University of Redlands
Coco McKown/For the University of Redlands
University of Redlands President Ralph Kuncl (seated, right) and Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District Superintendent Cali Binks (seated, middle) sign an agreement to make a University of Redlands education possible for all YCJUSD high school graduates who meet the requirements. Seated left is YCJUSD Board President Chuck Christie. Also pictured : (standing, from left) Yucaipa High School ASB President Bridger Palmer, School Board members Jim Taylor, Sharon Bannister, Patricia Ingram, Jane Smith and University of Redlands ASUR President Anne Thorson.
University of Redlands President Ralph Kuncl, Vice President for Enrollment Kevin Dyerly, ASUR President Anne Thorson, and UR bulldog mascot Thurber made a visit to make history at the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District School Board meeting Tuesday.
Joined by YCJUSD Board President Chuck Christie, President Kuncl and YCJUSD Superintendent Cali Binks signed an agreement that makes a Redlands education possible for all YCJUSD high school graduating seniors who meet the requirements.
“This partnership will allow Yucaipa/Calimesa students and parents to aim high–to experience not only the personalized, broad education of a private college but the excitement of a significant university setting,” Kuncl said. “The huge plus factors are the promise of admission if qualified, a substantial scholarship, and the guarantee of completion in four years to those who are determined to succeed. Our graduates are job-ready and extraordinarily satisfied with their experience.”
The agreement includes:
Dyerly said as an alumnus of Yucaipa High School and University of Redlands, “the signing of this guaranteed admission pathway is particularly meaningful to me personally. The Yucaipa-Calimesa JUSD has long had a number of teachers and administrators who are U of R graduates. Current Yucaipa High School Principal Shad Kirkland, Congressman Pete Aguilar, and our own student body president Anne Thorson are three other examples of T-Bird alumni who attended the University of Redlands.
“Our hope is that this agreement will raise awareness about the value and affordability of a great liberal arts institution in the district’s own backyard and lead to more of the district’s graduates becoming “Bulldogs for Life.” This partnership, along with the agreement we recently signed with Chaffey JUHSD, are part of an ongoing effort as part of our strategic plan to strengthen and enhance pathways to and through the University of Redlands.”
YCJUSD is the second district to enter into an agreement for guaranteed admission to Redlands. Chaffey Joint Union High School District signed a similar agreement in September.
