This lecture was part of The UC Davis Forums on the Public University and the Social Good delivered on April 9, 2018 In this forum, Dr. Rodriguez will proceed from the observation that America’s community colleges— which are the most egalitarian institutions of public higher education, serving more than 12 million students each year—play a leading role in supporting social mobility as well as our nation’s strength, economic health and prosperity, and democracy.
UC Davis has celebrated a landmark achievement: the graduation of the first class of Redwood SEED Scholars, a groundbreaking program for students with intellectual disabilities. The four-year, non-degree initiative — the first of its kind in California — blends academic courses, campus living, and personalized mentorship to foster independence, confidence, and community.
UC Davis recently hosted the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Forum, drawing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners into a half-day of discussion focused on strengthening student pathways and academic success. In a world where technology accelerates change, participants reflected on the importance of critical thinking and the shared responsibility to “affirm the dignity inherent in all of us,” as expressed in the UC Davis Principles of Community.
The UC Davis Campus Community Book Project has selected Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora as its 2025–26 title, aligning with the theme of belonging. The bestselling memoir recounts Zamora’s harrowing 3,000-mile journey from El Salvador to the United States at just 9 years old, traveling alone to reunite with his parents.
This spring, the Office of Student and Resident Diversity (OSRD) and campus partners participated in a series of impactful events aimed at supporting aspiring healthcare professionals at every stage of their journey.
Ron Austin’s UC Davis degree—earned 47 years after his first class—shows what’s possible with the right support. His story is helping inspire a regional “Comebacker Campaign,” part of the K–16 Regional Education Collaborative grant that includes UC Davis. Through this effort, partners across the region are building clearer, more connected pathways for returning students of all ages to complete their education and advance their careers.
As incidents of antisemitism continue to make headlines across the country, UC Davis faculty in the Jewish Studies Program are encouraging the campus community to engage with a timely and rigorous resource: A Campus Guide to Identifying Antisemitism in a Time of Perplexity, published by the Nexus Project.
As part of the 35th anniversary of the UC Davis Principles of Community, a new university-wide campaign is inviting graduating students to share encouragement and support with those just beginning their UC Davis journey.
The University of California has released a new Combating Antisemitism webpage outlining recent steps to address rising antisemitism and foster safer, more inclusive campus environments.
In a small conference room on the UC Davis campus in 1990, a group of students, staff, faculty and administrators gathered around a table and started discussing the language of a bold new statement.
