Sustaining Academic Excellence
By virtually every measure, the University of California is one of the top research universities in the United States today. Of the 261 doctoral-granting universities in the country, only 62 are members of the prestigious American Association of Universities. Six of the eight UC campuses eligible for the AAU are members – a level of representation by a public university system unmatched by any other state.
Three of UC's campuses are also among the top 12 universities in the National Research Council's rankings, and more than half of the 229 rated UC programs were ranked in the top 20 among their counterparts at other universities.
But we can't rest on our laurels. In a state as large as California – 38 million people, and growing – UC's academic contributions are absolutely essential in meeting the educational, economic and social needs of all Californians.
Each year, more than 208,000 students begin their future at UC.
While we can take pride in the University's position as a first-rate institution, it is even more vital for California to have a world-class university system if it is to meet the future needs of California communities and to remain economically competitive here and abroad.
Because of its size, California can't rely on private universities the way other states might to sustain the academic excellence required to protect its economic future. The state – through government funding and financial support from alumni and friends – must invest in its public universities.
What other issues should we consider?