About UCR Palm Desert
The University of California has been active in the Coachella Valley for nearly 100 years, initially supporting the agriculture industry and more recently impacting modern growth issues through research in areas such as transportation, air quality and energy and water conservation.
Established in 2005, the Palm Desert Center serves as:
- A base for several UCR research programs.
- A host to international academic conferences, continuing education and a variety of public service programs.
- A resource to extend the reach of UCR by providing outreach efforts in local schools to promote and improve college-going rates in the Coachella Valley.
Our Goals
UCR Palm Desert Center aims to:
- Increase the number of students in graduate degree programs.
- Attract even more research by UCR and UC faculty to UCR Palm Desert.
- Engage the community in responding to the real and emerging needs of the region.
Learn about the University of California, Riverside.
About Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley
The city of Palm Desert is about 11 miles east of the city of Palm Springs and about 66 miles east of the UC Riverside campus. The Palm Desert/Palm Springs metropolitan area lies along the south side of Interstate 10 in northern Coachella Valley.
The University of California has been active in the Coachella Valley for nearly 100 years, initially supporting the agriculture industry and more recently impacting modern growth issues through research in areas such as transportation, air quality, and energy and water conservation. The UCR Palm Desert Center, established in 2005, provides graduate education to the Coachella Valley through its innovative Executive MBA and MFA degrees.