Category: Napolitano

Calif. Higher Ed. Leaders to Trump: Keep DACA

The presidents of California’s three higher education systems issued a joint letter on Tuesday calling on the President-elect Trump to maintain Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The program, which gives temporary legal status and work permits to some undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children, rests on an executive order by President Obama. During the election campaign Trump suggested he would repeal DACA among other anti-immigrant actions.

According to the letter signed by Janet Napolitano, Timothy White, and Eloy Ortiz Oakley:

“DACA is rooted in the fundamental premise that no one should be punished for the actions of others. In order to be eligible for DACA, an individual must have been brought to this country as a minor, stayed out of trouble, and continued to pursue an education. These sons and daughters of undocumented immigrants are as American as any other child across the nation, in all but the letter of the law….

There will be time for a vigorous debate and dialogue around immigration reform in the days ahead, and we look forward to engaging with you in a healthy and constructive conversation on this important issue. But now, as you continue to build your new Administration and appoint members of your Cabinet, on behalf of these Dreamers, we implore you to let them know they are valued members of our communities and that they will be allowed to continue to pursue the American dream.

You can download a copy of the letter here.

This request from the system executives comes as faculty members across each system are circulating their own letters and petitions. Immediately after Trump’s election victory hundreds of UCLA faculty added their names to a letter condemning Trump’s campaign rhetoric. A second letter, also signed by large numbers of UCLA faculty, called for establishing the university as a sanctuary for undocumented students who might face deportation under Trump.

On November 26, about two dozen UCLA faculty sent a letter to Janet Napolitano lauding the UC Regents’ statement in support of immigrant students and employees, and spelling out a number of specific policy recommendations.

As you know, students throughout the University system are deeply afraid of the variety of actions that the incoming Trump administration might take regarding immigration law and policy as well as the effects that President-elect Trump’s campaign and rhetoric have had on the cultural atmosphere more generally….

We recognize that these will be challenging times for the University and all its members. But we are convinced that the University can best weather them by insisting upon its long-standing ideals as a place where students, staff, and faculty can all come together to open inquiry. If the University does not ensure this to all of its members, it will have failed in one of its fundamental duties.

Among the policy recommendations are increased resources to the UC Undocumented Legal Services Center, and programs for undocumented students; committing the University to providing legal services for students, staff, and their families who are affected by new policies; commit to continued financial support for undocumented students, and insulate the university generally from immigration enforcement.

A copy of that letter is here.

Pension Changes Proposed: lower benefits, little savings, weaker UCRS

choice a bThe University of California will soon have a third pension tier if the Regents approve a plan put forth by the Retirement Options Task Force on Friday. UC President Janet Napolitano charged the Task Force, which included management and Academic Senate representatives, with finding a way to implement her agreement with Gov. Brown to set a cap on pension benefits in exchange for state funds to support the pension system.

Over the weekend, as faculty activists read the task force report and a second report produced by Senate leaders (Guide to reviewing the recommendations of the Retirement Options Task Force) it has become clear that the proposed options will significantly decrease pension benefits for new hires, will not save very much money, and may weaken the viability of existing pension tiers in the UC Retirement System (UCRS).

To get up to speed on this issue, read the following posts:

The proposed new pension tier would offer new hires after July 1, 2016 two options, so currently faculty are not directly impacted. Plan A is a defined benefit (DB) plan like the existing tiers but with contributions based on income under $117,000. Income over the cap will count toward a supplemental defined contribution (DC) plan. Plan B does away with the traditional pension arrangement and offers a DC plan only. Employees choosing Plan B could be convert into the Plan A system after 5 years.

According to independent faculty analysis, both plans represent a significant cut in benefits for new hires, save relatively little money for the UC budget, and do little to address the underfunded pension liability. Despite the sacrifice by UC employees, the State of California will not commit to paying its share of pension costs. There are many more financial details, wherein resides the devil as they say. The upshot for current faculty is that the financial arrangements of the new plans pose a significant risk to the financial health of the retirement benefits of currently employed faculty, according to those who have carefully read the proposal.

The UC Office of the President (UCOP) has generously given faculty leaders until February 15 to respond to the complex recommendations, and the Senate in turn has asked for faculty comment by February 5. Under these circumstances, the Academic Senate should reject the plan or at least demand more time for review.

UC employee representatives, including the Faculty Associations, have an online petition calling on the Regents to reject the proposals. Please consider adding your name!

Sign the Petition: http://www.protectmypension.org/

Contemplating Tuition, Motherhood, and Apple Pie

Tuition is being studied up in Oakland by the UC prez, according to yesterday’s Daily Bruin:

…“I want tuition to be as low as possible, and I want it to be as predictable as possible,” Napolitano said at a UC Board of Regents meeting in November.  

