[Ucrfacultyandstaff] Provost's fall campus update

[UCR Provost]

Dear Campus Community,



The results of the “third week census” are in: we have 27,633
students (undergraduate and graduate) enrolled at UCR, a new record for the
campus. Here is a chart by enrollment type:



*Enrollment Type*

*Fall 2024*

*Fall 2025*

*% Change*

*Undergraduate*

New Frosh

  CA Resident

5,169

6,431

24%

  International

143

144

1%

  Out of State

109

111

2%

  Total

5,421

6,686

23%

New Transfers

  CA Resident

1,212

1,531

26%

  International

49

58

18%

  Out of State

8

18

125%

  Total

1,269

1,607

27%

*Total Undergraduate*

*22,599*

*24,034*

*6%*

*Graduate*

New PhD and MFA

422

395

-6%

New Master's

627

475

-24%

New Credential

12

10

-17%

New MD

86

90

5%

*Total Graduate*

*3,785*

*3,599*

*-5%*

*Total University*

*26,384*

*27,633*

*5%*



I extend my gratitude to the faculty and staff who expanded course
capacities, maximized course scheduling, connected students with resources,
provided advising and tutoring, processed financial aid, managed classroom
spaces, coordinated housing and residential services, led the revised
orientation, and did so much more to ensure a smooth start to the academic
year. As you surely know, planning is already underway for winter term,
with spring planning just around the corner. Our goal is to retain every
one of these talented students who chose to pursue their degrees at UC
Riverside.



The remainder of my fall campus update focuses on important information for
and about our faculty. We welcome 73 new Senate faculty members to UCR this
academic year, the largest number since before the start of the pandemic. I
have heard questions from many faculty, both those who are new to campus
and those who have been here for a while, about the advancement of their
careers in light of the uncertainties of federal actions. I call your
attention to four initiatives to address this critical issue. First, “*The
Call <https://academicpersonnel.ucr.edu/the-call>*” now includes the
opportunity for faculty to prepare a “federal impact” statement, similar to
the “covid impact” statement, and to receive a “federally-impacted merit
half-step” in circumstances where an on-schedule merit file is deemed
insufficient for a merit advance solely due to federal actions. This
addition grew out of the second initiative, a series of faculty think tank
luncheons held by Vice Provost for Academic Personnel Dan Jeske and me in
2024-25 on the subject of “achievement relative to opportunity” in the
merit and promotion process. You can read a summary of those discussions
here <https://academicpersonnel.ucr.edu/faculty-think-tank-luncheons>.



Third, since the evaluation of faculty for advancement starts with the
department, I ask all academic departments to revisit their research and
creative activity statements this year. The Call provides a helpful
explanation of what to include in these statements to ensure that all
faculty have maximal opportunity to demonstrate their contributions to
academic scholarship and professional productivity.



Fourth, consideration of the new funding environment’s impact on faculty
advancement will be taken up at the systemwide level. Earlier this week,
Provost Newman announced the Joint Senate-Admin Task Force on UC
Adaptations to Disruptions (UCAD Plus
<https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/committees/ucad-plus.html>). One
of the five working groups is dedicated to academic personnel evaluations;
that workgroup will be co-chaired by two UCR representatives (Nael
Abu-Ghazaleh and me).



Lastly, mark your calendars for the first faculty town hall of this
academic year. On Friday, November 14, 1-2 pm, the Senate will host a Q&A
session with Chancellor Hu and me. I look forward to seeing many of you
there. I anticipate that the Staff Assembly will schedule a town hall for
staff, so stay tuned for details about that event.



Sincerely,



Liz



*Elizabeth Watkins, PhD*

*Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor*

*Professor of History*

University of California, Riverside

951.827.1129 | Elizabeth.Watkins at UCR.edu
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