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UC outlines K–12 outreach in Inland Empire and San Joaquin Valley; programs aim to boost A–G completion and teacher pipelines
Summary
University of California leaders described teacher preparation partnerships and K–16 collaboratives in the Inland Empire and San Joaquin Valley, highlighting UC Riverside’s residency program and UC Merced’s Center for Educational Partnerships, which have secured tens of millions in funding and serve thousands of students.
Provost Richard Newman told regents that UC’s engagement in the Inland Empire and the San Joaquin Valley is central to the university’s mission to expand access and economic opportunity across California. "Combined, there are nearly 9,000,000 people living in these two regions," Newman said, and noted both regions include fast growth and persistent economic challenges.
UC Riverside Dean Joy Spencer described the university’s teacher-preparation and K–12 work in the Inland Empire. Spencer said the UCR San Bernardino Residency Partnership provides residents a training placement in a school site, pairs them with mentor teachers and offers "$40,000 in financial and professional development support." The residency is funded by a $2.8 million grant and launched this summer; the initial cohort had 11 residents and the grant aims to produce 70 teachers over the award period.
Spencer also highlighted middle‑school and outreach programs including Saturday STEM booster sessions and a two‑week on‑campus STEAM Academy that research shows can strengthen students’ academic identities and college readiness. She said UC Riverside’s early academic outreach program had a 96 percent A–G completion rate for participants compared with 52 percent statewide in 2023–24.
Associate Vice Chancellor Orqueda Largo described UC Merced’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP), saying CEP has secured more than $69 million since 2002 and has served over 100,000 students. Merced leads the Northern San Joaquin Valley K–16 collaborative and is the fiscal agent for the We Will workforce and education K–16 collaborative, which Merced said was awarded $18.4 million and has released $14.5 million in subawards to regional partners to develop pathways in healthcare and education and to expand dual enrollment and work‑based learning.
Largo described signature events, paid early‑education internships and subawards that supported students completing college coursework and internships; she said 47 students completed 12 units in early education through UC Merced extension offerings, 12 completed internships and eight secured substitute positions with Merced County Office of Education Head Start.
Why it matters: Regents noted the scale of the regions and their educational needs, including lower UC eligibility and college‑going rates. Newman and presenters said UC’s teacher pipelines, credentialing programs, school partnerships and regional collaboratives are aimed at raising A–G completion and creating workforce pathways aligned with regional industry needs.
Ending: Presenters invited regents to visit campus programs; committee members commended the outreach work and asked no formal action at the meeting.
