SUBJECT:

Messages from President Dynes and Chairman Blum

Dear Colleagues:

Today, I informed The Regents of my intention to step down as President in June 2008, or upon the appointment of my successor, after serving a five-year term in office. I wanted to write to let you know personally of my decision. I made this decision after thinking deeply about the University and of the achievements we have made together over the last four years. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of my thoughts with you.

During a period in which public higher education faced many challenges, the University of California has remained the nation's premier university, serving California, the country, and the world in countless ways. We entered a new era of transparency and heightened public accountability. We forged a compact with the Governor that has put the University on a solid financial footing. We retained the three National Laboratories as part of the University, creating new partnership arrangements at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore. We established strategic alliances with innovation leaders in Mexico, Canada, India, and China. We established UC as a national leader in the effort to reform K-12 education in science and mathematics, a priority in keeping this state and this nation competitive on the world stage. Finally, we should all take great pride in the successful launch of our long-awaited tenth campus, the University of California, Merced, which now serves as an engine for educational opportunity and economic growth in the Central Valley of California.

These are just a few of the accomplishments in which I take great pride. They were made possible by an outstanding and diverse UC leadership team that has been strengthened by key hires in recent years. That team is ready to take the University to even greater heights of excellence under a new President.

Throughout my tenure as President, I have made every effort to increase the ethnic and gender diversity of the senior administration and to lead the way for a more diverse faculty, student body, and staff. While I worked hard towards this goal, and acknowledge the gains made, I remain dissatisfied. I consider this an area that should be of utmost importance to my successor and the overall leadership of the University of California.

I have asked Provost Wyatt R. Hume to act as the University's Chief Operating Officer, in addition to his other duties, effective immediately and until such time as my successor is in place. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the University's day-to-day operations, Provost Hume will bring forward the excellent work that has been done by the Long Range Guidance Team in planning for doctoral and professional education and in systemwide academic planning. Working with him, Executive Vice President Katherine N. Lapp will link the priorities that flow from the planning work to a new and more open budgetary process for the system. Executive Vice President Bruce Darling will continue to explore new avenues for more effective advocacy, particularly with State government.

I will be returning to my faculty position next year, but, over the next 10 months, I will continue to focus on a variety of UC priorities, such as the critical work of expanding our research, development, and delivery portfolio and its impact. The Power of 10 statewide campus visits that I began in the southern region in the spring will continue. This will be a busy and productive academic year, and, as I have since October 2003, I will communicate with you directly and frequently.

In closing, I want you to know that any success the University and I have enjoyed during my tenure has been due in no small part to the devoted efforts of our faculty and staff. You are the heart and soul of the University of California, and I am deeply grateful for all you have done and continue to do. It has been an honor and privilege to call you my colleagues for the past 17 years. I am intensely proud of this institution and of all those associated with it, and I believe passionately that the University will continue to grow in strength and value. It will be my pleasure to continue to be part of it and to remain your colleague.

Sincerely, Robert C. Dynes

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UCSD
CAMPUS NOTICE
University of California, San Diego

Dear Colleagues:

It has been a distinct privilege to know and work with Robert Dynes, and it is with sadness that I have accepted his decision to step down as President of the University of California next June or upon the appointment of his successor.

Over the last four years, Bob has taken major steps towards securing the future of the state and the University. He has strengthened links between university research and applications of that research by industry. He has broadened UC's international presence by forging key new partnerships with leading universities around the globe. Even more importantly, he has championed the development of a long-range vision of the University as a single, cooperative entity that addresses major challenges facing California - and, indeed all humanity - rather than being ten separate and competing campuses.

During his time of leadership, the University has faced challenges of its own on a number of fronts. With Bob's guidance, the UC community has continued the journey to an even better University. Initiatives have been launched to begin addressing critical problems in the areas of diversity, K-12 educational disparity, and salary gaps. We have successfully come through what has become known as the "compensation crisis." And we have laid the groundwork for the restructuring of the University's administrative infrastructure to create a more effective and efficient organization.

The Regents will begin the search process for a new president shortly. In the meantime, I fully endorse President Dynes' plan to name Provost Hume as UC's chief operating officer through the period of transition. This will allow Bob to focus his attention on further strengthening the University's position as the state and nation's premier higher education research partner. As Chairman, I look forward to working closely with Provost Hume in continuing the restructuring work that has begun.

On behalf of my fellow Regents, I thank Bob Dynes for his service as President of the University, and I wish Bob and his wife Ann the very best for the future. I am grateful that the University will continue to benefit enormously from Bob's contributions as a faculty member and President Emeritus after he hands over the reins to his successor.

If you have questions regarding the letter from President Dynes or Chairman Blum, please send your reply to communications@ucop.edu.

Richard C. Blum Chairman