News

| |

Bits and Pieces Leaking Out on State Budget Deal

Byuclafaculty

The spin doctors are leaking out bits and pieces about the state budget deal which is to be unveiled officially tomorrow. (Unveiled is not the same as enacted.) You can find highlights of this leaking – including a really, really profound quote by yours truly – in a Sacramento Bee story at http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/05/3080001/schwarzenegger-lawmakers-claim.html There will be a suspension of a previously-enacted, but not yet in effect, business tax break. There will be an assumption of more federal revenue. (Yes, I know that an assumption is not the same as actual cash, but that is what the leak says.) There will…

|

Gimme Five! Just When the Focus is on 3-Year Undergrad Degrees, Some Like 5

Byuclafaculty

The Daily Bruin has an article today with students who are in the fifth year pointing to advantages. However, the UCOF report has led to discussion of expedited 3-year degrees, perhaps with online instruction. Excerpt: For James Aboagye and Rosa Magana, this summer was one of traveling, adventure and serious decision-making. The students got the opportunity to study in Ghana together for two months because they both decided to remain at UCLA for a fifth year. They are part of a large number of fifth-years who take an extra year not only to finish up classes but also to take…

|

California Supreme Court Hands Down the Law: State Furloughs & 2009 Line-Item Vetoes Upheld

Byuclafaculty

Like Moses, the California Supreme Court has just handed down the law. And it says that the governor’s furloughs and line-item vetoes of 2009 were valid. As noted in prior posts, UC furloughs were imposed by the Regents, not the governor, and were not an issue in the cases that wound up at the state Supreme Court. However, had the Court ruled against the governor, it would have possibly raised a back pay liability for affected state workers. If state workers received back pay, there would be pressure on UC to do the same. That now will not happen. The…

| |

No Bananas: Rationing of Community College Courses

Byuclafaculty

UC and UCLA have boasted of the degree to which their undergrads are transfer students from community colleges. Such transfers reduce tuition costs to students and increase undergrad capacity at UC. However, due to budget cuts, community colleges are effectively rationing entry – not to their campuses, but to courses needed to transfer. See the LA Times article below: Community college class wait lists throw a wrench into students’ plans: Enrollment in California’s colleges has surged, but budget cuts leave many students unable to get the courses they need, meaning it’ll take them longer to earn a degree and join…

| |

More on Chez UC

Byuclafaculty

UC weighs what to do with abandoned president’s mansion: Luxurious 13,200-square-foot Blake House near Berkeley has been deteriorating for years. Officials are considering alternatives to avoid $2 million for basic maintenance, $10 million for a full renovation (excerpts) By Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2010 Blake House is a lonely, empty place these days. The Mediterranean-style mansion near Berkeley that is intended to be the official residence of the University of California president has not been occupied since 2008. Apart from three UC Berkeley social events this year, its grand entertainment rooms are chilly and silent, with most…

|

UCLA Research on Cruise Uncontrol

Byuclafaculty

Mal de debarquement, marked by a constant swaying sensation, can follow a boat or plane trip: Research at UCLA seeks answers (excerpts) Sonja Bjelland, Los Angeles Times, October 3, 2010 Amanda Coronado wakes up every morning wondering whether she’ll be able to walk out of her bedroom. It’s almost impossible on a bad day. The world is moving too much for her to keep her balance. “I can’t just go for a run,” she said. “I can hardly find my feet.” During the first week of August, Coronado took a cruise along the Mexican coast. Since stepping off the ship,…

| |

UCLA Town Hall on Post-Employment Benefits: October 14

Byuclafaculty

There will be a UCLA Faculty/Emeriti Town Hall on Post-Employment Benefits (PEB): Thursday, October 14, 2010,10:00 a.m. to noon, Royce Hall Auditorium. Some concerns have been expressed about a controlled agenda. It is important that the dissenting report to the PEB Task Force be adequately expressed along with the views of UCFW (which supports the dissenting report). Yesterday, the University Emeriti and Pre-Retirement Relations Committee passed a resolution endorsing the UCFW position. If you attend, look to see that there is full discussion. Attempts to control (censor) messages or protect the audience from alternative views are counterproductive.

|

UC Gets Good PR on Enrollment of Pell Grant/Low-Income Students

Byuclafaculty

UC boosts ranks of low-income students: Officials cite financial aid, with a record high 39% of undergraduates getting federal Pell grants (excerpt) By Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times, October 2, 2010 The University of California, sensitive to criticism about student fee hikes, reported Friday that more low-income undergraduates than ever are enrolling at its campuses and said financial aid is helping them to stay. An estimated 70,000 UC undergraduates are receiving federal Pell grants, which typically are awarded to students with family incomes below $50,000. According to the report, that is the largest number in UC history and represents 39%…

He Said, She Said: Another Gubernatorial Debate Today

Byuclafaculty

For those who did not satisfy their debate hunger last week, there will be another gubernatorial debate today (Saturday, Oct. 2) on Channel 34 Univision, 4 PM. This one will be bilingual. Given the week’s housekeeper-gate events (see lower picture), there will surely be questions on immigration. Whether there will be much on higher ed literally remains to be seen. UPDATE: You can see major excerpts from the debate at http://univision34.univision.com/destino2010/gubernatorial-debate/gubernatorial-debate-videos/ Since it is not clear how long those excerpts will remain posted, here are links to audio (video with a still picture): Brown-Whitman Univision debate 10-2-10: Part 1 (Latino…

|

Fast Online Degrees

Byuclafaculty

One of the issues raised by the recent review of the University Committee on the Future is the possibility of three-year undergraduate degrees. Efficiency through online courses is another topic that has been raised. Some faculty are concerned that such accelerated degrees would leave students missing something that they might gain through the more traditional four-year approach. In a 1971 radio broadcast, commentator Jean Shepherd seems to have arrived at a substitute for whatever might be missing. A quick click where indicated below suggests the alternative. A modest proposal.