Chancellor Emeritus Larry Vanderhoef

SPEECH

CONVOCATION/INAUGURATION OF
LARRY N. VANDERHOEF AS
UC DAVIS CHANCELLOR

SEPTEMBER 28, 1994

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THANK YOU PRESIDENT PELTASON.  FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE WHO DO NOT KNOW THIS, THE HIGH REGARD THAT I HAVE FOR PRESIDENT PELTASON GOES BACK A LONG WAY --  BACK TO MY FIRST APPOINTMENT INTO ACADEME AS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN 1970.  MY CHANCELLOR THEN, A CHANCELLOR WHOM I QUICKLY CAME TO REGARD HIGHLY, WAS JACK PELTASON.

[PAUSE]

MY WIFE, ROSALIE, AND MY SON, JON, AND DAUGHTER, SUSAN,  ARE HERE.  I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD OF MY CHILDREN, JON AND SUSAN, AND ROSALIE AND I HAVE BEEN EACH OTHER'S BEST FRIEND NOW FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS.  I STILL LOVE HER MADLY, BUT I HAVE COME TO KNOW OVER TIME THAT NOTHING, EVER, HAS BEEN MORE VALUABLE TO ME THAN OUR FRIENDSHIP.  THANK YOU, ROSALIE.

THANK YOU ALSO, REGENT BROPHY.  EVEN THOUGH I AM FULLY AWARE THAT YOUR STRONG SUPPORT EXTENDS TO THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA FAMILY, I HAVE SURELY ENJOYED AND VALUED THE SPECIAL ATTENTION YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME AND TO UC DAVIS.  YOU ARE ONE OF THIS STATE'S PREMIER EXPERTS ON HIGHER EDUCATION, HAVING SERVED NOW ON ALL THREE BOARDS, AND I AM HONORED TO KNOW YOU.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS TO THANK AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT I COULD USE UP ALL OF MY TIME DOING ONLY THAT.  SO LET ME JUST TELL YOU HOW DEEPLY I APPRECIATE OUR FRIENDS, OUR RELATIVES, ESPECIALLY ROSALIE'S PARENTS AND HER BROTHERS, RON AND ANDY, AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR UC DAVIS COMMUNITY,  OUR ALUMNI AND SPECIAL SUPPORTERS, AND OUR MANY HIGHER EDUCATION COLLEAGUES FROM AROUND THE STATE WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY.  THE PRESENCE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ENRICHES THIS OCCASION, AND I PERSONALLY TREASURE THE SPECIAL EFFORT YOU HAVE MADE TO BE HERE TODAY.

INTRODUCTION:

BEFORE WE THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE, ALLOW ME TO PAUSE A MOMENT TO TAKE STOCK OF OUR PAST.  LET US THINK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT ABOUT OUR ORIGINS, ABOUT WHO WE ARE.  WE BEGAN IN 1905 AS "THE UNIVERSITY FARM" AND THREE YEARS LATER BECAME THE SECOND CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.  WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THE PAST 89 YEARS, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE BEST OF REASONS FOR TAKING GREAT PRIDE IN THAT HERITAGE, FOR IT IS A WONDERFUL STORY OF SUCCESS.  UC DAVIS BECAME, AND UC DAVIS REMAINS, AN INTERNATIONAL LEADER IN AGRICULTURE AND IN VETERINARY MEDICINE.  WE PIONEERED IN TEACHING AND IN RESEARCH AND TRAINED WHOLE GENERATIONS OF OUR NATION'S LEADERS IN THESE DISCIPLINES.  AS WE KNOW SO WELL, AGRICULTURE AND VETERINARY MEDICINE BECAME VITAL COMPONENTS OF CALIFORNIA'S LIFE AND ECONOMY, AND THESE DISCIPLINES CONTINUE TODAY AS PILLARS OF STRENGTH ON OUR CAMPUS.  THEY ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF WHO WE ARE, AND WE WILL REMAIN FULLY COMMITTED TO THEIR WELFARE IN THE FUTURE.

UPON THESE ORIGINS THE CAMPUS HAS DEVELOPED MAJOR STRENGTHS IN THE BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW AND THRIVE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM.  WE NOW STAND AS A MATURE UNIVERSITY WITH ADDED PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS IN MEDICINE, LAW, AND MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS OUR COLLEGES OF ENGINEERING AND LETTERS AND SCIENCE, AND NEW DIVISIONS OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION.  EACH OF THESE UNITS MAKES ITS PARTICULAR DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF THE UNIVERSITY.  EACH IS A PART OF WHO WE ARE.

AND WE ARE NO LONGER JUST IN DAVIS.  5300 OF US WORK IN SACRAMENTO, AT A MEDICAL CENTER THAT DAILY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.  AND WE ARE AT THE BODEGA MARINE LABORATORY, AT LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY, IN TULARE, IN FRESNO, IN WASHINGTON DC,  AND MANY OTHER LOCATIONS.

AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING ALL ASPECTS OF THIS HERITAGE --  OUR HERITAGE --  AND REALISTICALLY ASSESSING OUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCE ARE

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO MAKING THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR FUTURE.

AND THERE ARE TWO MORE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION.

I AM NOT SURE ABOUT HOW OR WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED,  BUT THIS IS A CAMPUS THAT HAS DEEPLY INGRAINED IN ITS CULTURE A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION.  WE HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES AS A CAMPUS TO A FORMAL STATEMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL "PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY," WHICH SAYS SIMPLY THAT WE ARE ALL EQUALLY VALUED, AND EQUALLY DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE.  THIS QUALITY OF COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION IS A MOST IMPORTANT PART OF WHO WE ARE.

AND FINALLY, ANY REVIEW OF THE HERITAGE OF THIS UNIVERSITY MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHANCELLORS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME.  THREE OF THEIR NAMES NOW GRACE OUR CAMPUS BUILDINGS:  FREEBORN, MRAK AND MEYER.  I WANT TO ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE JIM MEYER SINCE HE IS WITH US TODAY AND STILL VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF THE CAMPUS.  JIM WAS SAID BY MANY TO BE A CHANCELLOR WHO ALWAYS HIRED WELL.  I  LIKE THAT DESCRIPTOR, SINCE HE HAPPENS TO BE THE ONE WHO HIRED ME. [PAUSE]  AND I WANT, AS WELL, TO PAY TRIBUTE TO MY IMMEDIATE PREDECESSOR, CHANCELLOR TED HULLAR.  EVERYONE WHO KNOWS TED KNOWS THAT HE WORKED ENDLESS HOURS FOR THE DAVIS CAMPUS.  ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US I THANK HIM FOR HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CAMPUS AND I WISH HIM WELL.

CHANCELLORS MUST, UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES BE THE BEARERS OF BAD TIDINGS.  CERTAINLY WE HAVE SEEN OUR SHARE OF THAT WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.  BUT TODAY I WILL CONCENTRATE ON NEWS OF A DIFFERENT TYPE.  I WILL BEAR CHALLENGING NEWS--NEWS THAT THE WORLD IS CHANGING IN WAYS THAT OBLIGATE US TO CHANGE.  AND I WILL BEAR GOOD NEWS--THE GOOD NEWS THAT WE ARE FULLY CAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO THAT CHANGE.  AND I WILL BEAR THE BEST NEWS OF ALL -- THE NEWS THAT WE ARE FULLY CAPABLE OF MAKING THESE CHANGES, AND WE WILL BE BETTER FOR THEM.  WE WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO PERFORM OUR MISSION TO  ADD TO THE REPOSITORY OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE, BETTER ABLE TO DISSEMINATE THAT KNOWLEDGE, AND BETTER ABLE TO SERVE OUR PUBLIC, AS WE MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

IN MY CONVOCATION TALK ONE YEAR AGO I MADE THE POINT THAT TO NAVIGATE SUCCESSFULLY THE PROCESSES OF CHANGE AND SELF-RENEWAL IS THE TOUGHEST TEST OF GREATNESS.  TODAY I CAN REPORT THAT AS FAR AS WE HAVE COME IN ONE YEAR WE ARE MEETING THAT TEST; BUT I WILL STRESS AND URGE THAT AS WE TAKE THIS PROCESS INTO THE FUTURE,  WE MUST ALWAYS BE GUIDED BY ONE OVER-ARCHING AIM:  WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT OUR RENEWAL MUST SERVE EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.  I HOPE TO CONVINCE YOU THAT "EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST" IS NOT JUST A TRIVIAL CLICHÉ, FOR WE ARE IN AN UNMISTAKABLE ERA OF DECLINING CONFIDENCE IN OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, OF UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC PROBLEMS, OF AWESOME, SOMETIMES ONEROUS GROWTH OF KNOWLEDGE, NOT JUST OF INFORMATION, BUT OF OUR CONCEPTIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING INFORMATION, AS WELL.  WE MUST DEMONSTRATE OUR INTENTION TO "EDUCATE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST" IN REAL AND UNDERSTANDABLE, EFFECTIVE WAYS.

IN THE REMARKS THAT FOLLOW I WILL SPEAK OF FOUR WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN SO DEMONSTRATE.  THESE ARE, FIRST, THE NEEDS AND PRINCIPLES FOR FACULTY RENEWAL; SECOND, OUR CHANGING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC SERVICE; THIRD, THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; AND FINALLY, THE QUALITY OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION.

FACULTY RENEWAL

LET ME BEGIN, THEN, WITH FACULTY RENEWAL.  THE KEYSTONE OF ANY EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISE IS THE FACULTY.  WITHOUT AN OUTSTANDING FACULTY WE CANNOT FULFILL EITHER OUR HISTORIC OR OUR PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES. MY ACADEMIC HERITAGE IS THE FACULTY.  I ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS AND STILL MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH MY ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE.  THAT HERITAGE IS A CENTRAL PART OF WHO I AM, AND IT SHAPES MY VALUES AND BELIEFS ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE UNIVERSITY.  NOW THOSE WHO KNOW ME KNOW OF MY UNEQUIVOCAL ADMIRATION AND APPRECIATION OF THE TALENTED STAFF OF UC DAVIS.  WE HAVE LEARNED BUT OCCASIONALLY FORGET THAT THE QUALITY OF THE STAFF IS A RESOURCE MORE IMPORTANT TO THE FACULTY THAN ANY OTHER.

BUT IT REMAINS THE CASE THAT OUR QUALITY AND SUCCESS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE QUALITY AND SUCCESS OF OUR FACULTY.  HENCE, I BELIEVE IT IS THE PREEMINENT RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY CHANCELLOR TO ENSURE THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF SUPERIOR  FACULTY.  I WILL GIVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY THE PERSONAL POSITION-BY-POSITION ATTENTION THAT IT MUST HAVE.

WE HAVE, OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, LOST MANY OF OUR BRIGHTEST AND BEST FACULTY AND STAFF, TO THE RETIREMENT PROGRAMS--RETIREMENT PROGRAMS THAT WERE ESSENTIAL TO OUR BUDGET REDUCTION PLANS.  WE NEEDED THOSE RETIREMENT PROGRAMS BADLY--BUT IT STILL HURT TO WATCH OUR HALLS, OUR OFFICES, OUR LABORATORIES EMPTIED OF SO MANY GREAT PROFESSORS AND STAFF.  THOSE LOSSES, THOUGH, HAVE ALSO PRESENTED US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD WITH A DIVERSE AND VIGOROUS COHORT OF NEW FACULTY COLLEAGUES.  WE NEED ONLY BE AWARE OF CERTAIN PRINCIPLES AS WE BEGIN TO REHIRE.  IN ADDITION TO THE HIGH QUALITY THAT WE MUST REPLACE, I AM FIRST COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THOSE AREAS OF TRADITIONAL CAMPUS ACADEMIC STRENGTH AND TO THE TENET THAT IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT LOSE GROUND IN THESE AREAS IF WE ARE TO EVOLVE OUT OF THESE HARD TIMES.  WHILE WE MUST BUILD OTHER AREAS AS WELL, FOR RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES THAT REST ON TOO NARROW AN ACADEMIC BASE RISK A FUTURE MEDIOCRITY IN AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX WORLD, WE MUST APPLY A DIFFERENT, MORE DELIBERATELY PLANNED STRATEGY THAN THE ONE WE ENJOYED IN THE 1980'S.  WE TENDED THEN TO FOSTER NEW PROGRAMS BY "LETTING A THOUSAND FLOWERS BLOOM," BUT THEN FOUND OURSELVES IN THE EARLY 1990'S WITH SOME PROGRAMS THAT COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE UNEXPECTED DROUGHT.  WE MUST CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE NEW FLOWERS, BUT WE MUST TAKE CARE TO ENCOURAGE ONLY THOSE THAT CAN EITHER BENEFIT FROM, OR ENRICH, UC DAVIS'S UNIQUE SOIL.  WE MUST CAREFULLY CHOOSE WHERE WE ARE TO DEVELOP, AND THOSE CHOICES MUST CLEARLY CONSIDER THE PROSPECTS FOR LEVERAGING  OUR DAVIS ADVANTAGES AS WE PURSUE EXCELLENCE FOR THIS UNIVERSITY.  OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THAT, AND CERTAINLY IT IS NOT TOO STRONG A STATEMENT TO SAY THAT THE CITIZENS OF CALIFORNIA DEMAND IT.

