Principal's Message

Welcome to University Heights Middle School (UHMS)!

My name is Jeremy Hansen, and I am honored and excited to be the proud new principal of UHMS.  Although I am new to UHMS and RUSD, I am currently entering my 27th year in public education having taught at colleges for five years then as a teacher and administrator for two high schools in San Bernardino County for twenty-one years.

Throughout my professional, administrative journey, I have fostered collaborative environments focused on student success that incorporate all stakeholders while making individuals feel valued and welcome.

This focus on student betterment is aligned with the UHMS Mission Statement:University Heights Middle School is a diverse community of engaged learners where the staff is committed to providing a safe and caring environment to empower students to discover their true potentialTo support the academic and behavioral needs of students, UHMS conducts daily monitoring of students needing Tier 2 or Tier 3 MTSS interventions and conducts both weekly and monthly attendance monitoring of all students.  UHMS has also taken strategic, intentional steps to decrease student suspensions.

To further support the engagement of all students and the development of the whole child, UHMS offers a wide range of schoolwide programs, including: AVID, PBIS, Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, Student Assistant Program (SAP) Counseling, a PrimeTime Afterschool Program, ELOP Tutoring and Academic Intervention, 7th and 8th Grade Counseling Groups, and the Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) 7th Grade Support Program.  UHMS also offers robust VAPA courses (Theatre, Art, Choir, Band, Dance, Photography), CTE courses (Coding, Television Production, Robotics), and Athletics (Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Soccer, Track and Volleyball).

Teachers, staff and students help to create a daily sense of belonging, which is reflected in the values, culture and community of the school.  In 2025, University Heights Middle School was the only school to achieve PBIS Platinum status in the Riverside Unified School District.  UHMS has been a California League of Middle Schools “School to Watch” since the 2021-2022 school year.  Since 2019, University Heights Middle School has operated a Community Resource Center, providing clothing, hygiene products, and other resources to the families of UHMS.
There are so many outstanding student-focused engagements taking place every day at UHMS, and, like the staff, I am committed to the core belief that our campus is a place “where everyONE everyDAY MATTERS!” 

I look forward to building and strengthening connections among our staff, students, parents and community members.  

Go Wolves!

Mr. Jeremy Hansen

Principal
University Heights Middle School