New Medical School at UC-Riverside Gets OK From University Regents
On Thursday, the University of California Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve plans to develop a medical school at the UC-Riverside campus, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
The school is projected to open in 2012 with 50 students and grow to 400 students, 160 medical residents and 160 graduate students by 2021.
The proposal to develop the medical school calls for $100 million from the state for operating funds through 2021, when the school is projected to be self-sustaining.
Given current state budget challenges, UC-Riverside Acting Chancellor Robert Grey said the campus would pursue a line of credit to cover initial expenses. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors also is considering providing financing assistance, according to Grey.
UC-Riverside intends to kick off a 10-year fundraising campaign with a goal of $250 million.
In addition, the campus plans to begin construction on a new medical school complex in 2010. Grey said a state bond measure likely would be used to cover the estimated $508 million cost of the facility (Regus, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 7/17).