Author: uclafaculty

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Got the Message?

Byuclafaculty

Our friends at CSU have developed a rather blunt way of delivering the message about Prop 30. From the LA Times: Hundreds of thousands of applicants to California State University campuses this year will be receiving a warning instead of the typical warm note thanking them for their interest.The spots they are hoping to fill next year, the prospective students will be cautioned, could evaporate if the governor’s push to raise taxes in November fails. The letter also will say no admissions decisions will be made until a few weeks after the election, a departure from the usual policy of…

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Fires North of UCLA

Byuclafaculty

At least two fires are reported burning north of UCLA causing major traffic disruptions this afternoon.  The most recent alerts (as of around 5 PM today) say: Please be advised of a hillside brush fire in the Sepulveda Pass which has closed Sepulveda Blvd and slowed traffic more than normally on the I-405.  Additionally there are reports of car fires on Mulholland Drive and near Coldwater Canyon.I-405 is still open in both directions but moving slowly.  Heavy smoke from the fire is visible on campus. == Coldwater Canyon is closed between Ventura Blvd and Sunset Blvd. This is in addition…

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UCLA Crows But As Alfred Hitchcock Pointed Out, Too Much Crowing Can Lead to Trouble

Byuclafaculty

UCLA Newsroom  UC Board of Regents grants final approval for UCLA conference center By Steve RiteaSeptember 11, 2012 [Update, Sept. 13: The full Board of Regents has approved the project’s final design plans and a final environmental impact report.]    The University of California Board of Regents’ Committee on Grounds and Buildings today cleared the way for UCLA to begin construction next year on the Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference and Guest Center, a project that will enhance civic engagement on campus and allow UCLA to compete with other universities for important academic conferences.   “We are grateful to the Regents…

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Regents Approve Pepper Settlement But What It Was, Nobody Will say

Byuclafaculty

From the LA Times: The UC regents, in a closed-door meeting, approved the proposed settlement payment to 21 UC Davis students and alumni who sued the university and contended their civil rights were violated in the widely criticized pepper spray incident.  However, both UC officials and the ACLU of Northern California, which is representing the students in the lawsuit, refused to divulge settlement details, saying the rules of the agreement talks require a federal judge to review the matter before it can be made public. That may happen within a few days, they said…UC Regent Leslie Tang Schilling said the…

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LAO Needs to Join Governor & Legislature on the UC Pension Train

Byuclafaculty

The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) yesterday issued a review of the 2012-13 state budget enacted last June.  At one time, LAO asserted that the state had no responsibility for the UC pension plan.  The language on page 19 describing the treatment of the pension this time around is more constrained and does not venture a legal opinion.  That’s progress but LAO is still not where it needs to be.  Here is what it said on the UC pension: Provides Augmentation for UC Pension Costs.  The $89 million augmentation for UC’s pension costs represents the first time in more than two…

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Listen to Regents Approve Everything in Afternoon of 9-13-12 (partial recording)

Byuclafaculty

The Regents were in closed session most of the morning.  A prior entry on this blog gives you the audio of that part of the morning session which was open.  The Regents came back into session early so I missed an item.  Thus, the link below is only a partial recording of the afternoon session during which they approved everything including the UCLA hotel and the UCLA med school teaching center.  (See earlier posts on those projects.)  Indeed, they approved all executive compensation recommendations of the compensation committee and all projects endorsed by Building and Grounds in toto, i.e., no…

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Listen to Audio of Regents Morning Session of 9-13-12

Byuclafaculty

Below is the morning agenda of the Regents.  The audio link at the bottom of this entry is provided only for the open sessions. Agenda, Thursday, September 13, 2012, Morning 8:30 am Committee of the Whole – Public Comment (open session) Concerns were expressed by speakers over the discussion at the retreat the day before about taking more out-of-state and international students for budgetary reasons.  Also, a group of law students expressed concern about rising law school tuition. The Academic Council representatives made in clear they would recommend a tuition increase if Prop 30 – the governor’s tax initiative –…