December 2003

 

President Dynes’ Message to the Senate

 

I am delighted to extend my greetings and best wishes to the members of the University of California Academic Senate. It is an honor to be taking on the presidency of the University, and I am looking forward to working with the Senate to preserve and enhance this institution’s extraordinary contributions to California, the nation, and the world.

 

Shared governance has been one of the University’s key sources of strength throughout its history, and I believe it is largely responsible for the quality of this institution today. I intend to continue our proud tradition of effective shared governance, in close collaboration with the Academic Senate.

 

My first two months on the job have been busy ones. I have focused on meeting people throughout the state and listening to their ideas for the University of California; this process has included two meetings with the Academic Council thus far. I also have met with a wide variety of other University groups, convened a series of web chats with members of the UC community, met with the press, and begun a systemwide “inaugural tour” that will take me to all of the UC campuses—and to several regions of California without a UC campus—over the next several months to meet many more people in person.

 

The University faces a number of challenging issues today. Chief among them is the state’s severe budget deficit, which once again raises the question of the extent to which California will continue its historically strong commitment to public higher education. I have been working, and will continue to work, with the Schwarzenegger Administration and the Legislature to make the best possible case for the University’s needs and to cultivate a real understanding of the many benefits the University of California brings to our state.

 

Despite our periodic political and economic uncertainties, the state of California today is the envy of the world. That fact is a testament to the success of innovation, diversity, tolerance, risk-taking, and entrepreneurship—the characteristics that define California. And much of that success simply would not be possible without the University of California and its contributions to education, health care, job creation, and quality of life.

 

In whatever challenge we face, my goal is to preserve our tremendous impact on California, and to do so by preserving and bolstering the University’s historic missions: world-class excellence in teaching and research; access for Californians from every corner of the state and every walk of life; and public service that makes a true difference in California’s communities. The faculty are at the core of everything the University does. I am enormously proud of your accomplishments, and I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.

 

For an overview of upcoming events, my commentaries on various issues, and opportunities for the UC community to provide feedback directly to me, please visit my web page at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/president. I hope you will stay in touch, and I will do the same.

 

Sincerely,

Robert C. Dynes, President