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| This is how I remember UCLA - relaxing at Royce, overlooking Powell. I probably never did this, but it is how I remember it... |
Dear Bruins and Bruin Families,
Our commencement exercises
earlier this month marked the ceremonial end of a year filled with outstanding
accomplishments by UCLA’s students, faculty and staff; and the conclusion of my
fifth academic year as our UCLA’s chancellor. During that half-decade, which
has coincided with one of the most challenging periods for public funding of
higher education in our nation’s history, our campus has thrived. As we prepare
to close the book on 2011-12, UCLA is stronger than ever. Today, our campus
enjoys unprecedented respect and acclaim around the world.
Thanks to our planning of the
past several years and an extraordinary collective effort that is not only
campus-wide but also extends to parents, alumni and donors, UCLA is well
positioned to continue our upward trajectory toward our centennial in 2019 and
beyond—despite the state of California’s continued disinvestment in our great
institution.
Recounting all of our campus’
important achievements of the past 12 months would be a near-impossible task,
but these were some of the most noteworthy.
Academic and Research Excellence. UCLA’s reputation, nationally and internationally, continues to soar. Although third-party rankings are inherently imperfect measures of a university’s excellence, they do illustrate the regard in which an institution is held, and I am especially proud of our standing in three recent surveys. The Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities places UCLA No. 12 internationally. London’s Times Higher Education rankings places us at No. 13 in the world. Washington Monthly, which publishes rankings based on cutting-edge scholarship, commitment to service and access for low-income students, places UCLA No. 2 in the U.S.
Academic and Research Excellence. UCLA’s reputation, nationally and internationally, continues to soar. Although third-party rankings are inherently imperfect measures of a university’s excellence, they do illustrate the regard in which an institution is held, and I am especially proud of our standing in three recent surveys. The Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities places UCLA No. 12 internationally. London’s Times Higher Education rankings places us at No. 13 in the world. Washington Monthly, which publishes rankings based on cutting-edge scholarship, commitment to service and access for low-income students, places UCLA No. 2 in the U.S.
With one week remaining in the
fiscal year, UCLA faculty had received $950 million in competitively awarded
grants and contracts, following two years in which our campus received more
than $1 billion per year. This three-year performance would be an extraordinary
achievement in any environment, but it is particularly so in this era of
declining federal funding for research.
Across campus, UCLA faculty
continue to break new ground in their research. Among the most intriguing
examples, electrical engineering Professor Aydogan Ozcan is developing
technology that utilizes standard cell phone components to create mobile
medical labs to aid in the fight against global disease. In a development that
could impact all of our daily lives, Professor Wenyuan Shi of our School of
Dentistry created a mouthwash that targets the bacteria that is the principal
cause of tooth decay and cavities. His invention may eventually prove to be the
end of tooth decay. In another important project, UCLA researchers led by Dr.
Beate Ritz identified two genetic markers that may help determine which
Parkinson’s disease patients will experience a more rapid decline in motor
function; the discovery sparked hopes for new therapies.
Our stellar faculty also
continued to bring honor to UCLA by earning election to the most prestigious
academic societies and winning national and international research awards.
Among those numerous accolades were not one but two Crafoord Prizes, awarded by
the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, to physics and astronomy professor
Andrea Ghez and mathematics professor Terence Tao. It was a rather auspicious
achievement for UCLA scholars to win two of the four awards presented by the
Royal Academy for 2012. And, just last month, Professor David Jewitt received
two of the highest honors in his field: the Kavli Prize in astrophysics and the
Shaw Prize in astronomy.
In February, Teo Ruiz,
professor of history and of Spanish and Portuguese, was awarded the National
Humanities Medal at the White House by President Obama; and in April, Laure
Murat, associate professor of French and Francophone studies, received a
Guggenheim Fellowship.
Even the Academy Awards
provided an opportunity for Bruins to celebrate. Two accomplished alumni
filmmakers earned Oscars: Alexander Payne, for adapted screenplay (The
Descendants) and Gore Verbinski, for animated feature (Rango).
In addition, our multifaceted
efforts in international outreach are yielding important results in terms of
faculty collaboration, student exchange and cultural understanding. I was
delighted when UCLA received a prestigious award in May from the Committee of
100 for advancing U.S.–China relations.
Civic Engagement. In very tangible ways, our academic year began
and ended with civic engagement. Before classes started, more than 7,000 Bruins
participated in our third annual UCLA Volunteer Day, cleaning, painting,
gardening and making repairs at 26 sites throughout Los Angeles. I’m delighted
that this new UCLA tradition has, in its brief history, strengthened the
culture of volunteerism among our students—many of whom are already committed
to service when they arrive on campus. This year, we extended the spirit of
Volunteer Day by introducing “One Bus, One Cause.” This new UCLA Volunteer
Center initiative aims to introduce students to opportunities for ongoing
volunteer work by sending busloads of Bruins into the community to address
needs at various service organizations.
