It’s been less than a month since the students returned to campus, and fall quarter started even more recently. It was my privilege to welcome over 500 transfer students, 1,600 first-year students, and nearly 60 new graduate students to our college this year. In every category, these are substantial incoming classes, and, as I told each group, I cannot wait to see what they accomplish during their time on campus. 

Excitingly, CBS now claims 4 of the top 10 majors at UC Davis! (For those keeping score at home, those would be biological sciences, biochemistry and molecular biology, neurobiology, physiology and behavior, and human biology.) This is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and students and their efforts to create high-value educational programs—as well as to the impact of CBS as a powerhouse of life sciences research, teaching and service. 

So yes, the students are definitely back in force. Davis is again the obvious bike capital it’s famous for being, and our labs and classrooms are again filled with activity. Our focus now is supporting our students through classroom engagement and enrichment through hands-on research into the wonders of modern biology. 

Whether it’s a lecture, a research lab, or work in the field, that’s where you’ll find our faculty and students—exploring, mentoring and learning.