ALPHA Center

Spreading the Word About the Joys of Math and Science

The Academy of Learning through Partnerships for Higher Achievement Center, or ALPHA Center as it more commonly called, exists to help spread the word about math and science careers and show teachers and students about the joys and benefits of studying mathematics and science. While helping elevate interest in these disciplines, the program has brought national recognition to UC Riverside.

The ALPHA Center works in partnership with educational institutions, businesses, and non-profits to prepare students to excel in college and teachers to excel in the classroom with effective teaching methods. The Center has reached more than 119,400 students, 9,900 teachers and 845 administrators and impacted approximately 190 schools in Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial and eastern Los Angeles counties.

The program offers a host of core programs aimed at professional development and improved student performance in mathematics and sciences, some with a special emphasis on increasing the number of women in these fields.

The Priorities of the ALPHA Center

• Enhancing the overall quality of students entering UCR and other institutions of higher learning, both as undergraduates as well as candidates for advanced graduate degrees.
• Reinforcing a continuous evolution of research in public education in mathematics and science and curricula development that can impact the future course of public education and policy.
• Enhancing the professional development and competency of K-12 teachers and future K-12 teachers in mathematics and science.
• Collaborating with the area's public and private schools to provide summer institutes of learning and college and university exposure to K-12 students, thus providing early access to the possibilities of higher education and resultant career alternatives.
• Effectively assisting, supporting, helping and coordinating on-campus public educational engagement programs and research activities to maximize utilization of University resources, avoid duplication of effort and increase overall campus-wide awareness of these outreach programs among the served constituencies.
• Increasing the competitive UC eligibility of local area students, thereby assisting UCR and other educational institutions in their regional student recruitment efforts.
• Strengthening on-campus and off-campus collaborative relationships which help increase the value of the University's scholarship, research and outreach potential.
• Conducting primary research targeted at the served constituencies to assist higher education in serving as a catalyst for its collective outreach efforts.
• Building awareness of UCR as a local educational resource which encourages reciprocity by actively listening to community feedback, working collaboratively with interested constituents, and providing an on-going critique of the entire engagement process.
• Acting as a catalyst to help focus the external educational community on UCR's contribution to the development of instructional practices and curriculum.