UC Davis is one of the nation's original land-grant universities. The government provided land to the university more than 100 years ago to build and develop the institution in exchange for service to the community and to society, including affordable education and vital research. In the case of UC Davis, it has been so much more.
Indeed, service to our communities continues to be the foundation of everything we do here at UC Davis — from reaching out to K-12 students to help prepare them for college to keeping watch over one of our most beautiful and important resources, Lake Tahoe.
Meeting the needs of our diverse community of students is, of course, first and foremost. It is our primary responsibility to prepare our students to become the scientists, physicians, teachers, policymakers and productive citizens of tomorrow.
It is just as critical that we work with community-based organizations to enhance access to UC Davis both as an educational institution and as an informational resource for lifelong learning. It is also essential that we forge close working relationships between UC Davis campus leaders and local and regional community groups in addressing a myriad of social, economic, education and environmental issues that face us all.
And, because we are a strong research institution, we enthusiastically embrace the responsibility of highlighting issues and finding solutions to emerging and growing concerns in the region, such as the foothills asbestos problem.
Nowhere is community service better exemplified than here at UC Davis Health System. In rural neighborhoods, in elementaryschool classrooms, in community parks, Indian reservations and farm labor camps, UC Davis Health System is there, striving to serve those communities that need us most.
It is thrilling, and so appropriate, for the health system to be awarded the national 2005 Outstanding Community Service award by the American Association of Medical Colleges. For me, it reinforces that we are truly living our commitment to community service.
Virginia S. Hinshaw
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
UC Davis
