Letter from the Chancellor
“ Integrity is at the core of what we teach at UC San Diego .”
Integrity is the quality of being honest and demonstrating strong moral principles such as empathy , compassion , and respect . A person who possesses integrity understands these principles and practices them daily .
In June , at our first-ever online commencement ceremony , I reminded the Class of 2020 that integrity is what sustains our collaborative learning culture . It compels us to look deeper at the world around us . It reminds us to recognize that every human being has inherent value . And it drives us to listen closely , partner with people everywhere , and find solutions that benefit the many and not just the few . This is what it means to be a Triton .
All 200,000-plus of you once came to UC San Diego , stepped into a great unknown , explored boundaries you didn ’ t even know you had , and stretched yourselves to learn and grow . You left with a degree from one of the nation ’ s top universities . You left having become a well-rounded , critical thinker with big ideas and excellent new tools . And most importantly , you left with integrity . To this day , you carry the power of our guiding principles , which have become the hallmark of our indelible character as Tritons .
Beyond its principle , integrity can also be defined as a state of being whole . It is this meaning that is so important today . As a university and as individuals , we are navigating unprecedented challenges . We have spent months physically distancing ourselves from one another for the safety of one another . And yet , we are united in purpose and promise , taking a long view of the future of UC San Diego by continuing to position the university , our faculty , our students and our community for success .
For this reason , we have paused a number of infrastructure projects , including the groundbreaking on the long-awaited Alumni Center , which was to be the centerpiece in the transformative Triton Pavilion project . While the delay is disappointing , it does not diminish our continued commitment to this vital component of our campus transformation . I believe our alumnus Sheldon Engelhorn ‘ 72 put it best in his essay on page 11 , where he calls the Alumni Center “ the place where Tritons will return — after we all return .”
When that day comes , I look forward to meeting you in person on campus to celebrate the beginning of our next great chapter together .
With kind regards ,
Pradeep K . Khosla Chancellor
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