UC President Robert Dynes told more than 300 UC alumni and friends who convened in Sacramento on Feb. 15 for the annual UC Day that it is their job "to make UC the most innovative, risk-taking institution in the world.

"So go out there and do it," he said.

"It is UC's business to invest in the future," Dynes told the group at a morning rally at the Sheraton Grand Hotel. "We are taking seriously that we have to think about California for the next 15 to 20 years."

Organized by the Alumni Associations of the University of California, the event drew advocates from UC's 10 campuses. They scheduled meetings with more than 80 legislators to stress the university's myriad contributions to the state.

As the advocates headed to the State Capitol, Dynes urged them "to stand up and say, 'UC has changed my life.' " Telling their own, personal stories, Dynes told the group, "is the most powerful way to convince lawmakers that UC has an impact."

Dynes applauded Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's commitment, in his recently released 2005-06 budget, to honor the higher education spending compact signed last year with the UC and California State University systems. At the same time, though, Dynes said, "We have more to do." He pointed out, for example, that the $17 million for academic preparation, or outreach programs, in this year's budget is not part of the compact, and UC must fight for the funding again this year.

"If we don't change K-12 (education), we're going to be in trouble; the state of California is going to be in trouble," he said, adding that academic preparation should become "an integral and essential part" of the state's annual education budget, "and not some political football that is negotiated every year."

A smaller group of about 30 UC Davis alums met for a presentation and lunch before their meetings at the Capitol. Mathew Hargrove, director of state government relations, and Brian McInnis, director of state and national affairs for ASUCD, were among the speakers who addressed the UC Davis contingent. Hargrove, echoing Dynes' words, urged the advocates to "talk from the heart," and McInnis said they should stress the need for more financial aid for all students and discuss the financial burden of a UC education on graduate students in particular.

Later in the day, the AAUC presented UC regent Joanne Corday Kozberg, a UC Berkeley alumna, with the advocate of the year award and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, with the legislator of the year award.

Reiterating partnership needs

UC Day continued messages Dynes carried earlier in the month as he told conference attendees on Feb. 8 that academic preparation programs and community partnerships are critical to improving access to higher education among Latino students. Dynes spoke at the three-day Bay Area California Chicano-Latino Intersegmental Convocation, which hosted hundreds of educators and students from UC, California State University, California Community Colleges, and others.

Dynes said that a large proportion of UC students are from immigrant families, UC graduation rates are strong across all ethnic groups, and UC is a national leader in enrolling lower-income students. However, he noted that UC eligibility rates for Latino high school students lag the statewide average, forming a significant barrier to access.

"We clearly have many challenges, and a significant one is that we have a K-12 school system in California that is marked by many inequities in opportunity," Dynes said. "We in higher education need to be part of the solution."

He noted that the Board of Regents recently passed a resolution stating that academic preparation is a fundamental part of the university's mission.

Dynes also said enhanced support for graduate education and improved career development programs are needed to help expand the pipeline of students of all backgrounds who advance to faculty and administrative positions at UC.