Goals UC Extension programs complement the University's core research and teaching missions, disseminating research, facilitating technology transfer and promoting academic innovation, often in partnership with campus faculty. UC Extension goals are to contribute significantly to fulfilling the University's land-grant mission, presenting a diverse array of public educational programs and activities while remaining completely self-supporting. While the typical UC Extension student is a mid-career, degreed working professional seeking focused, career-related continuing education, the program also aims to provide extensive educational opportunities and access for California's diverse and multi-lingual population.

Measures UC Extension uses qualitative as well as quantitative indicators to measure success. These include student reports of the impact of Extension educational programs on their professional and personal lives, regional impacts of university-community partnerships created by Extension professionals addressing community issues and value returned to teaching and research programs of other campus academic units through UC Extension programs and partnerships. Each campus Extension program addresses the needs for continuing and professional education in its own geographic region. The need varies in a way that is reflected in the data.