UC President Drake – Opening Remarks UC Board of Regents Meeting

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Thank you very much, Chair Reilly. I appreciate that.

I want to begin by thanking the many people in our UC community — including students — who worked to get out the vote in recent weeks, especially among first-time voters. It was encouraging to see the efforts all around the University to empower members of our community to exercise their right and privilege to vote.

While I know that there is a great deal of uncertainty and disappointment for many in our UC community, as you mentioned as well, Chair Reilly, I want to remind everyone that the work doesn’t stop once we cast our ballots.

The University of California is an intellectual leader for the world and a model for inclusive excellence. Ours is a community like no other — one that feeds the creativity and wholeness of our society. That’s the result of everyone in our community staying engaged and committed to advancing the University’s mission and to upholding the values we hold dear.

Last week, I issued a joint statement with California State University Chancellor Dr. Mildred García, and California Community Colleges Chancellor Dr. Sonya Christian reinforcing our commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and to supporting all members of our communities.

As with every new administration, we will monitor changes closely and take action as necessary. Today, we are focused on moving forward together, and recommitting to inclusive excellence in everything we do.

Next, I want to turn to the University’s budget.

Today, the Regents will be asked to approve the University’s operating budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025-26.

This budget plan reflects the anticipated expenditures and requests revenues consistent with the multi-year compact with the State, as well as a request we plan to make for one-time State funding to address the University’s growing capital needs.

The State is a vital partner for the University and I am grateful for the continued support of Governor Gavin Newsom and our legislators in Sacramento. I recognize the difficult task they face and the complexities of balancing a budget with so many competing demands.

Similarly, the University is faced with increasing cost pressures and budget challenges. My office remains committed to working alongside our campuses to ensure effective and thoughtful management of our limited resources. As we work through the budget process and more information becomes available, we will continue to support the campuses and keep the Board updated.

Now, some good news.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Center for the

Advancement of Semiconductor Technology — or “Natcast” — announced that California has been selected as the home of a new national headquarters for a computer chip research and development facility.

The facility will be part of a new National Semiconductor Technology Center in Sunnyvale and is expected to bring in over $1 billion in research funding to California.

The University joined Governor Newsom’s Office of Business and Economic Development in the effort to address America’s declining share of manufacturing capacity for the computer chips that are integral to so many electronic devices, from smartphones and vehicles to satellites.

Having this new facility in California is great news for the University of California and for our state. It will bring new opportunities for collaborative research, student internships, rotating professorships, and regular workshops that will bring together UC experts, national labs, and state, industry, and federal leaders.

I want to thank Governor Newsom and the elected officials who supported this effort, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Senator Alex Padilla, Senator-elect Adam Schiff, Representative Zoe Lofgren, and Representative Anna Eshoo.

Finally, I want to call your attention to the UC Health Community Benefits Report for FY 2022-23, which was announced yesterday and presented during the Health Services Committee meeting. The report details some of the many ways UC Health is investing in the healthcare needs of communities throughout California.

The University’s academic health system is a critical part of California’s safety net, and is taking concrete steps to help improve health equity and to address barriers to care. We’re also expanding access to care for children and families, with services such as free heart screening for youth, mobile eye care for children, and assistance for youth victims of violence.

In fiscal year 2022-23, the University’s academic health centers invested $2 billion in net community benefits, activities, and care to treat and promote health and healing across California. Additionally, UC faculty practices provided $881 million in support for patient care and UC academic health centers delivered $3.7 billion in uncompensated hospital care for Medi-Cal and Medicare enrollees.

It’s wonderful to see the extraordinary impact that the University of California makes every single day through its health system. I thank Dr. David Rubin, executive vice president of UC Health, his team, and everyone working in our academic health centers for their incredible work.

I encourage you all to take a look at the report, if you haven’t already, and learn more about UC Health’s many innovative programs and the positive impact they are having on our state.

Chair Reilly, that concludes my remarks. Thank you.