middle of September. Each HumLaunch opportunity listing indicates the length and any time parameters. You may apply for up to three opportunities; you should apply only for those that fit your schedule. HumLaunch opportunities can be in-person, hybrid, or remote. Each listing indicates the location and modality. You will be responsible for your own travel arrangements; you should apply for the opportunities you’ll be able to get to. What You’ll Receive IMPORTANT : Housing and transportation are not provided . If selected for a HumLaunch opportunity, you will need to make your own travel arrangements. Scholarship through financial aid equal to $100 per day. So, for a five-day HumLaunch opportunity, you would receive $500. We recommend contacting the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for a personalized estimate of how financial aid disbursement policies will impact any scholarship award. Drop-in advising is available via Zoom or in-person, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We recommend contacting the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for a personalized estimate of how financial aid disbursement policies will impact any scholarship award. Drop-in advising is available via Zoom or in-person, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Professional mentorship with a UCSC Humanities alum. Insight into a career field and how it connects to your humanities education. The opportunity to make professional connections and build your network. Application Timeline Applications open: April

Applications close: early May Selection deadline: late May Browse the available HumLaunch opportunities to find those that excite you and match your interests. The application process includes: Submit an application on InfoReady. You may apply to up to three HumLaunch opportunities. In May, the HumLaunch Program Coordinator will match alumni with applicants. Matching will be based on factors including preferences, overlapping interests between applicants and alumni, and location requirements. We may not be able to match all students who apply. If matched with a HumLaunch mentor, you will receive an email in late May putting you in touch. Students who are not matched with a HumLaunch mentor will receive notification and tailored recommendations for other networking and mentorship opportunities. Orientation : If you are matched with a HumLaunch mentor, there will be a HumLaunch Program Orientation on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 from 4:30pm to 6pm. Eligibility Requirements Only students with a major or minor in the Humanities Division are eligible to participate in HumLaunch. Rising sophomores, rising juniors, and transfer students of all years are encouraged to apply and will be prioritized. Students who have not previously participated in a paid experiential learning program with the Humanities Division will be prioritized. These opportunities do not require work authorization. Minimum Qualifications for Participation You are a currently enrolled UCSC student with a declared major or minor in the Humanities Division . Or, you are a proposed major or minor in the declaration process, are in progress with coursework, and plan to declare by the end of the current academic year. You are in good academic and conduct standing (GPA 2.0 or higher). You will be enrolled at UCSC in Fall 2026. Questions about the program? Contact Humanities Career Engagement Specialist Meredith Pelrine at hum-career-engagement@ucsc.edu