The Academic Discovery Program encourages dialectical empowerment driven by an inquiry-based approach, inviting student-athletes to thoughtfully explore their passion with a clear sense of purpose via desired pursuits. This includes tailored opportunities for critical and complicated conversation; dialogue that stimulates thinking beyond the comfort zone; habits of engagement to promote agency in learning; reflective and communal discourse addressing curricular ideologies; and lived experience connections to the Cal journey.
The discovery process leverages three levels of consciousness - self, others, and context to (1) immerse student-athletes in the utility of cultural competency in relation to identity formation; (2) give student-athletes an opportunity to enhance their self-efficacy within a shared communal space; (3) provide student-athletes with a platform for setting essential goals via relevant resources and tools; and (4) involve student-athletes in the art of authentic and strategic engagement with various campus groups.