News

  • The Rogers Mystery Solved

    Byadmin

    Yesterday, I posted the audio of the Regents Committee on Investments and noted the (phone) presence of someone referred to as Gary (and sometimes Gerry) who pushed for an examination of why the Regents’ endowment funds underperformed those of other major universities. http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2013/02/listen-to-uc.html Bill Jacobs of UC-SB filled me in on the identity of Gary/Gerry.  He is an advisor to the committee, not a Regent.  However, the odd thing is that the committee seemed unwilling to take his advice and seemed annoyed at even hearing it. Isn’t the purpose of an advisor to give, you know, advice? Nonetheless, despite the…

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    I-405 55 Hour Lane Reduction (Northbound)

    Byadmin

    Beginning Friday night, March 1, 2013, the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Project will reduce the northbound I-405 from five lanes to two between Montana Avenue and the Getty Center Dr off-ramp in West Los Angeles. On-ramps within the 2.4-mile reduction area will also be closed during the 55-hour weekend event.  Motorists are advised to anticipate delays. There will be several late-night full closures of the northbound lanes.  The southbound I-405 will remain open and northbound Sepulveda Blvd. will remain fully operational with two lanes throughout the reduction. Westbound Wilshire Blvd. to northbound Sepulveda Blvd. may be used as an alternative route to…

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    Listen to UC-Regents Committee on Investments 2-26-2013

    Byadmin

    The Regents Committee on Investments met earlier today, in part by phone conference call.  Note our earlier post today which contains links to the agenda. A link to the audio of this meeting is below.  It is unclear whether the Regents plan to post the audio or video of this meeting.  Unlike the January meeting, I did not find audio or video archived on the web after this meeting.  So I have provided a link to a recording of the meeting below. Some highlights.  There was a dispute, not always in entirely friendly terms, between one Regent (“Gary” or sometimes…

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    And the Oscar comes from…

    Byadmin

    A UCLA student walked the same stage as dozens of big-name celebrities Sunday night at the 85th annual Academy Awards. Tatenda Mbudzi was one of six students from across the country who delivered Oscar statuettes to presenters during the show after winning the “Oscar Experience College Search” contest. As part of the contest, the 25-year-old film student submitted a video explaining how he would contribute to the future of movies… Full story at http://centurycity.patch.com/articles/ucla-student-makes-oscars-appearance

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    And here’s something you probably didn’t know…

    Byadmin

    The Regents are meeting today.  Not all of them.  However, the Committee on Investments is meeting at 1:30 pm. On its agenda is possible changed guidance for investment of the UC pension plan portfolio.  My impression is that there has not been much Academic Senate involvement in the process of coming up with recommendations, although we have some well-known financial experts on the faculty.  You can find the Committee’s agenda and background documents at: http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/feb13/invest.pdf and particularly http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/feb13/i2.pdf http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/feb13/i2attach2.pdf http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/feb13/i2attach1.pdf Yours truly particularly liked the last link just above which says the new investment policy is slated to go into…

  • Debt Roll

    Byadmin

    Slow seat sales have prompted UC Berkeley to launch a fresh marketing campaign and look for other revenue in an effort to keep pace with the $18 million a year in debt it will soon owe for the Memorial Stadium makeover and athletic center construction. The redone stadium opened last season, but only about 1,900 of the 2,900 premium club seats – lifetime spots that cost anywhere from $40,000 to $225,000 each – have been sold. And not everyone who bought a seat has fully paid up. That has left UC some $121 million short on the $474 million project. Now, Cal’s…

  • A Reminder: Don’t Do It

    Byadmin

    The UCLA email spammers are back with messages telling you to “re-validate” your email: UCLA.edu Mail Service HelpDeskUCLA.edu Mail Service messaging center wish to inform all UCLA.edu Email Users. We are upgrading our Webmail clients. Your email account will be upgrade to a new enhanced webmail interface provided by UCLA.edu Mail Service.UCLA.edu Mail Service will discontinue the use of our current UCLA.edu Email System. You are therefore required to re-validate your mailbox.To re-validate your mailbox please click the link below: [link you absolutely should not click] Note that the message doesn’t come from UCLA but from “marceloc[at]def.ufla.br.”  It contains British…

  • Executive Pay in Higher Ed

    Byadmin

    Inside Higher Ed today has a summary of a 2013 survey of median executive and administrative pay in higher education.  It includes central and campus administrators by title as well as deans and certain support occupations. The survey was conducted by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR).  A more detailed description of the survey is available from the organization at: http://www.cupahr.org/surveys/files/salary2013/AHE13-Executive-Summary.pdf Many – not all – UC campuses were included, as was UCOP, and a complete listing of the institutions can be found at the link above.  Inside Higher Ed, however, has a handier summary table:…

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    You never know what the legislature might do

    Byadmin

    Since the Republicans like any tax cut and the Democrats might go for the one described below, it could conceivably happen.  What Gov. Brown might do if such a bill reached his desk is another matter. An Inland Empire assemblyman wants to shave up to 9 percent off the cost of every college textbook sold in the state. On Wednesday, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Hesperia, announced the introduction of Assembly Bill 479, which would exempt college textbooks sold in California from the state’s sales tax. Only three in 10 college students in the Golden State purchase their college textbooks, according to his…

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    Pressure Mounts to Lift Cap on UC Student Health Insurance

    Byadmin

    Rep. Nancy Pelosi and nine other members of Congress are urging the University of California to lift its caps on student health insurance – limits that for the rest of the country are illegal under the Affordable Care Act and that jeopardize students with catastrophic medical problems. “It is troubling that the health plan of one of the world’s most prestigious university systems would not adopt this industry standard,” the representatives wrote UC President Mark Yudof last week. “UC students and student workers should have access to the same health-care protections that millions of other students, student workers and Americans already enjoy,” said the letter from California’s Democratic…