News

| |

The Creeping Michigan Model at UCLA

Byuclafaculty

Part of the so-called Michigan Model, sometimes called high tuition/high aid, involves recruitment of out-of-state students who pay full tuition. The article below indicates it is coming slowly to UCLA. UCLA recruits nonresidents: University to actively seek increased enrollment of high-paying international and out-of-state students (excerpt) Devin Kelly, Daily Bruin, 10/1/10 Word-of-mouth drew Meng Cui to UCLA, its basketball legends and reputation of high-level education. Raised in China, schooled in Singapore, the first-year math economics student did all of his own research before applying last fall. “UCLA is famous in China,” Cui said. But the university is no longer banking…

Governor Vetoes Bill Concerning Disclosure of Campus Foundation Information

Byuclafaculty

Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have made UC and CSU campus fundraising foundations more “transparent.” It originated in a controversy over payment to Sarah Palin for speaking at a fundraiser for CSU-Stanislaus. The veto message is below and also at http://dl5.activatedirect.com/fs/distribution:letterFile/yvcee9xanplikz_files/z65dg7ivka5nt3/0/0?&_c=d|yvcee9xanplikz|z65p1zm6c0d0km&_ce=1285940017.3ee23edd36312a2e65a4379f82364fb4 The text of the vetoed bill is at http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0301-0350/sb_330_bill_20100819_enrolled.html

| | |

More on Growing Public Pension Issue In California

Byuclafaculty

As noted in previous posts on this blog, the UC pension funding issue may be difficult to isolate from the more general issue in California, particularly if the Regents don’t have a policy in place when the next governor takes office. Below is an excerpt from a piece reporting on a variety of local ballot initiatives on the pension topic, especially a high-profile San Francisco ballot measure. Pension cost cuts on ballot in eight cities (excerpt) Ed Mendel, calpensions.com, 9/30/10 Proposals to cut public employee pension costs are on the November ballot in at least eight California cities and one…

Interesting Study on Diversity in Higher Ed

Byuclafaculty

The study described in the article abstracted below was based on a data set from Berea College in Kentucky and the authors are duly cautious about generalizing to all of higher ed. However, the results are interesting. Interracial Friendships in College (Abstract) Braz Camargo, São Paulo School of Economics–FGV and University of Western Ontario;Ralph Stinebrickner, Berea College; Todd Stinebrickner, University of Western Ontario and National Bureau of Economic Research Journal of Labor Economics, 28:861–892, October 2010 We use unique longitudinal data to provide direct evidence about interracial friendships at different stages of college and to provide new evidence about some…

| |

Bill Signed by Governor to Ease Path from Community Colleges to UC and CSU

Byuclafaculty

I attended a talk yesterday by Chancellor Block at which he indicated that about 40% of UCLA undergrads are transfers from community colleges. Coincidentally, the governor signed some related legislation. One bill mandates some steps by CSU. Respecting its constitutional autonomy, a second bill urges similar action by UC. The text of the governor’s press release is below: 09/29/2010 GAAS:618:10 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Bills to Guarantee CSU Admission to Community College Graduates To increase access to the California State University (CSU) system, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed SB 1440 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) and AB 2302…

Erosion of the Master Plan? CSU Doctorates

Byuclafaculty

Once upon a time, UC president Clark Kerr gave the Master Plan to Governor Pat Brown which set up a division of labor between the three segments of higher ed. That was then; this is now: CSU to offer doctorate in physical therapy, nursing Sep. 29, 2010, Sacramento Bee Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Tuesday to allow California State University campuses to award a doctoral degree in physical therapy and, at three campuses, a doctorate in nursing practice. Assembly Bills 2382 and 867 are exceptions to the state’s current practice of giving the University of California system exclusive jurisdiction to…

There Was Also the Lt. Governor Debate

Byuclafaculty

Hidden in the news about the Brown-Whitman gubernatorial debate was the fact that there was a Lieutenant Governor debate on KQED radio between San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and incumbent Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado. The Lt. Governor is not a powerful position (understatement!), but whoever holds that office is an ex officio Regent. There was some mention of increases in UC and CSU tuition in the debate. A very brief write-up is at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/29/BA0O1FL47O.DTL But you can listen at Haven’t had enough political debates? As an added bonus, you can hear the senatorial debate, Boxer vs. Fiorina, at http://media.scpr.org/audio/upload/2010/09/29/boxer-fiorina-KPCCdebate.mp3

|

Students: Don’t Get Sick at UC-Berkeley

Byuclafaculty

The previous post on this blog outlined cutbacks in UC-Berkeley athletics. Apparently, for those student athletes who remain and who are covered by the Berkeley health insurance plan, injuries should be avoided. From a Wall St. Journal story on health plans at various universities: Paula Villescaz, a senior at the University of California at Berkeley, says she never looked closely at the Anthem Blue Cross insurance policy she got through her college. The plan has a $400,000 ceiling, but also has some important limitations, as Ms. Villescaz found out recently. The political-science major had always been healthy—until March, when doctors…

| |

UC-Berkeley Chancellor Cuts Back on Athletics

Byuclafaculty

UC-Berkeley’s chancellor announced cutbacks yesterday in the athletics program, which has been subsidized by the campus. In doing so, he followed UC-Davis in a similar move (which has brought controversy). Excerpt from the official press release: Chancellor announces new plan for Cal Athletics’ future 28 September 2010 BERKELEY — University of California, Berkeley, Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau announced today… a comprehensive plan for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics that will result in a broad-based yet sustainable program that continues to support the campus’s commitment to excellence. At the end of this academic year, baseball, men’s and women’s gymnastics, and women’s…

|

Audio of Jerry Brown – Meg Whitman Debate of 9-28-10

Byuclafaculty

The first debate between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman in the 2010 gubernatorial contest was held on Sept. 28. Although video via internet was promised, I found that one feed did not work at all and another was sporadic and often froze. Although public radio stations KCRW and KPCC did carry the audio, local TV stations did not. (I note in that respect that KCET – which now has 4 digital over-the-air channels – did not bother to carry the debate.) Bottom line: Only audio could be recorded. There may be other sources for the audio. But I have posted…