IN ADDITION, WE MUST PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A FACULTY THAT IS AS RICHLY DIVERSE AS THE STUDENTS WHO COME HERE TO STUDY.  WE ARE MOST FORTUNATE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, FOR THE POOL OF RECENT PH.D.S IS UNUSUALLY STRONG.  OUR PURSUIT OF DIVERSITY WILL TRULY BE PART AND PARCEL OF OUR PURSUIT OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.  THEY WILL NOT BE SEPARATE INTENTIONS.

MY FINAL POINT ON FACULTY RENEWAL CONCERNS OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE STATE, AND TO THE LARGER WORLD WE SERVE.  IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT UC DAVIS WILL REALIZE ITS AMBITIOUS INTELLECTUAL GOALS ONLY IF OUR ACADEMIC COMMUNITY IS FULLY CONVERSANT WITH, AND INTERESTED IN, THE CHANGING EXPECTATIONS OF OUR COMPLEX WORLD.  WE ARE, AFTER ALL, A LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY, IN SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.   AND SO WE MUST CONTINUE TO RECRUIT TO THE RANKS OF OUR FACULTY SCHOLARS, SCIENTISTS AND TEACHERS WHO SHARE THIS IMPORTANT VALUE AND WHO WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MISSION, NOT ONLY BY DEVELOPING BASIC KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION, BUT BY CONSIDERING APPLICATIONS TO SOCIETY'S PRESSING CONCERNS.

ADHERING TO THESE SEVERAL PRINCIPLES OF FACULTY RENEWAL MAY BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT TASK THAT WE FACE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

PUBLIC SERVICE

LET ME NOW TURN TO THE SECOND AREA OF RENEWAL--TO OUR CHANGING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.  ALTHOUGH RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES NATIONWIDE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONTRIBUTORS TO THE PUBLIC GOOD, WE ARE GAINING A RENEWED APPRECIATION FOR -- AND MAKING A NEW COMMITMENT TO -- SHARING OUR KNOWLEDGE, OUR PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES AND OUR PROGRAMS BEYOND OUR TRADITIONAL BOUNDARIES IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SOME OF SOCIETY'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR A UNIVERSITY LIKE OURS, FOR IT IS BASED ON THE GRAND NOTION THAT A UNIVERSITY SHOULD NOT ONLY GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE BUT APPLY SUCH KNOWLEDGE TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

IN 1957, THE SOVIET UNION'S LAUNCH OF SPUTNIK, AND THE FEARS AND INSECURITY OF A COLD WAR SHOCKED OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTO CALLING UPON AMERICAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES TO MEET THE TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES WE FELT WE HAD TO FACE.  FUNDED BY A SUDDEN AND CONTINUING INFLUX OF FEDERAL DOLLARS, THE RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES RESPONDED WITH AN OVERWHELMING ARRAY OF DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS, NEW IDEAS, AND MADE STARTLING AND AMAZING PROGRESS.  BUT IT IS BY NOW UNDISPUTED THAT THE ONGOING INFLUX OF FEDERAL DOLLARS SIGNIFICANTLY REDIRECTED THE ETHOS OF THE UNIVERSITY.  WE MUST NOW, IN THIS TIME OF RENEWAL, RECONSIDER THAT ETHOS AND THINK ABOUT THE NEW PROBLEMS THAT THREATEN OUR NATION'S WELFARE.

