Partnership with Umoja program helps community college students achieve

UC Riverside transfer student Latasha Murray went back to school as a 33-year-old mother of four, with the hopes of ultimately going on to medical school. She’s thriving as a university student, but acknowledges that the transition from work to life as a college student wouldn’t have been possible without the friends and advisers she found through Moreno Valley College’s Umoja program.

“It’s much more than a student group — it’s a family,” Murray said.

Umoja, a nonprofit organization that works to improve academic success among African American students, was there to help her with whatever she needed, whether that was figuring out transfer requirements, navigating a difficult family situation or even finding last-minute child care.

It’s been such a successful program that the University of California is looking to emulate its support system as students go on to complete their four-year degrees or advance even further to graduate and professional school.

UC recently formed a partnership with Umoja to support community college students in transferring to a four-year university. Through the effort, UC provides training to Umoja staff to support students in applying for transfer and financial aid. The university is also working to provide a sense of continuity and community for Umoja participants who apply to and enroll in UC campuses. Full story