How was UC Riverside founded?

The roots of the campus date back to 1907 when the California State Legislature established the Citrus Experiment Station to conduct research on the agricultural problems of Southern California. Graduate work was conducted early in the station's history, and today, graduate education is central to its mission.

In 1948 the Regents approved the establishment of the College of Letters and Science. Necessary legislation was passed by the Academic Senate in 1951, and the college opened for classes in February 1954. The Riverside campus was declared a general campus by act of the Regents in 1959, with a mandate to develop appropriate areas of study. In 1960, the Graduate Division was established, and graduate and professional programs were added.

Accreditations
UCR is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The campus is fully accredited by the Senior Commission of WASC. This accreditation requires periodic review in accord with WASC policies and standards. WASC is located at 985 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001. In addition, the Biomedical Sciences Program is accredited by the Association of American Medical Colleges; the B.S degree (or equivalent program) in Chemistry has been certified by the American Chemical Society as meeting its standards; the credential programs of the Office of Teacher Education Services are approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing; and the B.S. degrees in chemical, electrical, environmental, and mechanical engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Previous Chief Campus Officers
Gordon S. Watkins, Provost 1949-1956
Herman Spieth, Provost 1956-1958/ Chancellor 1958-1964
Ivan Hinderaker, Chancellor 1964-1979
Tomás Rivera, Chancellor 1979-1984
Daniel G. Aldrich, Jr., Acting Chancellor 1984-1985
Theodore L. Hullar, Chancellor 1985-1987
Rosemary S.J. Schraer, Chancellor 1987-1992
Raymond L. Orbach, Chancellor 1992-2002
France A. Córdova, Chancellor 2002-present