WE MUST IN 1994 RECOGNIZE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS NOW FACED WITH NEW CHALLENGES TO OUR SECURITY, CHALLENGES THAT THIS TIME AROUND ARE MUCH CLOSER TO HOME.  A STAGGERING ARRAY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS CONFRONTS US, RANGING FROM THE DETERIORATION OF OUR K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION SYSTEM, TO ANXIETY OVER OUR PERSONAL SAFETY, TO ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS OF EVERY SORT.  UNIVERSITIES TRULY REMAIN AS SOCIETY'S PRIMARY GENERATOR AND REPOSITORY OF KNOWLEDGE, AND AS SUCH WE CAN -- WE MUST -- BE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS.  OUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON THESE CHALLENGES IS NOT A STRANGE AND UNUSUAL DIVERSION FROM OUR MISSION.  RATHER, I BELIEVE IT WILL CONSTITUTE THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF THE LAND GRANT IDEAL, REDEFINING OUR ROLE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

AT UC DAVIS, WE HAVE ALL THE TALENTS AND THE INCLINATIONS WE NEED TO LEAD THE WAY IN THIS EVOLUTION AND REVOLUTION.  OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS RANGE FROM THE LARGEST ASSIGNMENT IN THE NATION OF STUDENT INTERNS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES, TO PATIENT CARE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY PROVIDED BY OUR FACULTY PHYSICIANS AND STAFF AT THE UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER.  THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES TO BE GIVEN, INCLUDING OUR TWO RECENT RECIPIENTS OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE'S DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD.  THESE PRIZE WINNERS HAVE SHOWN US HOW EXPERTISE IN ECONOMICS CAN BE DIRECTLY APPLIED TO ISSUES OF IMMIGRATION, AND HOW BASIC RESEARCH IN PHYSICS CAN BE APPLIED TO PROBLEMS OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.

YES, WE SURELY CAN BE PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING,  BUT I AM MOST INTERESTED IN THIS BASE OF ACTIVITY BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES US TO RESOLVE WHAT WE MUST--THAT IN FACT WE MUST DO EVEN MORE.

TO DO MORE WE MUST ENSURE THAT INSTITUTIONAL IMPEDIMENTS TO FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC SERVICE ARE REMOVED AND THAT RESOURCES AND REWARDS ARE IN PLACE TO ENCOURAGE THIS NECESSARY GREATER PARTICIPATION.  WE NEED TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY AND ASK--WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY?  AND THEN LOOK INWARD AGAIN TO SEE HOW WE MIGHT HELP MEET THEM.  WE MUST RESOLVE TO LISTEN, AND TO LISTEN CAREFULLY, TO WHAT OUR FELLOW CITIZENS HAVE TO SAY TO US, FOR IT IS BY THIS CAREFUL LISTENING AND ATTENTION THAT WE WILL LEARN.

EDUCATIONAL COALITION:

LET ME NOW TURN TO THE RENEWAL OF THE MASTER PLAN AND THE QUESTION OF ENHANCING OUR COOPERATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE STATE, TO THE FUTURE OF EDUCATIONAL COALITIONS.

SOME FORTY YEARS AGO, CALIFORNIA DEVELOPED A POWERFUL NEW CONCEPT IN HIGHER EDUCATION, A CONCEPT OF MANAGED ARTICULATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.  STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY RECOGNIZED THAT THE CALIFORNIA MASTER PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION WAS NOT JUST A MASTERPLAN.  IT IS WAS A MASTERPIECE.  IT CLEARLY DEFINES RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OUR THREE SEGMENTS, AND IT RECOGNIZES THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF EACH ARE DIFFERENT BUT OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE WITHIN THE WHOLE SYSTEM.  IT IS A VISIONARY PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN MODERN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, AND IT HAS BEEN ENVIED WORLDWIDE FROM THE DAY OF ITS PRESENTATION.

TO A LARGE EXTENT THE PLAN HAS ACCOMPLISHED ITS ORIGINAL INTENTIONS.  AT LEAST SOME OF ITS SUCCESSES, I WOULD GUESS, MAY EVEN EXCEED THE EXPECTATIONS OF ITS AUTHORS.  HOWEVER, I SUSPECT THAT THESE ORIGINAL AUTHORS MUST BE DISAPPOINTED ON AT LEAST A FEW ACCOUNTS.  MOST SPECIFICALLY, THE INTERACTIONS AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE THREE SEGMENTS HAVE NOT EVOLVED AS FULLY AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

