Should UC San Diego elevate its non-football athletics to NCAA Division I? Yes 60% (84533) No 40% (56364) 140897 total votes.

For the past 25 years, I’ve been debating with friends and family about the pros and cons of UC San Diego elevating to NCAA Division I “D1” athletics. As an alumnus, I’ve observed UC San Diego as Division II. During the past 15 years, I’ve attended D1 schools and gained a greater perspective on the topic.

Given the mid-May UC San Diego student vote for D1, I am compelled to share why aligning UC San Diego with the premier comprehensive institutions in the country will increase the value of a UC San Diego degree, for everyone who has graduated and will graduate from UC San Diego.

Elevating to D1 will produce an immediate increase in visibility, brand awareness and alumni/community engagement — a result that is critical for the future of UC San Diego, its students, its alumni and the community.

First, one must know the history of UC San Diego to understand why this vote is so important. In its brief history, UC San Diego has matured from its early days as oceanographic pioneer to one of the top five research institutions in the country. During this meteoric rise, focus has been in the lab and classroom. (We are admittedly a pretty nerdy group.) In addition, UC San Diego was born with a college system that helped personalize the student experience. Because of this accelerated growth and divided design, UC San Diego lacks a unified sense of belonging and pride. Thus, D1 is the opportunity to unify UC San Diego and create a consistent Triton brand, competing with peer universities in all respects.

To fellow alumni and students, how many times have you had to explain that we aren’t USD or SDSU to family and friends? It’s a frustrating experience.

I’ve had the opportunity to hire the best and brightest for my company and I notice a significant difference in pride between those I interview from D1 schools and UC San Diego students. From D1 grads I hear a passionate, unified message. “Yes, I went to UCLA. Go Bruins!” Or, “Yes, I attended Wisconsin . Go Badgers!” From UC San Diego grads, I hear a shyer, longer and more complex answer. “Yes, I went to UCSD. I’m a biology major, went to such-and-such college and worked in the XYZ lab.”

To my fellow UC San Diego family members, we are Tritons!

UC San Diego has uniquely achieved national academic recognition in just 56 years. Because of this, each student generation has had an opportunity to craft the future student experience and brand identity. This is the responsibility that each UC San Diego student has to address. “Do I pay now to make the future student experience better?”

Previous UC San Diego generations helped pay for and enhance the campus. Whether it was RIMAC (Recreation/Athletic Center) or the Price Center (student union), many generations have invested in the future. These shared sacrifices have enhanced our degrees as UC San Diego attracts the best and brightest.

To the San Diego community, I want to share a vision. In about four years, the light-rail system will connect UC San Diego, USD and SDSU. I can see students and community members traveling to see in-city rivalry games. When we look to national examples like Michigan/Michigan State or UCLA/USC, the passion driven by these rivalries allows for even greater national coverage for each university to share its story and brand.

With UC San Diego potentially joining peer institutions at the Division I level, the synergistic opportunities are endless.

UC San Diego is already an academic and economic powerhouse. The recognition provided by this evolution will unlock the true potential of UC San Diego. Imagine the potential for our future world rankings as we stand alongside our peers in every facet.

I urge the students, alumni and the community to imagine UC San Diego as D1 and how it will elevate the identity of the region and the UC San Diego brand, forever.

With Triton Pride.

Yeh, CEO of StemoniX, received his bachelor of science and master’s degree in mechanical engineering at UC San Diego and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.