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University of California, Riverside

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University of California, Riverside
Seal of UC Riverside (Trademark of UC Regents)
MottoFiat lux (Let There Be Light)
TypePublic
Established1954
Endowment153.7 million USNWR
ChancellorFrance A. Córdova
Academic staff
650
Undergraduates14,649
Postgraduates2,051
Location
Riverside
,
California
CampusSuburban, 1,160 acres (4.7 km²)
MascotHighlanders
Websitewww.ucr.edu


The University of California, Riverside is a public, coeducational university situated in Riverside, California beside Box Springs Mountain. It is one of ten University of California (UC) campuses and is popularly known as UCR or UC Riverside.

History

File:Uvtowers.jpg
Photo of the UV Towers, newly constructed student housing.

On February 14, 1907, the University of California Board of Regents established an experiment/research station on 23 acres of land on the east slope of Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, California. [citation needed] The purpose of this research station was to conduct various agricultural experiments such as fertilization, irrigation, improvement of crops, and air pollution research. It was here that the navel orange was introduced to the United States. [citation needed] The laboratory was later moved in 1917 to the west slope of Box Springs Mountains. It was not associated with any particular campus but rather with the system as a whole.

The laboratory was dubbed the Rubidoux Laboratory and slowly grew in size. When the laboratory celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, the laboratory had grown considerably in size with several new buildings and usage of its acres for experimental plantings. The laboratory's original two staff personnel increased to 265 personnel by 1957. [citation needed] In 1961, to reflect the growth of the laboratory, the name was changed to the Citrus Research Center and Agricultural Experiment Station. At the time, the director was Alfred M. Boyce for which Boyce Hall, the home to the Entomology and Biochemistry Departments, is named.

University President Robert Gordon Sproul persuaded Gordon S. Watkins, former dean of the College of Letters and Science at University of California, Los Angeles, to undertake the organization of a small college of liberal arts at Riverside, California. In 1949, Watkins accepted the job and started five years of planning, faculty recruitment, and building construction. He became the first Chancellor of the Riverside campus and presided at the opening of the College of Letters and Science with 131 students in February 1954. [1]

Since its opening, UC Riverside has expanded significantly, with a peak undergraduate enrollment of 15,399 students in 2003. However, for each subsequent year, total enrollment of students has declined to its current number of 14,649 [2]. Despite this recent decline, UCR has been projected to grow to 17,250 students by Fall 2006, and 25,000 by 2015. [3][4]. Financially, UCR has received sufficient funding to become a comprehensive university, but has lagged behind other UC schools with respect to growth in this area. Despite being the fourth University of California campus to open, today it ranks the lowest in "financial resources," according to US News and World Report.[5] [6]

Academics

UCR provides 78 majors and 45 minors, 50 Master's degree programs, and 38 Ph.D programs. It is the only UC campus to offer an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing and, along with the Berkeley campus, one of only two UCs to offer an undergraduate degree in Business Administration.

File:UCRlibrary.jpg
Students studying in the Science Library.

In 2005, UC Riverside appeared in the Princeton Review listed as one of the "Best Western Colleges"[7] and "America's Best Value Colleges"[8]; however, this same book listed UCR among the bottom twenty universities in its top 361 universities for "Teaching Assistants Teach Too Many Upper-Level Courses"[9], "Professors Get Low Marks [for Teaching]"[10], and "Professors Make Themselves Scarce"[11]. (In the latter two categories, University of California, Los Angeles ranks lower.) US News & World Report ranks the University of California, Riverside undergraduate program #85 among national universities and #37 among public institutions. Compared to other UC schools, UCR has the lowest peer assessment score, the lowest selectivity rank, and the lowest ranking overall - that is, UCR ranks lower than UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz. Most of its graduate programs do not rank as high as their respective UC counterparts [8]. UC Riverside does not have any Nobel laureates on its faculty, unlike most of the other UCs.

Currently, all UC-eligible high school seniors in California who apply to the Riverside campus will be offered admission.[12] As such, UCR's acceptance rate has always been amongst the highest (79% for 2004-05) and average GPA/SAT (3.48 and 1074, respectively) amongst the lowest, compared to the other UC schools. In order to attract more competitive applicants, UCR has invited home-schooled and other nontraditional students to submit a portfolio of their work in addition to test scores.[13]

Construction on campus is common as the university expands.

