University of California President Michael Drake announced Wednesday that he would step down from his role at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Drake began his term in July 2020, at the start of the pandemic, as the first Black president of one of the largest public university systems in the country.
“It has been a unique honor to serve as president of the University of California these past years, and I am immensely proud of what the UC community has accomplished,” said Drake. “At every step, I have sought to listen to those I served, uphold our shared UC values, and do everything I can to leave this institution in better shape than it was before. I am proud to see the University continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of countless Californians through research, teaching and public service.”
During his time as president, Drake had multiple accomplishments. He implemented the UC Native American Opportunity Plan, increased the number of students in the system, created a tuition stability plan and secured a 5% funding increase over five years.
“Next year, we will continue the work we focused on during my tenure. This includes expanding support for students and creating pathways to a debt-free UC education, ensuring more California students can reap the benefits of a UC degree, leveraging the University’s academic and research excellence, and working to foster a safe community and respectful approach that promotes a free exchange of ideas,” said Drake.
Drake’s tenure was also marked by turbulent waters and he had to navigate many labor and political issues.
He joined the university system in July 2020, in the midst of COVID-19, and had to balance conflicting views on what restrictions on campuses should be.
In 2022, it faced the largest higher education strike in the country and also faced other union disputes.
UC campuses were rife with turmoil at the end of the last academic year when pro-Palestinian camps were erected on campus, with clashes between protesters and hundreds of inmates at UC Los Angeles.
The UC Board of Regents will soon create a committee to search for the next president of the UC system.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