Our commitment to the Los
Angeles and global community extends beyond volunteer projects. Many of our
students are engaged in service learning (academic courses in which students
engage with community organizations), and faculty across campus regularly seek
opportunities to translate research into tangible civic good. In one compelling
current example, a group of public health professors collaborated with local
high school students to promote healthy eating in an East L.A. neighborhood by revamping
a once dimly lit convenience store into a fresh market.
Our collective responsibility
to one another was one of the key touchstones in a stirring lecture at Royce
Hall in May by former President Bill Clinton. President Clinton was the
featured speaker of the inaugural Luskin Lecture for Thought Leadership. As it
continues, the lecture series, which was established by longtime supporters
Meyer and Renee Luskin, will facilitate high-level dialogue among scholars,
leaders and our community on pressing societal issues. And as the year came to
a close, Jessica Jackley, entrepreneur and co-founder of the peer-to-peer
lending website Kiva, echoed the theme of civic responsibility in her keynote
at the College of Letters and Science commencement on June 15.
In addition, we continue our
strategic efforts to foster civic dialogue, partnering with groups such as
Zócalo Public Square and the Artists and Athletes Alliance to hold forums that
encourage discussion on pressing issues and engage the public with our prominent
faculty.
Diversity and Access. Diversity is a priority, not just in the
demographics of our student body, faculty and staff, but also in ensuring a
welcoming environment where all viewpoints are respected. Building on our
Principles of Community, we developed a series of public events, curricula and
programs that further our obligation to equip students for success in a
complicated, interconnected world. I enjoyed teaching one of these seminars in
spring quarter.
We remain a beacon of access
and opportunity for students of all backgrounds. The students admitted to UCLA
last spring represent our most ethnically, geographically and socioeconomically
diverse class to date. Our financial aid program helps families find federal,
state, local and private resources, as well as UCLA assistance, to make sure
their college education is affordable.
Financial Security. The dramatic decline in state support of the
University of California system has prompted UCLA to become much more
self-reliant, and we are well on our way with a multifaceted strategy to
transform the funding model and enable UCLA to truly thrive in this new
environment.
Because of prudent financial
planning, we are making strategic investments to enhance the UCLA experience
for both students and faculty. We are continuing to expand both graduate and
undergraduate student housing. The Edie and Lew Wasserman research building in
the Jules Stein complex is under construction, and planning is underway for a
residential conference center; medical education building; an expansion of
Schoenberg Hall; renovation of space at the School of Theater, Film and
Television; and more.
While we remain focused on
administrative and academic efficiencies, we also have a promising effort
underway to increase revenue from intellectual property and licensing faculty
inventions. The results will become apparent over the next several years, when
we expect that higher returns and a more stable revenue stream will not only
benefit UCLA and our faculty inventors but also promote regional economic
development.
UCLA enjoyed another
impressive year in raising funds through the generous support of our alumni,
parents and supporters. As we near the end of the fiscal year, we have deepened
the culture of engagement and philanthropy at UCLA. Among the most notable
contributions of the past 12 months was a $50 million gift to the School of
Public Health—the largest in its 50-year history—from faculty member Jonathan
Fielding and his wife, Karin Fielding. In February, in recognition of the gift,
the school was renamed for the Fieldings.
This month, the School of Law
closed a successful fundraising campaign that exceeded its ambitious goals,
bringing in more than $110 million. The funds have already resulted in new
research centers that have elevated the school’s national profile and enabled
faculty and students to have an even greater impact in the community.
In the near future, UCLA will
begin a concerted fundraising campaign that will strengthen the platform for
our second century of excellence and enable new generations of students and
faculty to build upon the remarkable legacy of achievement that has made UCLA
such an important engine of opportunity and vital contributor to the
advancement of our society.
We are proud of the achievements
of our athletic teams this year, when our student-athletes and coaches
continued to enhance our outstanding record in NCAA athletics. The Bruin
baseball team advanced to the College World Series for the second time in the
past three years. In November, our women’s volleyball team added another NCAA
championship to our record-setting total, defeating University of Illinois in
the title match for the program’s fourth NCAA crown and UCLA’s 108th in all.
The men’s volleyball team marked a noteworthy and bittersweet milestone as
well—the retirement of the legendary Al Scates, who led Bruin volleyball teams
to an astounding 19 NCAA championships during his 50-year run as coach. We
already are looking forward to the fall, when we will celebrate the reopening of
Pauley Pavilion.
Finally, we plan to continue
our new “Optimists” branding campaign, which we launched in the spring. We want
to share our spirit of excellence, pride and innovation with all of our UCLA
family as we plan for our second century of achievement.
I remain grateful for your
commitment to UCLA. Have a safe and enjoyable summer. Go Bruins!
Sincerely,
Gene D. Block
Chancellor
Chancellor