UC President Robert Dynes, who officially took office Thursday, has said that instead of a traditional inauguration, he will be traveling around the state and to New Mexico — home of Los Alamos National Laboratory — during the next several weeks as part of an “inaugural tour.”
The visits will include campuses and labs and their surrounding communities. Dynes will meet with faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the University, along with local individuals in elected office, business and the media.
In addition, during the next couple of weeks, Dynes plans to hold a series of “Web chats” for people in the UC community — one aimed at faculty and staff, one aimed at students, and one aimed at alumni. The schedule will be listed at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/newpresident/chatinvite.html. (The Web chats require a java plug-in that may have to be installed in advance.)
Both Dynes and outgoing president Richard Atkinson distributed letters to the UC community this week — for Dynes to say hello; and for Atkinson to say goodbye.
“California today is the envy of the world — a testament to the success of innovation, diversity, tolerance, risk-taking, and entrepreneurship,” Dynes wrote. “Much of that success simply would not be possible without the University of California and its contributions to education, health care, job creation, and an improved quality of life.
“We have many challenges to face, particularly in the current state budget climate in California. But I am greatly optimistic about this institution’s future, and I am eager to begin working together toward that future.”
Atkinson extended thanks to the university community and also offered some perspective on state budget woes.
“Programs are being cut, employee positions are being lost, cost-of-living increases are not being provided due to lack of state funding, and health care premiums are increasing,” Atkinson wrote. “The University is doing its best to absorb these impacts in the least damaging ways — the structure of our 2004 health care plans attempts to shield lower-paid workers from the worst of the rate increases, for example — but I know these still are challenging times for everyone.
“We do know, however, that economic expansion and contraction are cyclical. I hope you will keep that perspective in mind, and I hope you will persevere in your own work, no matter what role you play in the UC community. Your work today will help the University emerge from the current budget downturn strong and secure.”
Full text of Dynes’ and Atkinson’s letters and more information about Dynes is available at: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/newpresident/.