AND SO WE HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MUST SEARCH OUT, REACH OUT, AND PROMOTE THOSE COLLABORATIONS AND INTERACTIONS.  OUR FISCAL CONSTRAINTS AND THE INCREASING PUBLIC DEMAND FOR EFFICIENT USE OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS MAKE THIS COLLABORATION MANDATORY.  BERKELEY CHANCELLOR CHANG-LIN TIEN, CSU-SACRAMENTO PRESIDENT DON GERTH, AND LOS RIOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT CHANCELLOR QUEEN RANDALL, ALL ON THE STAGE HERE TODAY, KNOW THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEPS IN THIS JOURNEY.  PROXIMITY IS OUR PRIMARY CONNECTOR, AND WE HAVE HAD SATISFYING SUCCESSES ALREADY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.  BUT AGAIN, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO DO.  IN THE CASE OF OUR AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGES THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER ASSURE SMOOTHER TRANSITION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS, TO COOPERATE IN CERTAIN KINDS OF UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING, TO DEVELOP BETTER PROGRAMS TO ASSURE THE EVENTUAL BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FOR MINORITY STUDENTS.  TO THIS END CHANCELLOR RANDALL, PRESIDENT HARRIS AND I WILL CONTINUE OUR WORK ON A REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTER, A PHYSICAL FACILITY ON THE DAVIS CAMPUS TO HOUSE AND ENCOURAGE THESE PROGRAMS.  REGARDING JOINTLY DEVELOPED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, UC DAVIS AND UC BERKELEY ARE CONSIDERING VERY REAL WAYS TO COOPERATE AS WE EMERGE TOGETHER FROM OUR FINANCIAL TRAUMAS, AND WE AND CSU SACRAMENTO KNOW ALREADY THAT THERE ARE WAYS NEVER BEFORE TRIED IN WHICH WE CAN MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY DELIVER HIGHER EDUCATION TOGETHER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.  I RELISH OUR FUTURE COOPERATION.

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:

LET ME TURN LAST TO UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION.

NO THEME IS MORE PREVALENT IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES TODAY THAN THE NEED, AS A MATTER OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST, TO REFOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON WHAT WE ARE DOING TO PREPARE UNDERGRADUATES FOR THE COMPLEX POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND MORAL PROBLEMS THAT BESET OUR SOCIETY.  WE AT DAVIS HAVE A LONG AND PROUD TRADITION OF COMMITMENT TO OUR UNDERGRADUATES AND A REPUTATION FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS.

AND SO WE MUST BE PART OF THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION REGARDING THE FUTURE OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION.  ARE WE DOING ENOUGH FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS?  WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE LENGTH AND PACE OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION?  ARE THERE REALLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE TRADITIONAL FOUR-YEAR DEGREE?  SHOULD THE CONCEPT OF THE "FULL-TIME" STUDENT CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT THE UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE?  IS IT STILL APPROPRIATE FOR TODAY'S STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM WORK OR HOLD INTERNSHIPS, TO CARRY 15 UNITS PER QUARTER?

AND WHAT ABOUT THE STUNNING REVOLUTION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?  HOW CAN WE USE THIS DAZZLING CAPACITY TO BEST ADVANTAGE IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR UNDERGRADUATES?  THESE NEW PATHWAYS TO LEARNING MUST NEVER, WILL NEVER, REPLACE FACULTY.  BUT THEY CAN MAKE FACULTY MORE ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS.  THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY NARROW HORIZONS TO THE VIDEO SCREEN; IN FACT THEY CAN TAKE THE STUDENT THROUGH THE SCREEN, OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM TO THE FARTHEST CORNERS OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND INTELLECTUAL MAP.             

THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE SENATE MUST WORK IN COOPERATION TO ADDRESS.  BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL EFFORTS OF OUR CURRENT AND PAST SENATE CHAIRS, I AM CONFIDENT OF THAT COOPERATION.   WE SURELY DO NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON ALL MATTERS, AND WE NEVER WILL.  WE MUST ALWAYS AGREE, HOWEVER, THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN COMMUNICATION AND IN TOUCH ON MATTERS SUCH AS THESE I HAVE DESCRIBED TODAY.

AND AT THE VERY HEART OF OUR UNDERGRADUATE ENTERPRISE MUST BE OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE ROLE OF OUR COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE.  THIS COLLEGE IS, AFTER ALL, AT ONCE THE HOME OF ALL OF THE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT SUPPORTS ADVANCED RESEARCH AND THE RICH SOURCE OF NEW WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT HUMANKIND AND THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND US.  WE KNOW FROM OUR HISTORY THAT AT DAVIS LETTERS AND SCIENCE BEGAN AS A SERVICE UNIT, BUT IT HAS LONG SINCE MOVED ON TO HOUSE DISTINGUISHED DEPARTMENTS AND IT HAS DEVELOPED AND ATTRACTED FACULTY MEMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL DISTINCTION.

