Author: uclafaculty

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Update on Faculty Club Status: Vote Coming

Byuclafaculty

Readers of this blog know that UCLA has a plan to demolish the current Faculty Center and replace it with a conference center/hotel complex. Information on this issue – apart from prior blog entries – is available at http://facultycenter.ucla.edu/FAQs.htm At that link, you can find pro and arguments concerning the project. Added info is that an Ad Hoc Committee to Save the Faculty Center has petitioned the Faculty Center to hold a vote of the membership on the question: Should the Faculty Center be torn down and be replaced by a Convention Center/Hotel and Faculty Club? Yes or No?Arguments for…

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Presidents Day Report: Party of Lincoln Pushes Change in Public Pensions to Defined Contribution

Byuclafaculty

As we have noted repeatedly, it’s potentially not over with regard to the UC pension. A ballot proposition could easily override the Regents’ action that was taken last December. The article below notes that pensions have become the negotiating point on the state budget and getting the governor’s proposed tax extensions on the ballot. Brown’s Countdown, Day 43: State pension cuts pushed (excerpts) Kevin Yamamura, Sacramento Bee, Feb. 21, 2011 Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hailed pension cuts last year as a major reform after Democrats and state worker unions agreed to concessions that ended a record-long budget stalemate. But Republican…

UCLA History: Former President Receives Honorary Degree

Byuclafaculty

As we approach Presidents Day, it goes without saying that Washington and Lincoln knew nothing about UCLA. However, UCLA did award an honorary PhD to former President Eisenhower (shown with then-Chancellor Franklin Murphy – center – and UC President Clark Kerr -right) in April 1965. (The date has also been reported as 1963. Anyone want to research the correct date?) The building in the background is Kerckhoff Hall.

UCLA History: Ernest Moore

Byuclafaculty

Ernest Carroll Moore, shown above, was named as director of the Southern Branch of the University of California when it was created at the Vermont Avenue campus. A view of that campus appears below Moore’s photo. Moore in fact headed the prior state normal school at that location which was converted into what became UCLA. He oversaw the move to the current Westwood site in the late 1920s. His title was eventually changed to “provost” and he served until 1936. Moore Hall at UCLA is named for him.

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LAO Suggests Higher Ed Affordability Issue Needs to Refocus Away from Annual Tuition Sticker Price

Byuclafaculty

In testimony before the Assembly Higher Ed committee, LAO spokesperson Judy Heiman presented an overview of financial aid and affordability in California higher ed. The presentation was low key, reviewing various programs such as Cal Grants. With regard to tuition, she suggested that the legislature has been overly focused on the sticker price of annual tuition. One of the bullet points on her charts reads: Shifting policy focus away from “How can we minimize the price students pay, no matter the cost to the state?” and toward “How can we make a quality postsecondary education affordable?” Another suggestion involves varying…

Things to Come for UC?: Wisconsin Debates Separating Madison Campus from Others in System

Byuclafaculty

Insider Higher Ed reports today on the apparent efforts of the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison to separate from the larger multi-campus system over the objections of the systemwide president. The chancellor is quoted as saying, “In my view, it is dangerous not only for UW-Madison, but for the entire System and the state to have the System administration and the regents oppose the possibility that its flagship campus, or any other campus, be given the tools it needs to preserve quality and contribute to economic recovery…” The article with links to various related items is at http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/02/17/qt#251537 Well,…

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Where Is the Budget? Gov. Brown Is Having Diffculty With His Own Party

Byuclafaculty

California voters last November approved a change in the state constitution allowing budgets to be passed with a simple majority vote. As prior posts noted, it appears that Gov. Brown’s budget, while it can be passed with a simple majority, is linked to a ballot proposition that will likely need a 2/3 vote. But put aside the 2/3 problem for a moment. As of now, it is not clear that Brown can get a majority vote for the budget itself, even though both houses of the legislature are controlled by Democrats. The TV ad below is a good illustration of…

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Mind the Gap! The Gap Between the LAO Forecast for Revenue in Budget Outyears and the Governor’s

Byuclafaculty

The Legislative Analyst has posted a forecast for the three major taxes that feed the state budget that is more pessimistic than the governor’s forecast. However, the gap mainly occurs in the outyears, i.e., years beyond the current budget proposal for 2011-12. The forecasts include the governor’s proposed tax extensions which would have to be approved by voters. However, the difference between the two forecasts (LAO vs. governor) is based on underlying assumptions about state economic performance. So presumably, a similar gap would exist regardless of what future tax rates are assumed. The chart below summarizes the gap: LAO includes…