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Budget Strategy Risks for Jerry Brown (and Therefore for UC)

Byuclafaculty

The blog Calbuzz.com pointed me to two items, both related to the state budget. One is the cartoon on the right, which suggests the political challenge for incoming-Governor Brown. [If you can’t make out the captions, go http://www.calbuzz.com/2010/12/swap-meet-jerry-and-santa-meet-landslide-harris/ and scroll down until you see the cartoon.] The other is an article that appeared last week pointing to another aspect of the challenge. The two budget-related meetings Brown has had (see earlier posts) – plus statements during the election campaign – suggest that his strategy is to get the legislature to pass a budget with no tax increases that would have…

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Aftermath of Recently-Ended Political Season at UC-Riverside: Provost Candidate in the Soup

Byuclafaculty

Campbell withdraws as UCR provost candidate Duane W. Gang, Dec. 17, 2010, Riverside Press-Enterprise Former California congressman and U.S. Senate hopeful Tom Campbell withdrew today as a candidate for UC Riverside’s open executive vice chancellor and provost position, the university announced. Campbell interviewed on campus Dec. 10, but some faculty and students raised objections to his candidacy because of his stance on immigration. During his unsuccessful primary campaign this year for the Republican Senate nomination, Campbell expressed support for Arizona’s SB1070, a controversial law targeting people suspected of being in the country illegally. In a statement, UC Riverside spokeswoman Kris…

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New Funding Model for UC: Details Uncertain

Byuclafaculty

Word has been circulating on campus of a new systemwide funding plan for all the campuses coming out of Oakland and President Yudof. It is referred to as a “revenue allocation model” for the campuses, whereby each campus will retain its own revenues. A “tax” will be imposed on each campus to support the central UCOP operation. The new model is slated to go into effect as a pilot program in 2011-12, with full implementation in 2012-13. Exactly what is entailed in this model is not clear, nor are its implications for campus operation or the faculty. Since we are…

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Congratulations to UC-SD: But are they sure there what they are getting?

Byuclafaculty

Geisel gives $2 million to fix chancellor’s residence: House used in fundraising and UCSD events is currently uninhabitable Pat Flynn, Dec. 16, 2010, San Diego Union-Tribune Audrey Geisel, a longtime benefactor of the University of California San Diego, has donated $2 million to jump-start renovation of University House, the currently uninhabitable residence meant for use by the campus’ chancellor. Geisel, the widow of Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, author of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” among many other books, was given in honor of the university’s 50th anniversary, which is being celebrated this year. In 2004, engineers determined that University House…

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In Radio Interview with Marketplace Yudof Eschews Privatization; Says Most State Politicians Don’t Understand UC

Byuclafaculty

In a radio interview today, UC President Mark Yudof discussed UC in the context of the state budget crisis. Issues that came up include privatization, faculty pay, and relations with the state in the context of the budget crisis. The portion aired was an excerpt. A full transcript – not just the excerpt – and audio of the full interview is below: Yudof Full Interview on Marketplace Jeremy Hobson: Mark Yudof is the President of California’s system and he joins us now. Mark Yudof, welcome to Marketplace. Mark Yudof: Well thank you. Thank you for inviting me. Hobson: The University…

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Observations and Worries Over at CalPERS

Byuclafaculty

The excerpt below from calpensions.com deals mainly with a state contribution cut to CalPERS, ostensibly due to increased employee contributions. Some things to note: 1) the state contribution rate to the plan is already roughly at our “normal cost.” 2) CalPERS may come down to UC’s assumed 7.5% rate of expected earnings – or possibly lower. Lower would put pressure on UC to do the same. 3) CalPERS is concerned about federal legislative proposals in the new Congress regarding public pension plan discount rates used for estimating unfunded liabilities. CalPERS state rate hike cut by $200 million (except) Ed Mendel,…

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Chair of UCLA Faculty Assn. Comments on LA Times Article Concerning Legislative Challenges to UC Autonomy

Byuclafaculty

Below is a note from Chair Dwight Read followed by excerpts from the LA Times article to which he is responding. A link to the full article is also provided. A Note from the Chair of the UCLA Faculty Association Professor Dwight Read Today, Dec. 16, the LA Times ran an article, “State Wants Say in UC, CSU Budgets,” about a constitutional amendment that would strip the University of California of its autonomy. To provide historical context, the excerpt below explains how UC gained its autonomy, why the citizens of California voted for it in 1879, and why it is…

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CUCFA statement about the Dec. 13th special Regent’s meeting

Byuclafaculty

Council of UC Faculty Associations statement about the Dec. 13th special Regent’s meeting At their Special Meeting on Monday, December 13, the Regents of the University of California will be making decisions on two significant issues– endorsing the principles of the UC Commission on the Future (UCOF) and drastically changing the University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP). “One thing we can agree on, said Robert Meister, President of the Council of UC Faculty Associations “is the first sentence of the UCOF Report: ‘UC is at a crossroads.’” Meister continued, “Unfortunately the University leadership has ignored the outcome of this year’s…

Internet Rumor: Zero for Higher Ed?

Byuclafaculty

Here is a re-posting from the liberal calitics blog which suggests that Governor-elect Brown will present a shock budget that would provide zero for higher ed. No other reports on the meeting Brown held at UCLA reported a literal zero for higher ed. It was not mentioned in the segment I previously posted from Which Way LA? on the Brown meeting. That there will be a shock budget seems a sure thing. Cuts for higher ed could certainly be part of it. I would be surprised by a total zero. But here is the entry:============ Jerry Brown as Jacob Marley…