THE COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE IS NOW EMBARKED UPON A MAJOR EFFORT TO REORGANIZE ITSELF, AND THE ENTIRE CAMPUS HAS A STAKE IN THE SUCCESS OF THAT EFFORT.  ITS FOREMOST TASK IS TO DEVELOP A STRUCTURE THAT NURTURES SCHOLARSHIP, THAT PROMOTES INTELLECTUAL EXCITEMENT, THAT ATTRACTS AND RETAINS FACULTY MEMBERS OF SUPERIOR TALENT.  WITH THAT TALENT THE CORE DISCIPLINES OF THE COLLEGE, UPON WHICH THE ENTIRE CAMPUS DEPENDS, ARE SURE TO BE ARENAS OF INTELLECTUAL EXCITEMENT.

THE WAY THAT LIES BEFORE LETTERS AND SCIENCE IS, I BELIEVE, VERY MUCH THE WAY THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN BY ITS SMALLER, SISTER COLLEGES.  IT MUST CONCENTRATE ITS RESOURCES, BUILD UPON ITS STRENGTHS, REORGANIZE ITS INTELLECTUAL TERRITORY AND ITS ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, AND AVOID, ABOVE ALL, SO CLOSE AN ATTACHMENT TO ACCUSTOMED PATHS THAT ITS ENERGY IS DISSIPATED IN TRYING TO REMAIN WHERE IT HAS BEEN, RATHER THAN MOVING TOWARD WHAT IT CAN BEST BECOME.  THE POTENTIAL OF THE COLLEGE IS IMMENSE AND THE WILL TO EXPLORE NEW PATHS IS STRONG.

TO BE SURE, LETTERS AND SCIENCE DOES NOT BEAR SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:  AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ALL HAVE UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT ROLES.  AND WE HAVE RECENTLY ASKED OUR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS TO CONTRIBUTE EVEN MORE TO OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS.  BUT THE SUCCESS OF THE ENTIRE CAMPUS IN THE UNDERGRADUATE REALM IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE SUCCESS OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE.  WE MUST ALL DO OUR PART TO SUPPORT ITS SUCCESS.

FINALLY, ON THIS MATTER OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AND THE CORE COLLEGE OF OUR CAMPUS, I SAID WHEN I BEGAN THAT I WANTED TO SHARE SOME PERSPECTIVES, SOME VALUES AND SOME DREAMS.  I'VE TALKED ABOUT PERSPECTIVES AND VALUES.  I NOW WANT TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC, RECURRING DREAM OF MINE AS I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT OUR FUTURE.

I HAVE LONG FELT THAT THERE IS ONE MAJOR RESOURCE THAT IS LACKING ON THIS CAMPUS.  THAT RESOURCE IS A CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, A FACILITY THAT WILL SYMBOLICALLY AND PRACTICALLY STAND AS UC DAVIS'S COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES.  AT MAJOR UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD, THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IS THE POINT OF CONVERGENCE WHERE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY ARE CELEBRATED, NEW IDEAS DEBATED, SCRIPTS AND MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS TESTED, AND THE TREASURES OF THE WORLD'S LITERARY AND PERFORMING TRADITIONS ARE GIVEN LIFE.  IT IS A LABORATORY FOR THE FINE ARTS AND HUMANITIES.  AND IT IS A FACILITY THAT WE MUST HAVE.  WE MAY HAVE TO APPROACH THE PROJECT IN STAGES, WITH THE PERFORMANCE HALL COMING FIRST, BUT WE MUST BEGIN.  I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN MAKING THAT DREAM A REALITY.  WE WILL ORGANIZE A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THAT PLACES THIS AT THE TOP OF OUR PRIORITIES.  IN THIS ENDEAVOR, AS IN MANY OTHERS THAT WE WILL BE UNDERTAKING, PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY WILL PLAY AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUSTAINING OUR EXCELLENCE,  AND ALL OF US, EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS, ALUMNI, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ETC., MUST ENGAGE OURSELVES AS BEST WE ARE ABLE, IN THIS PURSUIT OF PRIVATE FUNDS.

