Students in discussion at the Writing Center

2025 annual report

About Undergraduate Education 

The Office of Undergraduate Education comprises several units that, together, foster diverse, innovative and transformative educational experiences.

2025 Year in Review

  • The Undergraduate Research Center facilitates research opportunities for UC Davis undergraduates in all majors. In spring 2025, the center launched the Aggie Scholars Research Initiative, expanding research opportunities for social sciences, arts and humanities undergraduates. A record number of student researchers — more than 1,000 — presented at the 2025 Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Research Conference.
  • The UC Davis Writing Center, which opened in 2023 as a dynamic hub for writing, expanded in 2025 to include the delivery of undergraduate entry-level, first-year composition and upper-division writing courses. The center also provides writing support to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty, through writing groups, seminars, retreats and writing consultations.
  • The 2025 Summer Sessions offered expanded virtual course offerings, including 59 online courses and 30 hybrid class options. Enrollment in the two six-week sessions and the Special Sessions increased by 643 students in 2025, marking a second year of growth for UC Davis’s Fourth Quarter.
  • The Center for Educational Effectiveness supports UC Davis faculty through learning analytics, tailored consultations, workshops, resources for all instructors and other instructional innovations. In 2025, the center refined its approach to faculty support with the launch of a faculty advisory committee and remodeled faculty learning communities. The center seeks to better measure its impact and advance the delivery of instructional support.

These Undergraduate Education units support students through high-impact learning and research experiences:

  • First-Year Seminars
  • Quarter at Aggie Square
  • Summer Sessions
  • Undergraduate Research Center
  • University Honors Program
  • Washington Program
  • Writing Center

These units offer tools and resources in support of faculty or advisors:

  • Center for Educational Effectiveness
  • Writing Center
  • Academic Advising Enrichment

Read more about the units

2025 highlights

Natasha Bibbs holding a key

Students Prepare for Undergraduate Research Conference

  • by Julia Ann Easley

UC Davis student Natasha Bibbs of Sacramento has already gone places with academic research — and she hopes to go even further.

The fourth-year student travelled about 2,000 miles to Louisiana and more than 150 years back in time to discover how someone she believes is an ancestor — perhaps her great-great-grandfather — became one of the first Black doctors in his community and used his status to contribute to the African American community.

Two staff posing for photographs

Undergraduate Education staff honored with UC awards

  • by Ginger M Welsh

Two Undergraduate Education leaders received awards at the annual University of California Black Administrators’ Council Conference, or UCBAC, at UCLA last month.  Raynell Hamilton-Starks and Kayton Carter were recognized for their significant contributions to UC Davis and African American students, faculty and staff.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses is standing in a doorway, holding the glass door open with both hands. She is wearing a patterned dress, a maroon cardigan, and a beaded necklace. She is smiling. The background is slightly blurred, showing an outdoor scene with greenery and reflections in the glass.

Project Helping Instructors Improve Accessibility

  • by Julia Ann Easley

“As you can see from this slide …” may not be an uncommon expression used at lecterns to introduce an image.

But in classrooms or online, not every student may be able to see what’s on a screen well enough — or even at all — to learn from it.

A group of five people sitting around a table engaged in discussion during a workshop session. The table is covered with a blue tablecloth and scattered with sticky notes, pens, paper and snacks. One participant is wearing a face mask and taking notes, while others listen and converse. A large sheet of paper with colorful sticky notes is attached to the wall in the background.

UC Davis revamps leadership education

  • by Ginger M Welsh

Undergraduate student participants at the 2025 Aggies Leading the Way! Conference were offered the chance to find clarity through Life Design. The Center for Leadership Learning's flagship annual conference also provided students a sneak peek at new programming the center plans to roll out in the fall.

Faculty at a workshop

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference returns for 9th year

  • by Ginger M Welsh

UC Davis faculty and instructors share research and discoveries to improve teaching and learning at the ninth Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (or SoTL) Conference in the ARC Ballroom Dec. 10. 

The committee planned the 2024 conference around the theme, “The SoTL Cycle: Innovate, Assess, Evolve,” which is dedicated to the celebration of the UC Davis community of educators. 

Jeanette B. Ruiz stands with a hand on her hip in the middle of Shields Library courtyard. She is wearing a blue T-shirt with a colorful graphic that says #firstgen college grad UC Davis.

Jeanette B. Ruiz named faculty lead for UC Davis First-Generation Initiative

  • by Jenny Carrick

First-generation UC Davis students and their allies gathered Nov. 8 to form a human No. 1, showcasing the first-generation community at UC Davis as part of the National First-Generation College Celebration. Expanding that support to include first-generation faculty, UC Davis Undergraduate Education recently named Associate Professor of Teaching Jeanette B. Ruiz to lead the First-Generation Initiative into its next phase.

A group of 8 academic advisors stand in two rows holding up award certificates.

UC Davis advisors recognized during 10th annual campus advising awards ceremony

  • by Jenny Carrick

UC Davis Academic Advising Enrichment recognized several campus advisors for their outstanding contributions for the 10th year during the annual Advising Fall Welcome at the Student Community Center Oct. 15.

The campus awards are timed to align with the National Academic Advising Association: The Global Community for Academic Advising, known as NACADA, regional and association awards program. Both the campus and NACADA awards advance awareness and recognition of the role of academic advisors in higher education.

Large group of students gathered around multiple tables set up in rows.

Second Undergraduate Research Fair kicks off Oct. 10

  • by Ginger M Welsh

UC Davis undergraduate students who want to conduct research can meet with more than 37 faculty at the second-ever Undergraduate Research Fair Oct. 10.

The fair, which runs 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 in the ARC Ballroom and Courtyard, provides students information about how to participate in research projects, learn about research programs and explore opportunities to work in labs.

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