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UC Merced

If They Build It (With Federally Subsidized Bonds), Someone Will Come
Byadmin November 23, 2010

If only we could get the LA-area unemployment rate up higher, maybe UCLA could get some of those bonds. See below: UC Merced turns to federal bonds (excerpt) Jamie Oppenheim, November 23, 2010, Modesto Bee MERCED — Merced County’s recent classification as an economic recovery zone has been a boon to the University of California at Merced — making its future expansion more affordable. That could mean lots more construction jobs and a positive trickle-down impact on the area’s economy. Merced County supervisors recently gave the OK for UC Merced to use low-interest recovery zone bonds, designated for areas with…

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privatization | UCLA

Another Take – This One from Insider Higher Ed – on Pushback on Anderson’s Self-Sufficiency Plan
Byadmin November 23, 2010

Inside Higher Ed’s take on the Anderson self sufficiency issue (with a nice plug for our blog) Pushback on a B-School’s Bold Plan (excerpts) November 23, 2010, Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed The blog of the Faculty Association of the University of California at Los Angeles features a video, labeled “a little self-sufficient music” — the Supremes singing “Stop in the Name of Love.” The clip starts not with the famous title line of the song, but with the refrain: “Think it o-o-ver.” The reference to “self-sufficient music” is a play on the plan of the business school at UCLA…

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pension | pensions | State Contribution | uc retirement

Guest Op Ed: The UCRP Train Wreck
Byadmin November 22, 2010

The UCRP Train Wreck Professor Steven LippmanGeorge W. Robbins Chair in ManagementUCLA Anderson School of Management UCOP intends for the employers’ contribution to UCRP be ratcheted up to 20% by July 1, 2017. The now-planned contribution of 20% from all employers of UC personnel (which includes NIH and other granting agencies as well as the hospitals and medical centers) and 7% from all employees falls short of preventing the current $13 Billion underfunding at UCRP from worsening. At present, employees plus employers pay in 6% of the $8 billion covered compensation (CC) which amounts to $480 million per year. This…

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tuition | UC Berkeley

Show Me the Money: Public Attitudes Toward Campus Programs After Tuition Hikes
Byadmin November 22, 2010

When tuition goes up, questions get asked about where exactly the money is going. Below is an example from our friends at Berkeley: UC Berkeley vows to build museum despite finances (excerpt) Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross, San Francisco Chronicle. November 22, 2010 Even as financially strapped UC Berkeley is preparing to raise tuition 8 percent next fall, it has pledged to spend as much as $20 million in campus funds to help build a $96 million art museum. Just where $20 million will come from, however, remains unclear – with campus spokesman Dan Mogulof saying only that it will depend…

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privatization | UCLA

End of the Line for Anderson Self Sufficiency?
Byadmin November 22, 2010

The LA Business Journal carries a report today on the Academic Senate’s negative report on the Anderson plan for self sufficiency. (See earlier post on this topic.) Dean Olian characterizes the report as “misinterpretations.” The report suggested a more detailed review was needed, which would delay the plan. On the other hand, Senate chair Ann Kargozian said the Senate ultimately “isn’t closed” to self sufficiency. One has a sense that underneath the debate, the Anderson plan is seen (feared?) by some as quasi-privatization that could spread to other schools or the larger UC system. Some excerpts below: UCLA Business School…

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miscellaneous | UCLA

UCLA History: Overflight
Byadmin November 21, 2010

The Goodyear blimp has been a familiar sight over UCLA for many years. How many? This photo – from the UCLA digital archives – was taken in 1936.

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pension | pensions | politics | UC

Straws in the Wind on External Pension Agitation
Byadmin November 20, 2010

From time to time, I post a reminder that the pension reform movement could lead to a state ballot initiative that could override UC’s apparent move to a two-tier plan modeled on Option C. Here are two recent illustrations. Sanders proposes no pensions for new city hires: New employees would get 401(k) accounts; current workers not affected (excerpt) By Craig Gustafson November 19, 2010, San Diego Union-Tribune Mayor Jerry Sanders has proposed eliminating pensions for new non-public safety hires and giving them 401(k) accounts instead… Sanders said Friday he’ll gather signatures to put a measure before city voters that would…

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politics | tuition | UC Regents | Yudof

A Misleading Headline: Darrell Steinberg Blasts UC and CSU Fee Increases
Byadmin November 20, 2010

Today’s Sacramento Bee Capitol Alert blog carries the headline “Darrell Steinberg blasts UC and CSU fee increases.” It goes on to describe a letter sent by California Senate President Darrell Steinberg addressed to Regents Chair Gould, UC President Yudof, and their counterparts at CSU. Here is an excerpt from the text of the Capitol Alert blog: Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, has written to state university chiefs to object to new fee increases after legislators restored and boosted state funding this year to the embattled systems. During tough budget negotiations, Steinberg said in a letter Thursday, “we provided…

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pension | pensions | politics | UC Regents | uc retirement

A Little Help From Our Friends at Stanford
Byadmin November 19, 2010

It seems likely that when the Regents meet for their special session in December, they will ultimately approve President Yudof’s recommendations on pensions and retiree health. If you listen to the Regents session of the last two days (see the earlier postings on this blog), the presentation of those recommendations went off with little debate. Furthermore, it seems unlikely that Jerry Brown, when he becomes governor, or the legislature would override UC or put something on the ballot that would sweep UC into some statewide pension reform plan. However, there is ongoing agitation in the state about the public pension…

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politics | UC | UCLA

UCLA and UC Well Represented on New Redistricting Commission
Byadmin November 19, 2010

In 2008, voters approved taking redistricting legislative seats after the 2010 Census away from the legislature and gave the job to a citizens redistricting commission. In the recent election, they rejected abolishing the commission and gave it the additional task of redistricting congressional seats. Eight commissioners have so far been selected through a complicated process. UCLA and UC are well represented, as the report below from the Rose Institute at Claremont indicates. First 8 CA Commissioners are a Well-Educated Group The first 8 people chosen for California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission are a well-educated group. All 8 hold both a bachelor…

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News

If They Build It (With Federally Subsidized Bonds), Someone Will Come

Another Take – This One from Insider Higher Ed – on Pushback on Anderson’s Self-Sufficiency Plan

Guest Op Ed: The UCRP Train Wreck

Show Me the Money: Public Attitudes Toward Campus Programs After Tuition Hikes

End of the Line for Anderson Self Sufficiency?

UCLA History: Overflight

Straws in the Wind on External Pension Agitation

A Misleading Headline: Darrell Steinberg Blasts UC and CSU Fee Increases

A Little Help From Our Friends at Stanford

UCLA and UC Well Represented on New Redistricting Commission

UC Faculty Associations

Higher Ed Policy

Labor and Advocacy

UC Faculty Associations

Higher Ed Policy

Labor and Advocacy

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