News

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UC-R Students’ Tuition Plan: Media Coverage But Lack of UC Enthusiasm

Byuclafaculty

UC administrator?  UC Regent? Blog readers may recall that some UC-Riverside students came up with a proposal to have “free” tuition at UC in exchange for a tax on graduates’ future incomes.  This idea has actually been around for some time but more typically at the federal level, i.e., a program involving all universities.  There are a variety of issues such as the lack of a cash flow immediately until the future graduates begin being taxed.  If such a plan were done only for one university system in one state, there are enforcement issues.  How would the tax be collected…

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More coverage of UCLA hospitality service’s marriage with commercial activities: How about a wedding?

Byuclafaculty

Yesterday, we noted that UCLA seems to be using its conference facilities in ways that are explicitly not linked to educational functions.  How about a wedding?  No mention of research, education, or even a UCLA connection in the video below taken from the Facebook page (above). http://www.facebook.com/uclameetings  As we have noted (over and over), the planned UCLA hotel is not allowed to take commercial business.  Lots of tax issues have been raised about the hotel but the Regents were told not to worry.  At wedding ceremonies, the tradition is to ask whether anyone has any objection to the marriage.  If…

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Harvard Cooking

Byuclafaculty

For those who, on the day after Thanksgiving, still have their minds into food – and for those interested in online education – we note the existence of the Harvard cooking class which seems to be a collaboration of cuisine and research.  One episode is below: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ft0cwxjBKE?feature=player_detailpage]

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UCLA Advertises Its Conference Facilities and Notes that the Events It Hosts Don’t Have to be Education-Based

Byuclafaculty

UCLA Hospitality and Catering has a Facebook page with videos advertising its facilities for conferences.  http://www.facebook.com/uclameetingsThere is no mention of such conferences being required to have a UCLA connection.  For example, one video touts the attraction by UCLA Hospitality and Catering of a meeting of the Southern California Chapter of Meeting Planners International (MPI), a trade group of event planners.  The group’s website describes its mission: MPISCC is a member centric organization focusing on professional development for the meetings and events industries. Established in 1979, MPISCC is recognized as an award-winning chapter with approximately 700 members serving the Santa Barbara,…

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Lawsuit against Prop 13’s 2/3 requirement reported rejected

Byuclafaculty

Charles Young The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) has reported this afternoon via its email service that the lawsuit filed by former UCLA Chancellor Charles Young to overturn the 2/3 tax increase requirement in Prop 13 of 1978 has been rejected by the California Supreme Court.  So far, no other news source has so reported: The California Supreme Court has refused to hear a challenge to significant aspects of Proposition 13, prosecuted by former UCLA Chancellor Charles Young…  Earlier this year, the 2nd District Court of Appeal agreed with attorneys representing the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association that Young’s suit challenging…

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Would it work for UC?

Byuclafaculty

We have noted in prior posts that the Regents (with a push from Gov. Brown) are interested in promoting online education at UC.  A somewhat different model is noted today in a brief article in Inside Higher Ed.  Online education, even if aimed at a mass audience, is often (not always) a pre-recorded program.  That is, something is put online and students access it at their convenience individually.  The article in Inside Higher Ed reports that Yale, Columbia, and Cornell are using video conferencing (so it’s live and at a fixed time) for small courses (capped at 12 students in…

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The Cultural Landscape Foundation Lists UCLA Japanese Garden as Among Major Threatened Sites

Byuclafaculty

The Cultural Landscape Foundation included the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden on its “Landslide 2012” listing of endangered landscapes which appeared on Nov. 14.  As readers of this blog will know, UCLA’s attempt to sell the garden with no guarantee that it will be preserved has been enjoined. There is a long history which goes back to a gift to UCLA of the garden by former Regents chair Edward Carter with the university promising to maintain the garden in perpetuity.  You can find background on this blog by searching under “Japanese Garden.”  We have urged the university to sit down with…

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More on the Harran Case Hearing

Byuclafaculty

The LA Daily News carries a story about the hearing concerning the fatal lab fire in 2008 for which the local DA is holding Professor Patrick Harran criminally responsible.  A possible four-year prison sentence is involved.  As we have noted in past blog postings, the Regents were at one time charged along with Prof. Harran but have been dropped from the case.  UCLA legal counsel believes that this matter is being overcharged by the DA for whatever reasons and is providing his defense.  We have also noted that the DA has charged another UCLA professor in a totally-unrelated case, possibly…