¡Bienvenidos a nuestra familia de UCR!
CELEBRATING OVER 50 YEARS OF CHICANO STUDENT PROGRAMS. We celebrate the traditions of Chicano/Latino culture while sharing the spirit of La Raza with our campus and community. To our Chicano/Latino students, we are one big familia, and like a family, we fully support your academic, cultural, and social success.
If you ask our students about Chicano Student Programs, the first thing they will tell you is that we are one big family. Our caring staff supports UCR’s Chicano/Latino community with incredible programs and resources. Our faculty’s research and experiences speak to issues about La Raza, and provide priceless networking and mentorship opportunities. Our shared goals and values make the Common Ground Collective a strong branch of our family tree. Our student organizations are some of our most inspirational family members. Contact us any time. You are part of our family, too.
We are committed to giving back to our community and supporting your academic, cultural and social success! In honor of this milestone, consider donating to our online philanthropy and help us reach our goal of $50,000!
Our Mission
Read CSP's mission statement and learn more about our goals and commitments. We also invite you to visit the Ethnic and Gender Centers website to learn about the E&G group's collective mission statement.
SUPPORT
We create a positive environment for Chicano/Latino students at UCR by offering supportive services and programs that encourage academic success and retention. We provide service referral when necessary, and serve as a resource for advocacy as well.
SHARE
We educate our campus and community about Chicano/Latino culture through our exciting events, active student organizations, and rewarding outreach programs.
CONNECT
We collaborate with other UCR departments with shared goals encourage faculty and staff Partners mentorship; reach out to our local community; and maintain a helpful campus, community and alumni network that help our students grow.
INSPIRE
Our outstanding faculty, staff, and students inspire future members of our familia and demonstrate true orgullo y corazón.
How Familias (Families) Help Highlanders Succeed
Familias (families) and caregivers play a significant role in the academic journey of UCR Chicanx/Latinx scholars. Through the UCR Familias Orgullosas Project, a research initiative focusing on Chicanx/Latinx family engagement, three proud UCR families share their heartfelt experiences supporting their scholars and joining them on the graduation stage. The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, currently, Chicanx/Latinx students make up 37% of the undergraduate population (as of 2024).
The UCR Familias Orgullosas project is led by Dr. Arlene Cano Matute, Chicano Student Programs, and the UCR Hispanic Serving Institution Committee. We look forward to continuing this on-going project!
Contact Us
Chicano Student Programs
University of California, Riverside
145 Costo Hall, Riverside, CA 92521
Main Phone: 951-827-3821
Our Staff
Office Hours: M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(Office hours subject to change)
Campus Map
Directions to UC Riverside
Lograr Universidad de California
La UC presenta Lograr Universidad de California, un nuevo portal de admisiones en español para ayudar a los estudiantes y sus familias a navegar el proceso de obtener una educación en la Universidad de California. Compruébalo aquí:
Events
The Origins of Chicano Student Programs
Our office first started in 1972 on the second floor of UCR’s Library South, adjacent to the “El Centro” meeting room, across the hall from the Chicano Studies Department and the offices of EOP/SAA Support Services. As the population of Raza students continued to grow, CSP was relocated to a more visible space in the “Commons Area.” Due to renovations to this space, CSP was housed in trailers in parking lot 19 until it was moved to Costo Hall. The office is now located at 145 Costo Hall, which offers more space for offices, student meeting rooms, and the planning and execution of our events.
While the location of CSP has varied over the years, the mural representing the history of Raza students and CSP still remains part of the office. The wall-length mural was created by local artist Chano Gonzalez, and funded by a National Council of the Arts grant in 1975. During the first relocation of the office, the mural was threatened to be white-washed. However, student, faculty, and staff protests ensured the security of the artwork. The remaining 10 panels are now displayed at CSP’s current location.
Former Staff and Directors
The program was founded by a committee that included faculty members organizing around the needs of Raza faculty and students at UCR. Dr. Eugene Cota-Robles was a microbiologist and the department chair of Chicano Studies at the time. Dr. Carlos Cortés was a historian and Chicano studies professor. Alberto Richard Chavez was the assistant dean of student services.
With the support of many students, staff, and community members, the committee was able to advocate for a “home away from home” for Chicano students at the UCR campus.
Alberto R. Chavez served as director of Chicano Student Programs for 15 years. In 1986, he was succeeded by Rebecca Chavez, who held the position for one year. Robert Nava was appointed to serve as director in 1989. Alfredo Figueroa, currently an assistant dean at UCR, served as director for another 15 years. During a one-year interim period in the early eighties, UCR alumnus Raymond Navarro also served as program director. In 2004, after having worked as CSP’s student assistant, senior clerk and social/cultural programmer Estella Acuña became CSP’s present director.
Support staff has included Aurora Gonzalez, Armida Amaya, Estela Figueroa, Jacalyn López Garcia, Lydia Enriquez, Nora Cornejo, John Valdez, and Alice Chavez. The social/cultural programmer position, created in 1988, has been held by Josefina Canchola, Carolyn Sandoval, Veronica O.Hernandez, Elena Perez, Arlene Cano Matute, and now Bibiana Canales.
UCR earns Seal of Excelencia certification
It is no accident that UCR has been named the No. 1 public university in the nation for social mobility for the fourth consecutive year and thatin 2021 UCR received the Seal of Excelencia —a distinction awarded by Excelencia in Education, the national recognition awards institutions who demonstrate a commitment to Chicano Latino success demonstrated through data, practice, and leadership that intentionally serves Chicano Latino students. 50 years of our familia, our orgullo, and our corazon have no doubt contributed to the success of our students and accomplishments of our community.
Chicanx/Latinx Student Success at UC Riverside
This year our Assistant Director published as part of the UC Office of the President’s HSI Practice and Policy Brief series, the publication “Chicanx/Latinx Student Success at UC Riverside: Capturing the History of a Thriving Hispanic Serving Institution” was published in January 2022 and was featured on a system-wide webinar to share her findings. This practice brief includes the preliminary findings of her dissertation research project and tells the long history of the UCR campus’ pursuit to become a Chicanx/Latinx thriving institution.