It seems impossible that Albert Carnesale, who succeeded me as
UCLA chancellor upon my retirement, is now himself leaving;
although when I look carefully at the calendar I realize he will
have served for nine years when he leaves office on June 30.
I then realize I have been chancellor emeritus for that same
amount of time. I have to think twice before comparing that nine
years with my 29 as chancellor because it, like John Wooden’s
NCAA Championship record, is not likely to be approached in this or
any other university.
Nine years, after all, exceeds the norm for those serving in the
complex and difficult job of president or chancellor of a major
university.
The effectiveness of a UCLA chancellor is not judged on the
basis of longevity, but on other, more important considerations.
When viewed with the appropriate criteria, Al Carnesale’s
performance over his nine-year term has placed him in the company
of those who have built this great university and brought it the
recognition it has so rightly deserved.
Any great university is built, first and foremost, on the
quality and commitment of its students and faculty. Al certainly
leaves UCLA better in that regard than he found it. The university
must also be wisely managed, and Al has retained great
administrators who were present on his assumption of the
chancellorship and persuaded others of comparable quality to
replace those who have moved on to other activities.
UCLA’s academic programs have been increased and
strengthened by careful extension of the excellent curricula that
wise faculty and administrative decision-making had built with
great care in the years before Carnesale became chancellor.
These curricular improvements were accompanied, and sometimes
preceded by, expansion and deepening of the research capacity of
UCLA ““ attracting, in turn, more and better faculty and
graduate students, and increased contract and grant support from
both governmental and corporate sources.
The success of Bruin athletes, in the classroom as well as on
the playing fields, has continued apace. UCLA now stands on the
threshold of winning its 100th NCAA Championship ““ far
outpacing any of its rivals in the quality and breadth of its
athletic program.
In this day and age, one must consider not only what
universities or other enterprises accomplish, but what they manage
to avoid. Scandals can trump great achievements, so it is critical
that institutions such as UCLA are managed without the taint of
impropriety that can be exaggerated by media and politicians to the
great disadvantage of those so exposed. Here again, Al and his
administrative and academic colleagues have avoided those pitfalls
by acting with thoughtful integrity.
In the area of public affairs and support, Al has significantly
expanded the quality and scope of governmental, community and media
relations.
In fact, it is the area of public support that has seen the most
dramatic achievement. Al and his team have successfully brought to
conclusion the most successful capital campaign in the history of
higher education. This campaign, underway at my retirement with a
goal of $1.2 billion, succeeded in raising in excess of $3
billion.
This accomplishment has assured a great future for Al’s
successors, not only in terms of the financial base it provides,
but, just as importantly, the human capital that is now committed
to similar future endeavors.
Through all of this Al and his wife, Robin, have been great
hosts to the UCLA community and ambassadors to the world beyond.
This aspect of the chancellor’s duties may seem trivial or
simple to many. However, I am in a unique position to recognize the
difficulties and challenges this role places on a husband and wife,
as well as the importance to UCLA of these endless and trying
tasks.
So it is with mixed emotions that we say farewell to the
Carnesales as they depart from the UCLA Chancellor’s
residence and journey to Cambridge for a well-earned sabbatical.
I’m sorry to see them leave and thank them for having so
well-managed their stewardship of our beloved UCLA.
Young is the UCLA chancellor emeritus. He served as
chancellor from 1968 to 1997.