a group photo of Redwood SEED students on a trip to Sama's Garden

Redwood SEED Scholars Program

The UC Davis Redwood SEED (Supported Education to Elevate Diversity) Scholars Program is an inclusive postsecondary program designed for California students ages 18-23 (at the time of application) who have intellectual disabilities. Throughout this four-year program, students will: 

  • Earn academic credit with UC Davis coursework
  • Live on campus in dorms and apartments
  • Participate in campus and community clubs and organizations
  • Develop employment skills with on campus and off-campus employment opportunities
  • Receive support from peer mentors in five core areas: academics, employment, health and wellness, independent living and social inclusion 

Promoting personal growth, self-determination, self-advocacy and choice are key objectives of the program. Key outcomes of the program are the development of the skills necessary to live independently, participate in the larger community and have competitive, integrated employment upon graduation.

How the Program Works

First and second year scholars live on campus in the dorms with the support of typical UC Davis student mentors. Third and fourth year scholars live in on-campus apartments with mentor support. A distinct component of the program are the foundational courses that Redwood SEED Scholars take. These courses have been intentionally designed to build the skills needed to participate in typical UC Davis classes on campus and to receive academic credit. The Redwood SEED Scholars take two or three UC Davis courses each year with academic support. Additionally, scholars participate in any campus club or organization that interests them, with support as needed. 

The UC Davis Redwood SEED Scholars begin their employment experiences in Spring quarter of their first year or as they are ready. From there, scholars build up skills with paid work experiences with the goal of each second, third and fourth year scholar having two paid part-time jobs. These employment opportunities are carefully created to offer a ladder of support and designed to build on the skill and interest levels of each student. Finally, recognizing the health disparities of students with intellectual disabilities when compared to the typical population, we offer health and wellness mentors who work with and support the scholars with nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep and building healthy habits.

Program Benefits

The Redwood SEED Scholars Program features a person-centered plan focused on self-determination, including: 

  • Exploration: Take courses with typical peers in their area of interest
  • Education: Receive targeted instruction in literacy, math and specialized courses in civics/social justice, technology and communication skills, sexual health and self-regulation
  • Independent Living: Live in on-campus housing and learn living skills like grocery shopping, laundry, meal planning and personal hygiene
  • Health and Wellness: Receive nutrition and exercise mentor support
  • Social Inclusion: Social inclusion mentors provide support in navigating campus and the larger Davis community, participation with on-campus sports, clubs, activities, faith communities, organizations and campus-wide events
  • Employment: Quarterly employment opportunities promote job skills, navigating public transportation, planning for work, communication skills, leadership skills and advocacy skills

Application Details

  • How to Apply: Application opens October 1, 2025
  • Deadline to Apply: January 2, 2026
  • In-person Interviews: Begin in early February 2026
  • Admissions Offered: Mid-March 2026

For more detailed information on the admission process, program details or program cost, please go to the UC Davis Redwood SEED Scholars official website: UC Davis Redwood SEED Scholars Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who can apply to the program?

  • Students who have a federally identified intellectual disability and are between the ages of 18-23 can apply. Our program is a non-degree seeking program, which means our students will graduate with a specified learning credential similar to other inclusive college programs found at ThinkCollege.net. They will NOT graduate with a Bachelor's degree.

    Redwood SEED Scholars has received a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the TPSID (Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) program. This grant has made it possible to start the program. It is a requirement of the grant to welcome students with intellectual disabilities. Students are required to include an evaluation from their high school conducted by an appropriate professional to determine eligibility, as well as other documents that you will see requested in our application. Intellectual disability is not just an arbitrary number. It is defined by a significant delay in adaptive functioning and cognitive development. There are well-established criteria for the diagnosis such as those specified by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, as well as by the federal government. Our program is created for the subset of students with Down syndrome, autism, fragile X syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other life situations who also have an intellectual disability. We are dedicated to welcoming students who will be a good fit for the support we offer, the learning opportunities we offer and the residential and campus experiences we offer.

  • How do we apply?
  • The application is hosted here on the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education website. The Redwood SEED Scholars is a relatively new program at UC Davis. In 2025, the first cohort of scholars graduated. 

    The application process consists of a formal application filled out online, an all-day on-campus interview, an offer of admission, a formal acceptance from the student and an orientation held during the summer.
  • Do you need to have a diploma to apply?
  • No. We recognize that with over 1,000 school districts in the state of California there must be some flexibility on our part. We accept students with a certificate of completion, an alternative diploma or a typical California diploma. Every school district has a diverse way of approaching students with intellectual disabilities and we want to welcome any student who is a good fit for our program.
  • Is the Redwood SEED Scholars Program a Certified Transition Program (CTP)?
  • No, at this time, the UC Davis Redwood SEED Scholar Program is not a CTP.  We have completed the application for the CTP designation and UC Davis leadership is working on it.
  • How much does the program cost?
  • Our goal is that every single applicant who is a good fit for our program can participate regardless of their ability to pay the tuition and costs of living on campus.

    We have worked to keep the cost of both the academic portion and the residential portion of our program to be within the range of cost for a UC Davis education.

    We recognize that this is a big financial barrier for many families and we are committed to keeping the costs as low as possible.

    Currently, IF the scholar is within the California Department of Rehabilitation system and has a Vocational Counselor AND together they have created employment goals that match what the UC Davis Redwood SEED Scholars Program offers, the Department of Rehabilitation will fund the tuition, transportation and technology of our program.

    Additionally, the Redwood SEED Scholars Program is vendorized with Alta Regional Center for the Living Learning Lab component of the program. IF the scholar has independent living goals and social inclusion goals match what the Redwood SEED Scholars Program offers and that are written in the scholar’s IPP with their Service Coordinator, the vendorized codes should cover the room and board costs associated with the program.

    You can find out more about funding by visiting our Redwood SEED Scholars Funding page.  
  • Do you have to live on campus?
  • While no student is required to live on campus, the residential living piece of our program is truly unique and we believe a significant benefit for our students. There are only a few programs in California besides ours that offer residential living and none of them are with typical students in the dorms. This is a very special opportunity and we encourage all of our students to carefully consider that portion of the experience. Our program is holistically designed and living on campus is intentionally an important part of the design.
  • How can I be assured that my student will be safe?
  • Students with intellectual disabilities are a vulnerable population. They are at a higher risk for sexual abuse and are more likely to get lost. It is for these reasons that many families and schools are naturally very concerned about inclusive college programs. However, residential, inclusive college programs have been running successfully and safely for the past 25 years in some parts of the country. 

    We believe a defining quality of our program is the belief in self-determination. We want to provide opportunities to our students to challenge themselves and to offer experiences that they are usually excluded from, like living in a dorm. Students will learn how to navigate campus and the larger community of Davis safely. They will take sexual health classes, self-regulation classes and other foundational classes that help them develop interpersonal skills that are needed when living in the community. They will learn about consent and how to develop healthy relationships. Based on what we have seen from our first four cohorts of scholars, we believe our scholars develop confidence in their ability to solve problems and learn how to communicate their needs as well as their desires. Every effort is made to keep the Redwood SEED Scholars safe.