100 Graduates Strong

The students come from across the state, from all walks of life and with their own unique motivations, but they now have one thing in common – with the help of the UC Degree Completion Program at UC Davis (UCDCP), they are all UC Davis graduates. 

“Without this program I would still be stalled, struggling to advance in a career I have no passion for,” said Amanda Ferrell, a 2014 UC Davis Entomology student who graduated last spring. “The wonderful staff reached out to me, provided resources and support, and celebrated even the smallest of accomplishments with me along the way. The [Continuing and Professional Education Program] is the principal reason I now have my degree. I am genuinely grateful to everyone that had a part in that success.” 

The UCDCP at UC Davis is designed to help UC Davis stop-outs navigate the financial, physical and academic barriers working adults face in completing their degree. It is part of an innovative, state-funded collaboration between UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) and other UC Extension programs to help California residents with some college but no degree earn their degree. 

“Without this program I would still be stalled, struggling to advance in a career I have no passion for.” – Amanda Ferrell

“The students we have supported are some of the most resilient individuals I’ve worked with,” said program assistant director Tracy Diesslin. “It has been a pleasure to hear their stories and how they’ve overcome obstacles in life, persevered, and finished the degree they started. They will all go on to do incredible things!” 

UCDCP advisors take a student-centric, personalized approach to their work, said Diesslin. Every student’s situation is unique so all the services offered - from academic advising and career counselling to financial assistance and tutoring – are based on the individual needs of the student. “To help students succeed, we need to meet them where they’re at and understand the circumstances that led to them pausing their education in the first place,” said Diesslin. 

Earning their degree can change a student’s life and secure a stronger future for their family. Californians with a bachelor’s degree earn on average 62% more than those with just a high school diploma according to a Public Policy Institute of California report. 

“We are grateful to our UC Davis campus partners for the support they’ve provided to transform the lives of these students,” said CPE Dean Julie Greenwood. “Our campus advisors, academic leadership, administrative services and faculty have all played a pivotal role in the success of the program. It has been incredible to see our partners across UC Davis come together in support of our students.” 

The UCDCP is a two-year pilot project funded by the California Legislature through the State Budget Act of 2019. The program is projected to run through summer 2026, when it will be evaluated for continued support. Currently 106 students have successfully earned their degree through the program. 

For more than 60 years, the UC Davis Division of Continuing and Professional Education has blended the distinctive academic expertise of UC Davis with practical training that is designed to improve capability and job performance. This “Career Curriculum” supports working professionals as they refresh and expand job skills over the course of their careers. 

With nearly 56,000 annual enrollments in professional, academic and enrichment courses and millions of enrollments in Massive Open Online Courses, UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education serves lifelong learners in the growing Sacramento region, all 50 states and more than 100 countries.