Hundreds of delegates from the University of California participated in UC Day, an annual event in Sacramento that brings together university alumni, stakeholders and friends to share their UC story with state legislators.

"UC Day is a wonderful opportunity to engage our alumni and our students, parents to come and speak on behalf of UC with our legislators as to why it's important to continue to support the programs that we do and the impact that it has overall on the economy and the citizens of California.

During this time of economic crisis, I do think that it's an important investment and it's important to also know that the work that we're doing is actually helping to solve some of the issues that are impacting the state."

UC solving issues was a key message during a panel discussion moderated by UC President Mark Yudof. Faculty members from various campuses discussed the mortgage crisis and how the state may emerge from it; developing California's green economy; the state's water challenge and the impact of the federal stimulus on innovations in California's economy.

"I thought the panel discussion really told our story. That the University of California educates people, it takes care of the sick, but at its core, it's solving the problems that people have in their everyday life.

I would say the faculty views itself as in the business of making people's lives better and that's not true of every business enterprise and that's what makes us special and that's why we're a public university.