Dynes Says University Is State's 'Best Investment' in Future

By VIC COX

Sounding cautious about additional cuts the new state government might make in the University's budget, but optimistic about the system's perceived value to the state, UC President Robert C. Dynes flew into Santa Barbara early last month to call supporters to action.

Billed as part of an "inaugural tour" of the 10-campus network, the University's new leader joined his host, Chancellor Henry T. Yang, to meet with alumni, staff, faculty, students, local business people, and the press during his Dec. 4-5 visit to UCSB.

As he would do with all the groups, Dynes spoke briefly to alumni on the first evening about how he had come to listen and learn from his audiences and why the University was vitally important to California. Citing examples from a report on UC's widespread impact on the state's economy, Dynes told the alumni, "A dollar invested in the University is probably the best investment we can make in the future right now."

In repeating this message he sometimes added new details, such as 60 percent of California's physicians are UC-trained, or that the University's $15 billion budget—a critical $2.9 billion is state-funded—generates four or five dollars for every dollar spent. UC, he held, has been a major reason California is "the most innovative, risk-taking society in the world," citing "hundreds of companies" spun off of UC research.

Responding to alumni questions, Dynes emphasized the importance of faculty and said UC's current faculty retention and recruitment is satisfactory, "but we're running out of resources." To husband those resources, new faculty recruitment has been slowed. However, he warned, "we're eating our seed corn" if UC consistently delays new faculty recruitment.

"Faculty attract faculty," he said, because they create a magnetic energy in the intellectual environment. "If it ever starts to unravel (this environment) will fall apart quickly," said Dynes.

Later, speaking directly to UCSB faculty members in Corwin Pavilion, the president addressed one of the campus's major recruitment obstacles: housing costs. "Housing is a problem throughout the (UC) system," Dynes said. From what he understood of the local market, "it sounds as if building housing is the likely solution (for UCSB)."

He added that while chancellor at UC San Diego, he had found the UC mortgage assistance program helpful to new faculty. Reoffering the loan program to faculty members when they achieved tenure could expand participation, he explained.

Telling delegates that staff "are the heart and soul of UC," Dynes warmly greeted the Council of UC Staff Assemblies meeting at UCSB after a run around the lagoon on Friday morning. While layoffs and mandatory work time reductions are still "unknown," he vowed to "communicate the good and the bad to staff."

When asked to encourage respect for staff, the value of their work, and their professional expertise, Dynes said, "Loyalty is very important to me, but loyalty goes both ways. I lead by example."

Emphasizing openness to comments, ideas, and constructive criticism, the president asked each group with which he met on campus to e-mail him their thoughts. Clicking "Dynes' Desk" on the president's home page will produce a direct link to him. He said he could not respond to every message, but he promised to read them all and those of general concern would be addressed publicly.

When he met with the student representatives, who focused their questions and comments on the grave threats to UC outreach efforts, Dynes made the same offer but cautioned them against flooding his e-mail with organized campaigns.

He assured the students and faculty that he supported outreach, which he saw more as college preparation than anything else. He also promised to advocate to the Regents a gradual increase rather than big jumps in any future fee rise.

Capping Dynes' official functions was lunch with local political and business leaders at Santa Barbara's University Club, where Chancellor Yang introduced him. Afterwards, both men met local media representatives and answered questions.