By Donna Hemmila

President Mark Yudof and UC Regents Chairman Russell Gould met face to face Monday (March 1) with students concerned about recent incidents of intolerance at University of California campuses and pledged to focus attention systemwide on strategies to prevent such acts in the future.

"These are the worst incidents of racism I have seen on campuses in 20 years," Yudof told about 100 students who were staging a sit-in on the sidewalk in front of the UC Center Sacramento building on K Street. "I understand that students don't feel safe, they don't feel comfortable on their campuses."

Summit Aims to Boost Student Interest, Success in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math

Curricula offering more flexible, project-driven and hands-on activities - such as those showcased annually during UCI's E-Week - could reduce engineering school attrition rates, according to Rafael Bras, Distinguished Professor and dean of engineering.

Excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics has fueled American innovation for more than 50 years. But serious questions are being raised about our future competitiveness in these “STEM” areas. U.S. grade-school students continue to underachieve in math and science, and a lower percentage of them go on to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in STEM disciplines than at any time over the last five decades.