Author: uclafaculty

|

Before we get all-a-twitter about this issue, maybe the question for the governor is whether there is a problem

Byuclafaculty

Another bill related to higher ed seems to be going to Governor Brown’s desk.  Not clear that section 2(a) is compatible with 2(c). The bill apparently was triggered by reports that some employers were requiring job applicants to hand over their Facebook, Twitter, etc., passwords. But this bill, unlike another in the legislature, refers to universities, not employers. Is it really addressing a known problem?  Even if it is, maybe the governor needs to send this one back for more work; blanket prohibitions can lead to unforeseen difficulties down the road.Last year, Brown vetoed an unrelated bill saying “not every…

| | | | | |

Will He Sign It?

Byuclafaculty

State lawmakers have approved first-in-the-nation legislation requiring California universities with the most high-profile sports programs to provide financial protections for student athletes who suffer career-ending injuries…SB1525 would apply to universities that receive more than $10 million annually in sports media revenue. The bill by Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat from Los Angeles, would apply this year to the University of Southern California, UCLA, Berkeley and Stanford University…Full article at http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/22/4749123/bill-would-help-injured-student.html

| | |

Money Race on Governor’s Initiative

Byuclafaculty

In a posting yesterday, we noted that the opponents of the governor’s tax initiative (Prop 30) have begun campaigning with radio “issue” ads. It appears, however, that in the race to raise money for the election campaign, a lot more has been raised to support the initiative than to oppose it.  There were concerns that the “paycheck protection” initiative (Prop 32) – which also is on the ballot in November – would divert union funds away from from the governor’s campaign.  (Prop 32 would ban union payroll dues deductions from being used for political purposes.)  Indeed, much funding has gone…

|

Good News/Bad News

Byuclafaculty

The good news is that reading this blog every day will keep you informed about UCLA and UC concerns. The bad news, according to our friends down the road in Santa Monica at the Milken Institute, is that it can make you fat:===== Waistlines of the World: The Effect of Information and Communications Technology on Obesity Summary: Information and communications technologies have improved living standards around the world. But the increased amount of time that people devote to using computers, watching TV and playing video games- so-called “screen time” -is a significant factor in the global rise of obesity. In Waistlines of the World:…

| | | |

Is Catch-Up the Strategy on the Tax Initiative?

Byuclafaculty

The opponents of the governor’s tax initiative are already on the radio advertising.  Although the governor’s campaign for his tax initiative is in principle in motion, the media advertising has yet to begin.  As readers of this blog will know, the Regents have endorsed the governor’s initiative. When Jerry Brown ran for governor in 2010, he also was slow to get going against Meg Whitman.  However, he did win with a concentrated blitz toward the end.  Possibly, that is the strategy now.  It is unclear how much funding opponents will have for full-fledged media campaign as the November election nears….

| |

Another Little 405 Inconvenience for UCLA Nightbirds

Byuclafaculty

We’re too late to give you the Monday night warning but the action (inaction?) repeats tonight: Full closure of all I-405 northbound lanes (between the Montana Avenue and Moraga Drive), Sunset Boulevard (between Barrington Avenue and Veteran Avenue) and Church Lane (between Sepulveda Boulevard and Kiel Street) on the night of Monday, August 20th / morning of Tuesday, August 21st. All Sunset on/off-ramps (with the exception of the SB I-405 off-ramp) will be closed, as well. Where: I-405 and Sunset Boulevard When: NB freeway will be closed from midnight until 5am on Tuesday morning. Sunset Boulevard, Church Lane and freeway ramps will…

|

It’s not quite the Subway to the Sea that is eventually supposed to arrive at UCLA…

Byuclafaculty

…But starting next week there will be an express bus from UCLA to the new Expo light rail line which currently terminates in Culver City (and is being extended to Santa Monica circa 2015).  The Expo line goes to downtown LA and links to other rail services. Details at http://centurycity.patch.com/articles/big-blue-bus-offers-1-rides-to-culver-city-expo

| | |

Wisconsin’s Way Out of UCLA’s Taxable Hotel Dilemma: But We Really Have to Hurry!

Byuclafaculty

In an earlier post today citing an online lesson from Stanford, we pointed to UCLA’s hotel tax dilemma.  We learned about Unrelated Business Income (UBI) and Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).  It appears that much of the proposed use of the UCLA hotel is in fact taxable and yet commercial-type business is forbidden in the UCLA case due to the way the hotel is to be financed.  Now some readers might say that our blog just harps on the negative side of the UCLA hotel proposal and never offers anything positive.  That isn’t really true since we did offer a…

| |

Harder to Get In at UC-San Diego?

Byuclafaculty

Excerpt from North County Times: In a move that narrows the college transfer pathway for students at Palomar, MiraCosta and other community colleges, UC San Diego is winding down an agreement that guarantees transfers to community college students who meet set requirements. The transfer admission guarantee, or “TAG” agreement, allows community college students with grade point averages of 3.5 or better to secure guaranteed admission to UCSD, as long as they meet certain deadlines and coursework requirements. However, citing increased competition among transfers and a funding shortfall, university officials said they will discontinue the agreement in 2014. Community college students can…