Chancellor's Welcome

Welcome to UC Davis. We’re delighted you've chosen our campus as the place to pursue your academic goals. All of us—faculty, staff and alumni—are committed to helping you toward their successful attainment.

In the time you spend at UC Davis, you will acquire knowledge and skills that will help you shape the rest of your life. In whatever program you study, you will receive an exceptional education and a degree that is respected by graduate schools and employers around the world. Our philosophy of learning, discovery and engagement means that you will graduate with an academic foundation strengthened by research and internships. It also ensures that you will understand how your learning is relevant to the greater world. UC Davis has a century of commitment to public service and seeking solutions to today's critical issues, and we encourage you to integrate these goals into your educational plan.

Students who get involved love UC Davis! While you're here, you'll make lifelong friends and have experiences that will determine the direction of your growth as a human being and as a member of the larger community in which you live. It's your passion and vision that energize and inspire the campus and make your time here meaningful.

We are very proud of UC Davis. Our alumni have made significant and lasting contributions to society as leaders in government, business, technology, media and the arts. They share their knowledge and resources with the campus and help students build social and career networks before they graduate. Members of our faculty have won MacArthur genius grants, Pulitzer prizes, Fulbright scholarships and election to the nation's top academies of the arts and sciences. They connect to students in the classroom, through freshman seminars and through research, arts and honors activities.

UC Davis continues to grow and offer new opportunities. Residence halls and dining facilities, a multipurpose stadium, new math and sciences buildings and the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts are a few of the developments that reflect our commitment to offering the best educational experience available.

Together, we are using our talents and ingenuity to build a community that honors our diversity as individuals and reflects our belief in a shared set of values. I'm happy you're joining our community.

Congratulations on becoming an Aggie!

Larry N. Vanderhoef
Chancellor