The Thomas Haider (pronounced 'hi-der') Program in Biomedical Sciences offers a joint medical degree program with UCLA. The first two years of medical instruction are taught on the UCR campus, and the biomedical teaching complex consists of two trailer-sized classrooms located adjacent to the campus greenhouses.[14] Third and fourth year clerkships are conducted at UCLA and its affiliated hospitals along with the rest of the UCLA medical school class. Students admitted in the program receive a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from UCR and an MD degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. In the past, the UCLA program was only offered to biomedical science majors, but effective 2002, all qualified majors may apply to the program during their senior year. Up to twenty-four of each year's applicants are chosen to attend medical school at UCR and UCLA. Students not selected are still eligible (and encouraged) to apply to other medical schools.

UCR's library system is divided into general collections, music, media, and science specialties. General collections reside in the Tomás Rivera library, and science and technology literature are stowed in the Science library building. Of note, UCR is host to the world's largest academic collection of Star Trek material[15], and houses the 80,000 volume Eaton Collection of science fiction, horror, fantasy, and utopian literature - the world's largest such compilation available to the general public. Nevertheless, UCR lacks a dedicated medical library to provide resources to its 48 UCR/UCLA medical students on campus. UCR is a primary partner in the Riverside Regional Technology Park, which also includes the City of Riverside and the County of Riverside. The park is intended to assist entrepreneurs in developing new products. [16]

Student life

File:Uvvillage.jpg
The University Village (UV) is located 10 minutes (walking) outside of campus, nearby a strip mall. The movie theater is used for classes in the morning.

According to the 2005 College Board profile, 28% of all undergraduates live on campus. Housing is available to all students for their first year and 76% of all first-year students live on campus[17]. Additional housing is being constructed, but even so, only 30% of students choose to remain on campus for the weekend[citation needed].

File:Ucrarcade.gif
A female student playing Dance Dance Revolution Extreme, an arcade game, in the Commons.
Carillon Tower, which stands in the center of campus.

The 2006 U.S. News & World Report College rankings place UC Riverside #4 nationwide for campus diversity,[citation needed] though its surrounding community has had frequent problems with racial violence.[18] In fact, five hate crimes were reported on the UCR campus alone in 2004 [19], with 1 reported every two to three days in the Inland Empire.[20]

According to 2003-05 data published by the UC Office of the President (Merced excluded) [citation needed], UCR had the highest percentage of low socioeconomic status (SES) students compared to other UC's. Low SES was defined as family income below $30,000 per year and first generation college. Based on Academic Performance Index data, the freshman classes at UCR are composed of the highest percentage of students graduating from low-performing high schools. The retention rate for freshmen is 85%, the lowest of any UC.[21] Additionally, only 5% of UCR alumni donate back to their alma mater, which corresponds to the lowest alumni giving rate of any university in the nation.[22] The rates at UCLA and UC Davis are 2-3 times higher, in comparison. [23] UC Riverside ranked #12 nationwide for "least happy students" according to The Princeton Review's 2004 publication of "Best 351 College Rankings". [citation needed] Nearly 50% of students surveyed at StudentsReview.com would not return to UC Riverside if they were given the choice. [citation needed]

Riverside is sometimes referred to as "The 909", which makes reference to the region's former primary area code but also carries somewhat of a negative connotation (compared to wealthier nearby Los Angeles and Orange Counties). Despite the 2004 prefix change to "951," the nickname remains in use. [citation needed]

A photo of the UC Riverside campus, which shows a construction site alongside typical building architecture and landscaping.

On the other side of the Moreno Valley Freeway, the University Village (UV) provides several shops and restaurants. UV's movie theaters also serve as lecture halls during the day, with a shuttle taking students every 15 minutes. The Commons serves as a small student center for the campus and includes study rooms and restaurants with benches for dining. Construction is underway to more than double the size of the Center from 65,000 square feet to 140,000 square feet.[24] The new 50 million dollar Student Commons (slated for completion in 2008) is expected to include large buildings containing expanded meeting rooms, dining, and places to study.[25] The university has attempted to institute new instructional technologies such as online discussion groups, and its free wireless internet coverage has been praised by Intel.[26]

Riverside is part of what some locals refer to as as the “smog belt” because of its above-average level of air pollution.[27] The associated brown haze can be seen in the Carillon Tower photo to the upper-right, visible in the bottom third of the sky. According to the National Campaign Against Dirty Air Power (2003), the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area was one of the most polluted areas in comparison to other U.S. cities. [citation needed] A study in the New England Journal of Medicine (2004) found that levels of pollution in Riverside were among the highest in southern California, and that the air in this region can damage the lungs of children. [28] [NEJM 2004;351:1057-1067].

