Pillars of Excellence

The University of California continues to thrive in its mission of teaching, research and community service. At UC Irvine, we fulfill this mission by incorporating our pillars of excellence — academic excellence, research excellence, leadership excellence and character excellence — into everything we do. — Chancellor Michael Drake

Academic Excellence

UC Irvine fosters academic excellence in state-of-the-art labs and smart classrooms, where outstanding students from across the country and all around the world learn from our award-winning faculty.

Research Excellence

Through our research excellence, UC Irvine is shaping the future of issues that matter – from energy and the environment to health care.

Leadership Excellence

The people of UC Irvine are enabled, empowered and inspired to make a difference in the world. Our continued commitment to leadership excellence means that we are preparing the next generation of global leaders.

Character Excellence

Our values — respect, intellectual curiosity, integrity, commitment, empathy, appreciation and fun — form the foundation of our fourth pillar of excellence, character excellence.