Scott Galloway, a best-selling author, entrepreneur and professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, donated $6 million to UCLA Extension to give non-traditional students access to the skills and resources they need to launch their careers.

The gift, together with an additional $6 million donation to UC Berkeley Extension, funded the creation of UC Excelerator, a career-focused academic and mentoring program that gives students without traditional four-year college degrees the chance to study business and entrepreneurship free of cost.

“The accessibility and affordability of UCLA and UC Berkeley changed my life,” said Galloway, who graduated from UCLA in 1987 and finished a master’s degree at Berkeley five years later. “I’m hoping this gift puts the educational resources of both universities within reach for more people and provides skills that lead to the growth of good jobs in the Main Street economy.”

The new program launched this fall with a cohort of 34 students. Aimed primarily at community college graduates and those with limited college experience, the program is designed to help learners of all ages start a new career or advance in their current one.

“Scott Galloway’s generous gift will help us continue to widen the doors of opportunity and provide our students with the tools and connections needed to thrive in today’s economy,” said former UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. “He has been outspoken about the immense impact that UCLA and UC Berkeley had on his life and career, and we are extraordinarily appreciative that he is helping to extend the promise of public higher education to so many others.”

“We are grateful to Scott Galloway for his generosity and forward thinking, using continuing education as a pathway to help students achieve their potential,” said UCLA Extension Dean Eric Bullard. “This gift will impact students looking to gain the skills necessary to launch their careers.”

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UCLA Extension released an updated strategic plan to address urgent challenges facing higher education, from the effects of disruptive technology on global job markets to the essential need for more equitable and widespread prosperity in our communities. With input from diverse stakeholders from across UCLA Extension, UCLAx2028: The Future of Continuing Education aims to keep the institution at the forefront of innovation and opportunity in continuing education for generations to come.

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Last summer’s graduation ceremony marked the largest ever in UCLA Extension’s history. Held at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion on June 17, more than 700 students and nearly 3,000 guests attended the celebration. In his keynote remarks, entrepreneur and activist Karim Webb encouraged graduates to use what they learned at UCLA Extension to help others. Dean Eric Bullard commended the students for their “tenacity and drive” and urged them to keep learning.

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UCLA Extension’s International Programs staff met with educators from around the world at NAFSA’s annual conference in New Orleans. The event was a perfect backdrop for the signing of a collaboration agreement with representatives from South Korea’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (pictured). The International Programs unit has continued to expand its relationships with academic partners throughout the year, signing similar agreements with universities in India, Morocco and beyond.