There are few things in life that are popular with three-quarters of our population. These days, a tremendously successful politician is someone who has an approval rating percentage in the high 50s or 60s. With that in mind, think about what it means that more than 70 percent of Californians hold a favorable view of the University of California (UC) and see it as a valuable part of our state.

A recent Institute of Government Studies poll found that an astonishing 77 percent of Californians think that UC medical centers are an important part of their communities, and 71 percent believe that the research conducted at UC campuses benefits the state. This is impressive, but unsurprising to those of us who know that this is an exceptional place to learn, to work, and to be a patient. The UC has demonstrated that it is a good neighbor to Californians since its founding.

Rooted in History

The UC began as part of a national effort to build institutions of higher learning which were seen as key to strengthening the United States. In 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, which allocated federal land to states so they could sell them and raise funds for colleges. On March 23, 1868, just 18 years after becoming part of the United States, California used the Morrill Act to buy land in Oakland, and the UC was founded.

Advancing Discovery, Health, and the Economy

Learning is the core of everything we do. The UC system confers more than 60,000 bachelor's degrees and around 22,000 graduate degrees each year. Around 84% of undergraduate students are state residents, and 70% of graduates go on to work in California after graduation, applying the knowledge and skills they acquired to the benefit of their community and state.

Just as UC''s classrooms help Californians build their futures, its laboratories drive discoveries that shape what is possible. The research produced here is recognized as being among the best in the world. In October of this year, five UC researchers won Nobel prizes. Since 1939, faculty and staff of the UC system have been awarded the Nobel 75 times.

The UC produces nearly ten percent of the academic publications in the United States, and accounts for 8.9% of direct research expenditures at all universities in the United States. Across our ten campuses, people work tirelessly to translate the science we advance into clinical applications that benefit the people of our state and the rest of the world.

The story of the University of California is that of California itself, visionary and bold, and committed to building a better future for everyone in our state and beyond.

As an economic investment, the UC has been a tremendous success. The UC system contributes more than $80 billion annually to California. The system supports more than half a million jobs and generates $12 billion in federal, state, and local taxes each year. Beyond feeling the benefit UC has on the state economy, the way most Californians experience the excellence of the UC is through healthcare. UC Health is among the top health care systems in the state. The UC system has more than 10 million outpatient visits and 190,000 inpatient discharges annually. In addition to caring for patients, we also train the most health care providers, with 16,000 individuals participating in programs in dental, medical, nursing, public health, pharmacy, and optometry each year.

These are just a few reasons why Californians have such a high opinion of their fellow state citizen and neighbor, the UC system. Along with the high numbers mentioned earlier, 70 percent of Californians would recommend their friends or relatives enroll in a UC school. And perhaps the most impressive number is that 76 percent of people who graduated from a UC believe that it is worth the cost. And given all of the benefits that the UC provides for everyone in California, it''s easy to see why a majority of people in the state believe that funding for UC should be increased.

A Shared Journey Forward

The UC has been part of California for much of its history and remains a steadfast neighbor to all Californians. It has enriched the state by providing knowledge to its alumni that they use for the benefit of their communities. It has driven advancements in agriculture, technology, and the arts that have strengthened our state''s economy and helped make this such a special place to live. On top of all of that, the UC provides the best possible healthcare to our fellow citizens.

It has been a long journey from the sale of a piece of land that funded the first UC building to the storied institution that we are today. The UC is living proof that funding higher education strengthens our country and fulfills the vision President Lincoln had when he signed the Morrill Act. In many ways, the story of the University of California is that of California itself, visionary and bold, and committed to building a better future for everyone in our state and beyond.