Colleagues,

As we approach a much-needed winter break and depart to spend time with our loved ones, I'd like to take a moment to express my appreciation for and pride in the graduate education community at UC Davis.

The year 2017 has been one of great change, both for our country and for our campus. Chancellor Gary May is ushering in a new era, and his vision for the future of UC Davis has been cause of much collaboration and celebration.

This year also brought about events that were of great concern to our graduate community. The House of Representatives’ Tax Cuts and Jobs Act threatened to eliminate the tax code statute that excludes tuition and fee remissions from a student’s taxable income.  

Instead of panicking, Aggies united and advocated for the future of graduate education in force, galvanized and inspired by Chancellor Gary May’s statement to the Sacramento Bee. Hundreds of students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, staff and campus leaders participated in the #GradTaxWalkout. Though the circumstances were far from ideal, this show of solidarity was truly one of the highlights of my year. Far too often, the work of graduate students is not given the attention it deserves, so I was pleased to see graduate students across the country celebrated in such a public manner.

I am happy to announce that the final version of the GOP tax bill was released today, and it preserves both the student loan interest deduction, and income tax breaks for graduate student tuition waivers. The House of Representatives will vote on the bill Tuesday.

While there will be challenges ahead, I’m more certain than ever that our community is united and will face future obstacles with dignity and courage. This holiday season, please take a moment to reflect on all you’ve accomplished this year, both as an individual and as a member of the Aggie family.

Wishing you a season full of splendor and gratitude,

Prasant Mohapatra
Vice Provost, Graduate Education
Dean, Graduate Studies