In a recent Google Hangout with students from various UC campuses, students asked Napolitano to talk about her current work in reforming the UC’s tuition policy.  They also asked Napolitano how she plans to include student ideas in the reorganization of the tuition plan. Napolitano did not specify how student input would be considered, but maintained that it was important to the eventual decision.

(UC spokesperson Debra Klein said that) “The president believes strongly that, especially at a public university, tuition must be affordable for all students and their families.”  …

Full story at http://dailybruin.com/2014/02/06/napolitano-works-on-revising-uc-tuition-policy/

The problem is simple to state.  Within the state budget, the UC budget is the least protected.  You can’t cut debt service.  K-14 schools are insulated by Prop 98.  The prisons are under quasi-federal jurisdiction due to overcrowding.  Various social welfare programs are either somewhat constrained by federal rules or the legislature just doesn’t like to cut them.  And the legislature knows that UC (and CSU) can pull the tuition lever.  Legislators don’t have to touch the lever and can then blame the Regents.  All the budget projections you see are based on having no economic downturn into the indefinite future.  But someday there will be another.  And, as numerous observers have pointed out, the state’s tax receipts are especially vulnerable due to heavy reliance on the progressive income tax and its dependence on the ups and downs of the incomes and capital gains of the top taxpayers. 

This pie is pretty much baked. 

Napolitano Responds to UCLA’s Moreno Report

Moreno
UC President Napolitano issued a response to the (former California Supreme Court Justice Carlos) “Moreno Report” of Oct. 2013, formally titled “Independent Investigative Report on Acts of Bias and Discrimination Involving Faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles.”  It includes directives to all campus chancellors:
1) Every campus should designate an official to serve as its lead discrimination officer. This official is responsible for ensuring that an appropriate response is made to all reports of perceived acts of discrimination, bias, and harassment involving faculty, students, and staff from all parts of the campus.
* The discrimination officer will designate the individuals responsible for carrying out such activities as advising complainants, accepting complaints, carrying out investigations, recommending informal resolutions, and referring cases to the Academic Senate or administrators as appropriate.
* The Chancellor should ensure that he/she regularly meets with and reviews the work of the lead discrimination officer.
2) Every campus should have an official who serves as an ombudsperson, responsible on his or her own or through other staff for providing confidential advice about perceived acts of discrimination, bias, and harassment involving faculty, students, and staff from all parts of the campus. The ombudsperson will remain entirely independent from the lead discrimination officer and will be located separately from the lead discrimination officer. He or she may carry out some investigations and seek informal resolutions of complaints, as well as contributing data to the annual report.
3) Every campus should have a “one-stop shop” website on policies, procedures, and personnel covering discrimination, bias, harassment, as well as diversity. The site will be able to accept complaints filed electronically, including anonymous complaints; provide information for an annual report of complaints and their resolution; and offer education and training, as well as the reporting responsibilities of various administrators and staff.
4) The Chancellor of every campus should continue to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and respect for all persons and deplore any acts of discrimination, bias, and harassment. Messages on these topics should be widely distributed throughout the campus, including on the website described above.
5) Every campus should compile an annual report that includes the number and types of formal and informal complaints about perceived acts of discrimination, bias, and harassment, including confidential complaints, how they were investigated, the findings, and the consequences should a complaint have been found to have merit.
Her full statement is at http://www.ucop.edu/moreno-report/index.html
 
The Moreno report is at http://www.ucop.edu/moreno-report/external-review-team-report-10-15-13.pdf

She Sure Didn’t Bumble Her Meeting with the Bee

UC prez Napolitano had a meeting with the editorial board of the Sacramento Bee recently and, evidently, said the right things: 

Editorial: Janet Napolitano is showing a clear-eyed view of UC mission

By the Editorial Board

Published: Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014 
UC President Janet Napolitano has her priorities for the university system in correct alignment; the question will be in the execution.  In a visit to The Sacramento Bee’s editorial board on Wednesday, Napolitano showed she is a quick study…

Importantly, Napolitano was clear-eyed on the basic point that UC was “designed to build California,” and that its role in educating the children of California “has to be one of our primary missions.” 

“We teach for California,” she said. “We research for the world.” …

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/16/6075778/editorial-janet-napolitano-is.html?storylink=lingospot_related_articles#storylink=cpy

Full eidtorial at: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/16/6075778/editorial-janet-napolitano-is.html

And, also from the Bee, there is this article which pretty much echoes the official UC approach of saying nice things about the governor but asking for more:
Janet Napolitano on Wednesday called Gov. Jerry Brown’s recent budget outline a “good starting point” for higher education funding in California. Meeting with The Sacramento Bee’s editorial board, Napolitano did not explicitly call for more funds, but said: “We’ll have a discussion about what else can the university do and what other needs that we have.”…
Full story at http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/15/6076136/napolitano-sees-browns-budget.html
We couldn’t bug the room where she met the Bee’s editors but it sounds like a total lovefest:
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/15/6076136/napolitano-sees-browns-budget.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/15/6076136/napolitano-sees-browns-budget.html#storylink=cpy

Q&A

The Contra Costa Times ran an interview with UC president Napolitano that was published yesterday.  But apparently the interview occurred in late 2013.  Here are the questions:

Q: One of your first proposals was to make tuition rates more predictable. What might that look like?