CONCLUSION:

I HAVE COME BACK IN A SENSE TO WHERE I BEGAN.  THE EVER-EVOLVING HERITAGE THAT HAS PRODUCED THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY GOES ON.

AT THE BEGINNING OF MY ADDRESS I SAID THE CAMPUS MUST CHANGE.  SELF-RENEWAL IMPLIES CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO NEW CIRCUMSTANCES. SELF-RENEWAL REQUIRES A NEW LIGHT ON THE FUTURE.  I ALSO EXPRESSED MY CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN CHANGE, AND FOR THE BETTER.  I HOPE THAT MY COMMENTS HAVE CONVEYED THE GROUNDS OF MY CONFIDENCE.

WE CAN CHANGE THROUGH SELF-RENEWAL BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE.  OUR PROMISE IS GROUNDED IN OUR HISTORY, IN OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY, IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR MISSIONS.  WE HAVE PASSED THE HARD TEST OF SITTING TOGETHER TO PLAN OUR ACADEMIC FUTURE AND THE EVEN HARDER TASK OF WORKING TOGETHER TO FORGE A PLAN TO COPE WITH THE FINANCIAL BURDENS OF THE PRESENT.  IN DOING SO, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT OUR MISSIONS TRULY DO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

COMPLEMENTARY MISSIONS SUPPORT COMMUNITY.  A STRONG FACULTY ENGAGED IN TIMELY RESEARCH IS A NECESSARY FOUNDATION FOR HIGH QUALITY TEACHING AND PUBLIC SERVICE; YET TEACHING AND PUBLIC SERVICE EDUCATE OUR FACULTY.  TO PARAPHRASE PLATO, WE MAKE THE EDUCATION OF OTHERS OUR OWN EDUCATION.  WE INCREASINGLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES INSTRUCT EACH OTHER, SO THAT COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN ACADEMIC UNITS IN TEACHING AND RESEARCH BENEFITS BOTH PARTIES TO THE PROJECT.  IN SHORT, OUR PRIMARY MISSION OF EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS NOT COMPRISED OF A SET OF INCONSISTENT AND COMPETING TASKS.  TRUE, IT SOMETIMES SEEMS THAT WAY WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES WITH TOO MUCH TO DO, BUT AT A DEEPER LEVEL THE TASKS REQUIRE EACH OTHER.

AND THEY MAKE US DEPEND ON EACH OTHER:  TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATION AND ACADEMIC SENATE, FACULTY AND STAFF, CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY, THE INSTITUTION AND THE PUBLIC.  FROM THIS MUTUAL DEPENDENCE COMES COMMUNITY.  IT IS BECAUSE UC DAVIS HAS DEEP AND LONG-STANDING TRADITIONS OF COMMUNITY, TRADITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY TESTED, REINFORCED, AND ACKNOWLEDGED IN OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO COPE WITH THE TIMES, THAT I HAVE SUCH CONFIDENCE IN OUR CAPACITY OF SELF-RENEWAL AND IN POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THIS PROJECT.

MY VERY FIRST REACTION TO PRESIDENT PELTASON'S REQUEST THAT I BECOME THE FIFTH CHANCELLOR OF THE DAVIS CAMPUS WAS QUITE SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD.  I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS THRILLED.  I AM STILL THRILLED.  I HAVE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS COME TO LOVE THIS CAMPUS AND ITS PEOPLE.  I AM PROUD OF THE HIGH QUALITY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR FACULTY AND IN OUR STUDENTS.  I AM CONTINUALLY AMAZED AT THE DEDICATION WE HAVE IN OUR STAFF.  OUR ALUMNI AND SUPPORTERS HAVE NOT FORSAKEN US.  AND OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS I THINK WE HAVE LEARNED TOGETHER THAT WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORST OF TIMES AND PROCESS THE PROBLEMS IN WAYS THAT ENSURE THAT WE WILL NOT ONLY SURVIVE THESE CHALLENGES, BUT GO ON TO FURTHER DELIBERATIONS AND CONTINUE TO BECOME A BETTER INSTITUTION FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF FACING OUR CHALLENGES TOGETHER, IN MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER, AND WITH COMMON CONCERN FOR OUR PUBLIC MISSIONS.  I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT ALL, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ARE AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.