About us

Brief History And Background

The Black Alumni Scholarship Fund was founded at UC San Diego by Alumnus Lennon Goins, D.D.S in 1983.

The fund was moved off campus into an endowment at The San Diego Foundation (TSDF) in 1998 following the passage of CA Proposition 209.

The endowment has gradually grown to approximately $2 million divided between Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Math, Science & Engineering funds.

Following Chancellor Pradeep Khosla’s announcement of the Black Academic Excellence Initiative (BAEI) at UCSD in 2016 as a BASF partner, the BASF started its Enriched Scholarship Program in collaboration with campus departments.

Key Defining Features Of BASF Program

MISSION

Enhancing diversity and inclusion at UCSD and in the San Diego region through scholarships and enrichment programs that expand educational opportunities for high achieving, civic-minded African American students.

SELECTIVITY

Scholars are competitively selected from admitted Black students on the basis of prior community service, campus engagement intentions and resiliency to racial and other identity challenges.

COMPOSITION

100% of BASF Scholars identify as Black/African

American since award criteria are not constrained by Prop 209.

PARTICIPATION

Scholarship and enrichments are tied

together in an OPT-OUT Program; participation in academic
and other enrichment activities are required for scholarship
renewal.

REGIONAL IMPACT

As it grows, the BASF Program will significantly increase Black enrollment at UCSD and add vitality to the San Diego region though increasing numbers of skilled, civic minded African Americans ready for careers in research, technology, education, business, the arts, and public service.

MEASURABLE GOAL

Increase Black graduation at UCSD from 2% to 5% of degrees awarded