Organization

Chancellors and Previous Chief Campus Officers

Colleges and Schools

UCR's academic departments and programs are organized into five colleges and schools:

UCR's University Extension program provides continuing education to community members of the Inland Empire.

Future Professional Schools

Athletics

School Mascot.

UCR competes in NCAA Division I of the Big West Conference, despite lacking a football team. The volleyball and basketball teams currently play in the Student Recreation Center. Construction of an actual arena has been proposed, although UCR athletic attendance ranks near the bottom of all Big West schools.[31]

Unlike every other undergraduate UC campus, UC Riverside does not have a marching band, but instead features a rock band with horns, a guitar, and a drummer. During many athletic events, UCR brings its kilted bagpipe and drum ensemble. Due to NCAA's restriction against amplified instruments, UCR sometimes must "rent" a marching band from other colleges such as UCI and UCSB.[32][33]

The official UCR mascot is "Scotty," a Highlander tartan-wearing bear.

Notable Faculty

Notable alumni

Academia, Science, Technology

Arts, Film and Literature

Athletics

Business and Politics

Nobel Laureates

Points of interest

University Village

Notes

  1. ^ Martinez, Richard. "700 Join in UCR's Second Founder's Day Celebration." Riverside Press Enterprise, October 7, 1987.
  2. ^ "The University of California Statistical Summary of Students and Staff, Fall 2005" (PDF).
  3. ^ "UCR Facts and Impacts (4/06/06): UCR Fact sheet". Retrieved Apr 6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "UCR Fact Sheet (4/02/06): UCR Fact sheet". Retrieved Apr 2. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "US News and World Report America's Best Colleges 2006, National Universities: Top Schools".
  6. ^ "US News Best Colleges 2006". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "The Princeton Review: The Best Western Colleges (Page 4 of 5)". Retrieved April 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) (registration required)
  8. ^ "The Princeton Review: America's Best Value Colleges (Page 5 of 7)". Retrieved April 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) (registration required)
  9. ^ "The Princeton Review: Teaching Assistants Teach Too Many Upper-Level Courses". Retrieved April 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) (registration required)
  10. ^ "The Princeton Review: Professors Get Low Marks". Retrieved April 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) (registration required)
  11. ^ "The Princeton Review: Professors Make Themselves Scarce". Retrieved April 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) (registration required)
  12. ^ "MSNBC/Newsweek: UC Yourself in California?".
  13. ^ "Wikipedia: List of Backronyms". Retrieved March 31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "UCR Campus map, zoomed in on Biomedical Teaching Complex, 2 small trailers".
  15. ^ "UC Riverside puts out want ad for home-schooled".
  16. ^ "J. Lloyd Eaton Collection". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "UCR Technology Park (4/09/06): UCR Tech Park". Retrieved Apr 9. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Riverside QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Retrieved Apr 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "UC Riverside Crime Statistics". Retrieved Apr 26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "US News and World Report America's Best Colleges 2006, National Universities: Top Schools".
  21. ^ "US News and World Report America's Best Colleges 2006: UC Riverside profile".
  22. ^ "College Board Profile". Retrieved Apr 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "Wikipedia: Inland Empire (California)".
  24. ^ "Racism Rising in the Golden State".
  25. ^ "Classrooms@UCR". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "UCR Newsroom release".
  27. ^ "Air pollution and lung development". Retrieved Mar 17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "LA Weekly (9/22/05): The Air That We Breathe". Retrieved April 22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ "Press Enterprise (3/7/06): Panel to hone pitch for medical school". Retrieved Mar 31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "Major Step Toward Law School (4/09/06): UCR Law School". Retrieved Apr 9. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Highlander Editorial: A more realistic proposal for a new arena at UCR". Retrieved April 8. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "Press Enterprise (3/16/06): UCR pep banned". Retrieved Mar 31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "Press Enterprise (3/20/06): UCR students deserve to join NCAA fun". Retrieved Mar 17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "New University Paper (4/27/06): UCI Works to Raise Low Alumni Giving Rates". Retrieved Mar 31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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