Linda Katehi, Chancellor of the University of California, Davis, near Sacramento, says she is forming a task force to investigate what happened.
"The use of pepper spray as shown on the video is chilling to us all and raises many questions about how best to handle situations like this," she said in a message on the university's website.
The Davis Faculty Association, which represents academic staff, has condemned the University of California's approach to protests on several different campuses.
"This week, we have seen excessive force used against non-violent protesters," said a statement on the association's website.
"Student, faculty and staff protesters have been pepper-sprayed directly in the eyes and mouth, beaten and shoved by batons, dragged by the arms while handcuffed, and submitted to other forms of excessive force."
Occupy protesters at the University of California, Berkeley There have been 'Occupy' protests on several campuses of the University of California, including in this rally at Berkeley
"The violence was unprovoked, disproportional and excessive," it said.
"We demand that the Chancellors of the University of California cease using police violence to repress non-violent political protests