What: More than 60 individuals -- some who have taught in California schools with an emergency permit and others aiming to enter the profession -- will begin classes in the first joint program of California State University, Sacramento, and the University of California, Davis, to formally prepare elementary-level teachers. Program students will be able to earn teaching credentials by next summer, and those who are already teaching with an emergency permit still will be available to teach during the 1998-99 school year. News media are welcome at an opening reception and in two classes. Barbara Goldman, associate director of teacher education at UC Davis, will be available for interviews. When and Where: Monday, June 29 • 8 to 9 a.m.: Robert Grey, UC Davis provost and executive vice chancellor, will address the students at a reception in Room 2372 on the second floor of the Academic Surge Building at UC Davis. • 9 a.m. to noon: Students will begin computer and science classes on the second floor of Academic Surge. Visuals: Maureen McMahon, an assistant professor at UC Davis, will lead students through Web research assignments in the computer lab, Room 2363. (You can reach the lab at 530-752-7218.) Lorie Hammond of CSU will have students explore scientific instruments and everyday applications of science in Room 2377. Background: The students will take seven intensive courses at UC Davis through July 31, teach elementary pupils for one semester under the supervision of faculty and return to UC Davis next summer for another five courses. Members of the program's inaugural class have at least a bachelor's degree but no formal training in education. However, their experience ranges from coaching basketball and wrestling teams to working with migrant workers' children to teaching full time. The courses, taught by professors from both universities, will explore methods of helping non-native speakers acquire fluency in English, approaches for teaching elementary-school subject matter, strategies for working with cultural diversity in the classroom and techniques for integrating technology with instruction. California's teacher shortage -- more than 20,000 individuals with no formal training in education taught on an emergency basis in 1996-97 -- is attributed to the state's initiative to reduce class size in lower grades and to the number of teachers who leave the profession after a few years. Directions and Parking: Take Interstate 80 to the UC Davis exit and head north on Old Davis Road. Proceed through a stop sign and cross a small bridge. Academic Surge will be ahead on the left. Some metered spots (media need not pay) are directly across the road from the building's main entrance; parking lot 46 can be accessed by turning left on La Rue Road. Leave a media business card on your dashboard as a parking permit, unless your vehicle is already marked.