Charles R. Drew University and UC Riverside Sign MOU to Strengthen Student Engagement and Academic Pathways
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) and the University of California, Riverside (UCR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing a partnership designed to promote student engagement, celebrate academic excellence, and establish expanded and inclusive educational opportunities for students who attend the two institutions.
The agreement specifically fosters collaboration between CDU and the Identity Centers at UCR. Together, the institutions will develop and implement initiatives that include educational enrichment opportunities, student exchanges, staff collaboration, and other mutually beneficial academic and professional activities.
“This partnership is grounded in a shared commitment to cultivating future leaders who reflect and uplift their communities,” said Dr. Jose Torres-Ruiz, CDU Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs. “By connecting with UCR’s vibrant Identity Centers, we are creating intentional pathways that support students from unserved, underserved and under-resourced backgrounds and communities as they pursue graduate and professional education focused on social justice and eliminating health disparities.”
As part of the agreement, CDU will provide UCR students with opportunities to explore its graduate and professional programs through on-campus experiences at CDU. In return, UCR Identity Centers will promote and facilitate connections between their students and CDU faculty, staff, and students.
The collaboration will prioritize CDU’s direct engagement with the following UCR Identity Centers: African Student Programs (ASP), Chicano Student Programs (CSP), Undocumented Student Programs (USP), Riverside Underground Scholars (RUSP), and the Veterans Resource Center. Programming will also be extended to additional Identity Centers, including Native American Student Programs (NASP), the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), Foster Youth Student Services (FYSS), Middle Eastern Student Center (MESC), Asian Pacific Student Programs (APSP), and the LGBT Resource Center.
“This agreement reflects UCR’s ongoing commitment to inclusive excellence and student success,” said Dr. Christine Mata, Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students at UC Riverside. “We are proud to collaborate with CDU in creating academic and professional pathways that uplift our diverse student communities and help close equity gaps in graduate and professional education.”
Dr. Tony Jimenez, Associate Dean of Students at UCR, also stated, “We are excited to have this MOU with Charles R. Drew University. UCR is one of the most diverse universities in the nation where its student body reflects the rich diversity of California. The opportunity for our students to address health disparities with our colleagues at CDU, an institution that has been a champion in diversifying the health field, is truly humbling.”
To further support student success, CDU will prioritize scholarship opportunities for UCR students who participate in CDU-sponsored programs under this agreement.
This partnership reinforces CDU’s mission to cultivate health professional leaders dedicated to social justice and health equity for underserved populations and supports UCR’s efforts to empower students through identity-affirming educational experiences.
