[Ucrfacultyandstaff] Chancellor’s summer update

[UCR Chancellor]

Dear Colleagues,



July has been a month for highlighting numbers.



Across the country, Americans celebrated Independence Day by marking 250
years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In a video for
employees, *UC President James B. Milliken reflected on the University of
California’s role in helping build the country*
<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/employee-news/video-the-university-of-california-celebrates-americas-250th-year/>
we know today.



Here at UCR, as we closed one academic year and began the next, we have
been counting the ways the university serves students, invests in the
Inland region, and prepares to further scale that work. Our numbers tell
part of that story.



*8,293*
The largest class of new undergraduate UCR students, including both
first-year and transfer, enrolled in fall 2025. This resulted in 24,034
undergraduates and 27,633 total students, both of which represent the
largest in their respective categories in UCR’s history.



*96.3%*
California residents accounted for 96.3% of UCR undergraduates, continuing
our long-standing commitment to serving students from across the state.



*97%*
Of the students who applied for financial aid, 97% received need-based
scholarships and/or grants.



*$38.5 million*
Philanthropic support during the fiscal year outpaced past years, buoyed by
several major gifts.



These are just a few of the numbers that reflect UCR’s growing reach and
impact. The partnerships we build across the region will help us continue
to scale that work.



*Three Councils, One Regional Commitment*

As I shared during my inauguration, I believe UC Riverside's future is
inseparable from the future of Inland Southern California. We have a
responsibility—and an extraordinary opportunity—to continue to serve as a
catalyst for economic growth, educational opportunity, cultural vitality,
and innovation across our region, state, and beyond.



To advance this vision, I have launched three Engagement Councils focused
on Business Engagement, P–16 Education Engagement, and Community
Engagement. These councils bring together campus and community leaders to
strengthen partnerships, align our efforts, and expand UCR's impact.



Together, they are building a framework for lasting partnerships through
three key initiatives:


   - Annual Impact Report to showcase partnerships, measurable outcomes,
   and regional impact.
   - Partner Engagement Assessment to gather feedback and continuously
   improve how we collaborate with our communities.
   - Coordinated Communications Platform to connect partners with
   opportunities, highlight successes, and strengthen awareness of UCR's work
   across the region.



These councils represent more than a new initiative—they are a long-term
commitment to ensuring UCR remains a trusted partner and an anchor
institution that helps shape a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous
Inland Southern California.



*California Expands Its Investment in UC*

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed California’s 2026–27 budget, which
provides the University of California with $5.5 billion in support,
including approximately $541 million in new ongoing support.



I am grateful to Governor Newsom and the Legislature for their continued
investment in public higher education. Thank you to everyone who
participated in the Speak Up for Science campaign and other advocacy
efforts on behalf of UCR and the UC system.



State support accounts for approximately one-third of UCR’s overall budget.
As the university’s largest source of funding, these dollars are essential
to honoring our education, research, and public-service mission.



UCR’s allocation from UCOP increased by $36.5 million, which doesn’t fully
cover increases in salaries, benefits, and other fixed costs of $43.17
million. I encourage you to read the *detailed budget update from Provost
and Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Watkins and Vice Chancellor and
Chief Financial Officer Sandra Kim*
<https://insideucr.ucr.edu/announcements/2026/07/28/fy27-budget-update>. As
mentioned in that announcement, we will continue to hold budget review
meetings in winter 2027 as we did this year and appreciate your stewardship.



State investment helps make possible the teaching, research, and public
service at the heart of our mission. The gathering described below
demonstrates the reach of that work.



*Research Spotlight: Where Science Meets AI*

At the close of June, *UCR welcomed leading researchers, students,
entrepreneurs, industry experts, and community members for the Science x AI
Summit*
<https://cnas.ucr.edu/news/2026/07/07/intersection-science-and-ai-uc-riversides-ceci-and-sair-foundation-bring-world>
*.* Hosted by the Center for Experimental Cosmology and Instrumentation and
the SAIR Foundation, the event featured Nobel laureate Barry Barish, Fields
Medalist Terence Tao, Google Quantum AI founder Hartmut Neven, and other
internationally recognized speakers.



The discussions ranged from gravitational waves and quantum computing to
mathematical reasoning, scientific data, and entrepreneurship. Yet the
summit’s most important lesson was not simply about what artificial
intelligence can do. It was about what becomes possible when people from
different disciplines, institutions, and generations work together.



*Beyond the Numbers*

As we look toward the future, our numbers provide a useful measure. Of
course, behind each of these is you, one of the dedicated employees
committed to our students, our research work, and the impact we make. Thank
you for the work you have contributed to this progress and for the goals we
will achieve together in the year ahead.


Sincerely,

S. Jack Hu, Ph.D.

Chancellor
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