While UCLA struggles with the suspension of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research grants, a new poll shows there is strong support for the University of California — and the research it conducts — among both Republican and Democratic voters across the state, the Los Angeles Times reported today.
Among Republicans, 58% agreed or strongly agreed the UC research benefits California communities; 75% agreed or strongly agreed that UC academic health centers like UCLA Health are important to local communities; and 54% agreed or strongly agreed that the University of California is important in helping students get ahead. For Democrats, those percentages were 78%, 80% and 74%.
Read the full story on the Los Angeles Times website.
Among voters with a high school diploma but no college degree, 62% said that UC research was beneficial to their communities — as did a majority of voters across urban and rural areas and racial groups.
“In an era where the benefits of public higher education are being questioned, the polling results suggest that California’s residents see the value in a UC education and recognize the many different ways the UC system contributes positively to the state,” said G. Cristina Mora, director of the nonpartisan UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, which conducted the poll.
