Bye, Bye, Bye: UCLA Chancellor Block to Retire in July 2024
While Block will step down as chancellor, he will remain in Westwood and focus on teaching and research.
This morning, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block announced that he will step down as the chancellor of the number one public university in the nation. His final day will be July 31, 2024.
The University of California Office of the President will launch a national search for his replacement.
While UCLA has increased enrollment, guaranteed housing to undergraduates, risen to the top of national rankings, nearly doubled its research funding, expanded its geographic footprint throughout Los Angeles and deepened its commitment to access, affordability, diversity and service, critics have argued that Block has been an impediment to athletic success at UCLA, due mostly because of his ardent defense of former Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, whom Block referred to as “good money manager.”
Of course, the financial issues still plaguing the Athletic Department originated under Guerrero and eventually became significant enough that UCLA really only had two options — either move to a conference which would provide the department with more revenue or start cutting sports teams.
Faced with a difficult choice, Block changed the course of Bruin athletics for the foreseeable future by approving UCLA’s move from the quickly-disintegrating Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten Conference.
Block’s retirement date actually carries some irony with it as his retirement date happens to coincide with the school’s final day as a member of the Pac-12.
So, while he set the future course for UCLA Athletics by approving the move, he will not be around when the Bruins actually join the Big Ten on August 1, 2024.
While he certainly failed to realize that the Athletic Department is the de facto marketing department for the University, he will certainly leave a mark on his campus, perhaps like no chancellor since Charles Young.
Since becoming chancellor on August 1, 2007, UCLA has grown significantly. Enrollment has increased 24% from 37,000 to 46,000 last year. Undergraduate applications have increased 165% from 64,000 to 170,000, making UCLA the most applied to university in the nation. Student housing has increased 77% from 13,465 to 23,820. Research funding has grown 88% from $914 million to $1.7 billion.
Block has also overseen the explosion of UCLA Health clinics with UCLA doctors now available across Southern California. The number of UCLA Health clinics has grown from 66 to more than 260, almost a 300% increase.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that UCLA went from being the #4 public university in the nation to being the #1 public university for six years running.
He is currently planning on remaining at UCLA after stepping down as chncellor as he plans to devote more time to teaching and research at UCLA.
Go Bruins!!!
Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.
Our daughter was in Spring Sing in 2017, her senior year at UCLA. I was so fortunate to be able to attend. What a show! Company that year did amazing skits, one of which was about the chancellor. It was hilarious and every time I see him or his name I literally recall it and the 15 Minute Clock for your meeting with Chancellor Gene D. Block. His wife was a judge so I figured she must have a pretty good sense of humor!