Develop Entrepreneurial Skills to Direct Your Journey

Welcome and congrats incoming Class of 2029!

Ciocca Center Mindset Scholars is a 2 year program to develop an early entrepreneurial mindset for incoming first year students at SCU.

The four facets of an Entrepreneurial Mindset are:

• Awareness of how we make a difference
• Empathy for those we strive to help
• Optimism to see problems as opportunities
• Confidence to tolerate risk

At the completion of the program, scholars will receive recognition with university leadership and be equipped with tools to direct their life's journey!  Read more about the components of this unique experience below.

Mindset Scholars cultivates and supports a multidisciplinary and multicultural community of undergraduate students from across Santa Clara University, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

Mindset Scholars begin their experience by joining our Early Arrival program, where students move into campus early - the Tuesday before school starts.  Then, spend the week participating in fun and engaging activities and community building. 

Then, Mindset Scholars take 

Academic Coursework that covers the entrepreneurial mindset from the perspective of each school.  

Explore the required coursework spread across the first year:

• School of Engineering - 1 unit of Design Thinking taken during fall quarter. There is no math in the Engineering course.
• College of Arts & Sciences - 2 units in Creative Thinking around Theme of “Belonging for all Broncos”, one of the four Strategic Priorities for SCU, as described in the University’s "Impact 2030" strategic plan.  1 unit will be during the Winter Quarter and 1 unit will be during Spring Quarter.

During the second year of the program, Mindset Scholars take different coursework depending on their school.  

• Scholars in Leavey School of Business will join Venture Virtuoso and take MGMT 167 Venture Capital Essentials (5 units) and additionally enroll in a required 1-unit to build entrepreneurial leadership.  
• Scholars in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering will take BUSN 70 Contemporary Business Issues (4 units) taught by a former CEO.  They will also additionally enroll in a required 1-unit to build entrepreneurial leadership.

Mindset Scholars also includes unique co-curricular and experiential opportunities:

• Field Excursions - opportunities to explore the entrepreneurial mindset in Silicon Valley.  
• Other special workshops and opportunities, including breakfast with President Julie Sullivan

Mindset Scholars are connected into resources at SCU related to their personal interests.  For example, a Mindset Scholar interested in Creative Writing can be connected to the Santa Clara Review, the HUB Writing Center and other resources related to writing, whereas a Mindset Scholar interested in building a business can be connected to MakerLab and Ciocca Center Bronco Ventures Accelerator and other resources related to building a business. 

Mindset Scholars is estimated to be about a 5-10 hour time commitment per week on average.

Apply now!

Submit your application by June 8, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

• As part of the application process, we’re using a one-way video interview platform, which gives you the flexibility to record your responses at a time that works best for you. The application will include written and video responses.

• Please avoid using ChatGPT for written responses within the application. 

• You’ll receive an update about your application status and next steps by late June.

If you have any questions, please reach out to cioccacenter@scu.edu. 

If you require accommodations for the interview process, please contact rcramer@scu.edu as soon as possible and no later than June 6. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all applicants. Let us know how we can support you!