Golden State Today

To the UC Davis community:

As we celebrate graduation this weekend, it’s important to acknowledge the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the West Bank, Palestine, and Israel. We are deeply saddened by the suffering and loss of life. Our hearts go out to those affected, especially children, students, and civilians enduring unimaginable loss. We share the hope that peace can be brought to the region.

Many in the UC Davis community have a deep personal connection to this conflict. I respect their call for peace and justice. As a diverse public university, we must protect everyone's right to express their opinions while ensuring safety on our campus. We reject all forms of violence and discrimination as antithetical to our values.

Resources are available for those impacted by harmful speech or offensive behavior:

- Aggie Mental Health: Counseling support for students.

- Academic and Staff Assistance Program: Counseling support for faculty and staff.

- Harassment & Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program: For complaints about harassment or discrimination.

- Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs: Case managers help students with challenges.

Our Principles of Community emphasize that everyone deserves to feel safe, be heard, and not be targeted for their background or beliefs.

Reflecting on my mother's recent passing has reinforced my belief in empathy and compassion. The UC Davis community thrives when we speak and listen with compassion. Let’s commit to maintaining mutual respect from our campus into the world.

Promising graduates

I look forward with hope as thousands of undergraduates launch from UC Davis with new degrees this spring. They are visionaries like Richard Butcher, who will attend UC Berkeley on a full scholarship pursuing his master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Richard credits his experience at UC Davis as motivation for his goals.

They are strategists like Brittany Vang, who will become a planner in Sacramento County after graduation. She hopes to create equitable regional policies influenced by her research experiences at UC Davis.

Investing in health and happiness

Our graduates’ time at UC Davis has been one of the most significant investments of their lives. Despite skepticism about college degrees' value, evidence shows profound benefits from earning one — especially from UC Davis.

According to data from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, college graduates earn $1.2 million more over a lifetime than non-graduates. They also volunteer more often, contribute more to charity, vote more frequently, enjoy better health outcomes, live longer lives, report higher job satisfaction levels.

UC Davis graduates see even stronger returns due to manageable debt loads; only 37% had any debt in 2021-22 compared with 51% nationwide.

Investing in social mobility

A degree provides vital access to social mobility across generations; low-income University of California students double their earnings within ten years post-graduation improving family lives statewide through educated professionals serving communities effectively

Investing In Communities

UC Davis graduates improve communities statewide through leadership roles such as Dionna Eaglin's position as community services assistant with Fontana City thanks largely due peer mentoring experience AfroVibes Dance Team participation during undergraduate years building confidence needed job interviews successfully landing role

Advocates like Fatima Hernandez Brambila graduating sociology champion members undocumented student migration advocate East Palo Alto Community Legal Services inspired dreams other undocumented students College Corps volunteer work realizing potential doctors marine biologists beyond imagination possible previously thought unattainable now achievable thanks education received here

Congratulations Aggies! There is no limit what you will do sincerely Gary S May Chancellor

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