UCLA’s Student Experience Weekend: Hosted by the Southeast Asian Coalition is an award-winning program held for prospective Southeast Asian admitted students in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Coalition at UCLA (SEA Coalition), including the Association of Hmong Students (AHS), Association of Indonesian Americans (AIA), Burmese Student Association (BURSA), Malaysian Association of Students (MAS), Thai Student Association (ThaiSA), United Khmer Students (UKS), Vietnamese Student Union (VSU), Asian Pacific Coalition (APC), and Southeast Asian Campus Learning Education and Retention (SEA CLEAR). 

Southeast Asians, specifically Burmese, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Mien, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian, and Bruneian, are historically underrepresented at UCLA and other colleges and universities. Some factors have led to similar immigration histories, with many Southeast Asians arriving in the United States during the 1970s and afterwards. A lack of representative and disaggregated data concerning Asian Americans also leads to limited exposure to resources and understanding of community conditions. In order to ensure that our unique voices are heard, we want to increase the number of SEA students at UCLA by hosting this special Student Experience Weekend. Beyond this goal, we also wish to empower all of our program participants – regardless of their ethnicity or the life experiences they identify with – to critically think about their identity. Already in its 17th annual year, Student Experience Weekend seeks to promote higher education and increase community consciousness, while introducing all admits to the vast variety of opportunities and resources available to them at UCLA.

UCLA’s Student Experience Weekend: Hosted by the Southeast Asian Coalition hopes to inspire future generations of admitted students to become empowered, learn about the rich history and culture relevant to their identity, be aware of the resources available to them at UCLA, and find a safe and supportive community. Our goal is to foster a cohesive and educated environment to better ourselves, our families, and our community. We hope you will find the weekend to be a comfortable and educational experience as you develop yourself and hopefully become an ally of our mission!