About UC Online

Providing equitable and inclusive digital and online learning opportunities for all.

On August 18, 2021, the Innovative Learning Technology Initiative (ILTI) relaunched as UC Online. UC Online is UC’s cross-campus enrollment resource for students to take online courses at other UC campuses, at no charge during the academic year, and receive academic credit needed to progress toward graduation.

UC Online is part of the Educational Innovations and Services unit within Graduate, Undergraduate and Equity Affairs (GUEA) at the UC Office of the President (UCOP).

UC Online has supported campus efforts with funding and services that include:
  • Development and faculty support of a growing catalog of online courses, programs, sequences and minors available to students across the UC system
  • Pedagogical and technical innovations related to teaching and learning online
  • Development of the Cross-Campus Enrollment System (CCES)
  • Cross-campus, academic year enrollment operations and student support
Today, UC Online helps undergraduates find credit-bearing, online learning opportunities across the UC system, and supports campus-to-campus collaborations for faculty.
Beginning in 2021, UC Online is expanding these efforts to develop new programs and services, including a UC Online teaching and learning conference in October 2021. Faculty, staff, students and administrators from all 10 UC campuses whose work includes online learning are invited to participate in and attend the event.

UC Online in operation

Since its inception in 2013, UC Online has provided funding for the development and enhancement of 450+ courses, including fully online and hybrid courses. A cross-campus enrollment system allows UC students to easily search for and enroll in courses offered and taught by UC faculty and staff at other UC campuses.  The Cross-Campus Enrollment System has been developed to support and facilitate cross-campus enrollment for all UC students.  Many online courses earn GE, pre-major and major credit on other UC campuses. Evaluation of the courses and of the initiative itself is on-going, providing accountability and information on how the project is progressing. 

Program history

UC Online was established in January 2013 by then-UC President Mark G. Yudof. The Office of the Provost and Academic Senate provide program leadership, while UC students, faculty and administrators have played important roles in defining and shaping UC Online’s framework and guidelines.

UC Online’s strategy is based upon four interconnected components:

  • Funds will be available to UC faculty to create new online courses and enhance existing online courses.
  • Department and campus support for the courses will also be provided, to ensure that courses developed will be offered for multiple years on multiple campuses.   
  • A cross-campus enrollment system with a searchable database of online courses will help students find and enroll in needed classes. 
  • Evaluation of how well the initiative is performing will provide key accountability data. 

Built on a solid base

UC Online was built on the prior accomplishments of UC faculty in developing and teaching online courses that are strong and viable options for student learning. UC's existing online course offerings span the breadth and depth of a quality undergraduate education — from the culture and context of dance to climate change, foreign languages and software programming. UC Online will take advantage of and move beyond what UC campuses are already doing to use innovative learning technology in undergraduate instruction.