For more than a century, shared governance between the Board of Regents, the systemwide president and the faculty has ensured the highest standards of excellence in fulfilling the University of California's mission of teaching, research and public service.

In October 2003, Robert C. Dynes, a physicist and an expert on semiconductors and superconductors, assumed responsibilities as the 18th president of the University of California. Since 1996, he had served as chancellor of UC's San Diego campus. Dynes came to UC San Diego in 1991 after a 22-year career at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Under his leadership, UC's systemwide activities and programs are administered by the Office of the President, located in downtown Oakland.

The 26-member Board of Regents was established under the California Constitution (Article IX, Section 9) in 1878. The article states that "the university shall be entirely independent of all political and sectarian influence and kept free therefrom in the appointment of its Regents and in the administration of its affairs."

The board appoints the president and its principal officers - the general counsel, treasurer and secretary. Eighteen of the regents are appointed by the governor and serve 12-year terms. Seven serve as ex officio members, including the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the assembly and state superintendent of public instruction as well as the UC alumni associations' president and vice president, who serve one-year terms. The board also appoints a student regent to a one-year term.

The Academic Senate is the representative body of the University faculty. Empowered by the regents to exercise direct control over academic matters, the Senate authorizes, approves, and supervises all courses (except those of certain graduate professional schools) and determines UC's conditions for admissions, certificates and degrees. The faculty's systemwide chair and vice chair serve as non-voting representatives on the Board of Regents.

President Dynes
The Regents
Academic Senate
Office of the President

UC's Mission
California Master Plan for Higher Education