Dear UC Davis Faculty, Academics, Staff and Student Employees,

We continue to be so impressed by the resilience and strength of all of you who do the day-to-day work that makes UC Davis great. We have tremendous pride and gratitude for all you have done and we are excited to be planning for the fall. And, even as we have obstacles to overcome, there is good news to be shared.

First, we hope you are aware that President Drake recently confirmed a 2021-22 salary program for policy covered faculty, academic appointees and staff that provides 3 percent salary increases. The details for staff increases were recently communicated by Chief Human Resources Officer Christine Lovely and Vice Provost Phil Kass will soon provide details about the academic increases.

Academics and staff represented by collective bargaining will also receive salary increases during 2021-22 consistent with current contracts.

UC Davis, with support from the Office of the President and the regents, has multiple programs to support our employees and families during the COVID-19 emergency. We are proud that there were very few layoffs related to COVID-19 and we are actively hiring in many UC Davis departments.

We are pleased that the governor’s May revise budget proposes much needed state investment including restoration of budget cuts assigned last summer and modest increases to the university’s operating budget. The proposal also includes one-time funds for deferred maintenance. We are grateful for leadership and advocacy from our Board of Regents and expect that upcoming legislative and UCOP actions will result in new allocations for UC Davis. The overall campus budget continues to be managed through our multi-year framework and we appreciate the actions that our deans, vice chancellors and department leaders are taking to move us towards a balanced budget.

And, improvements are underway throughout campus. The Green at West Village will be completed this summer, providing about 3,200 new beds for our students. We will soon break ground at Orchard Park, a project that provides housing for graduate students and student families. Aggie Square is also progressing following approvals by the Board of Regents in May. A renovated Walker Hall is opening with a new home for the Office of Graduate Studies and several new classrooms. And, you will no doubt be impressed by the progress on the Teaching and Learning Complex, the Ernst E. Tschannen Eye Center, the Edwards Family Athletics Center and the early progress for the Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center. These are just a few of the many projects underway (see Design and Construction Management’s Capital Project Report for spring 2021 for more good news).

We are proud of all of the students who are graduating this spring and we are grateful for the creative and inclusive ways we are celebrating those graduates. And, we are looking forward to welcoming new and returning students to the campus this fall.

Together, we are bringing our theme — Outgrow the Expected — to the forefront. THANK YOU for your contribution and commitment to advancing our mission.

Go Ags!

Gary S. May
Chancellor

Mary Croughan
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor