In this article, Gary Matkin, Dean of Continuing Education, Distance Learning, and Summer Session at the University of California, Irvine and long-time member of UPCEA, talks about his experience with higher and continuing education in California. The situation of public universities has changed considerably, and his 43 years as an undergraduate, graduate, and administrator have given him a privileged perspective on the evolution of California higher education, particularly the University of California system. He also shares some external forces that affect continuing education on campuses.