Welcome!

"In times of drastic change, learners inherit the future, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."
– Eric Hofer, American writer and philosopher

Knocking against my office window with their promise of a new season, the Santa Ana winds blowing across Riverside this week seem an apt metaphor for the changes sweeping through our lives. From the profound restructuring of our economy to the inauguration of a new president, the gyrating stock market and the wavering balance of global power, the new year will prove to us once again that change and uncertainty are the only constants.

How can we be prepared to not only survive, but thrive, in this constantly shifting environment? As Eric Hofer reminds us, our best chance is to continue to learn. Our UCR Extension programs are filled with students doing just that—sharpening their skills, seeking personal enrichment, gaining professional proficiency, tackling new subjects, exploring and expanding their talents. We are a community of learners, with an unchanging belief that education itself is boundless and empowering.

We welcome you to the Winter 2009 quarter and invite you to join thousands of your neighbors, family, friends and fellow employees from every imaginable profession as they pursue educational excellence. Browse the catalog's 400+ courses, many certificate programs and numerous credentialing opportunities and choose your path to personal fulfillment and professional success.

The future is unpredictable, but no matter what challenges we will face in the coming months, it is certain that those who continue to learn will be those who inherit the future.

Sharon Duffy
Acting Dean, UC Riverside Extension