Q: At the last UC regents meeting, Gov. Jerry Brown said UC had slim chances of securing additional state funding, with all of the competing needs in Sacramento. What did you make of that?

Q: Were you surprised by the low graduation rates for some student-athletes at Cal? (UC Berkeley’s football team had the lowest graduation rate of any major program in the NCAA.) 

Q: One of your initiatives is to make it simpler for community college students to transfer to UC. What are your impressions of that system?

Q: I’ve read that you were surprised by the long-standing tension between UC and some labor groups… What have you done to change that?   

Q: You’ve been back to Washington. What points are you trying to press with people there in terms of higher education policy or funding? 

Q: Did you expect you would have protesters at your public appearances?

The answers can be found in http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_24850169/napolitano-uc-chief-eyes-tuition-sports-transfer-students   

What Did She Say?

An earlier post on this blog noted that UC President Janet Napolitano would be interviewed on “Meet the Press.”  It appeared from the advance description that she would be commenting (negatively) on a possible pardon for NSA leaker Edward Snowden.  In fact, the interview turned out to go beyond Snowden.  She was asked about her leading of the official US delegation to the Winter Olympics in Russia and security issues that were raised by a recent terrorist bombing there.  She was also asked about her former opposition to gay marriage as governor of Arizona.  (She now favors it.)  And she was asked about a possible presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton in 2016.  In fact, the only topic she wasn’t asked to discuss was UC or higher ed.  (She did note that she would be representing UC as well as the US at the Olympics.)

Note: We wondered in our earlier posting whether it was time for the UC prez to cut the cord to DC.  Some discussion of non-traditional political university presidents – including Napolitano – can be found in Politico at http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/university-presidents-politicians-101738.html

Our prior post was at http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2014/01/dont-beg-her-pardon.html

You can hear an audio of the TV interview at: 

 

Don’t Beg Her Pardon

UC Prez Janet Napolitano still seems to be carrying out a role for her former employer, the Obama administration. [Is it time to cut the cord?] As an earlier post noted, she is representing the administration at the Winter Olympics in Russia.  See:

http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2013/12/napolitanos-mission-to-russia.html

Now, after the New York Times called for some kind of pardon or clemency for NSA leaker Edward Snowden – currently in exile in Moscow – she is commenting negatively on the Times‘ suggestion.  From The Hill:

Former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Friday that she “would not put clemency on the table” for NSA leaker Edward Snowden. “I think Snowden has exacted quite a bit of damage and did it in a way that violated the law,” Napolitano said in an interview airing on “Meet the Press” this Sunday.  She said damage from Snowden’s actions will be seen for years to come. Asked if the administration should consider a deal that would allow Snowden to avoid jail time in return for unreleased documents, Napolitano said she couldn’t judge without knowing what information the former defense contractor still had. “But from where I sit today, I would not put clemency on the table at all,” she said…

Full story at http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/194393-napolitano-no-clemency-for-snowden

So maybe her mission to Russia will be to convey the no-pardon message to Snowden.  Thanks to truly secret access to NSA hypercomputers, we are able to preview that dialog in Moscow:

Dividing the $5 Million Pie for Undocumented Students

The Daily Bruin is carrying a story on its website detailing how the $5 million for undocumented students allocated by President Napolitano is to be spent: [excerpt]

…UCLA will receive $848,000 of the total $5 million for undocumented student services and financial aid, the most out of any UC campus, according to the letter. UCLA currently enrolls more than 450 undocumented students, a 65 percent increase from last year. There are about 900 undocumented students in the UC system.  Of the amount allocated to UCLA, $250,000 will provide services for undocumented students and $598,000 will go toward undocumented student financial aid…

Napolitano’s Mission to Russia

Here are your orders.

From the CapitalAlert blog of the Sacramento Bee: President Barack Obama has decided not to attend the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in February, so he’s sending a delegation of athletes and diplomats in his place. Leading the group, the White House announced yesterday, is Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California system, who also led a delegation to the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. She will be joined by former tennis champion Billie Jean King and figure skating gold medalist Brian Boitano, among others.
“I look forward to being in Sochi to support our Olympic athletes and celebrate their accomplishments,” Napolitano said in a statement. “It is an honor to represent our country in the company of individuals who have excelled in life and sport.”

Source:  http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/12/am-alert-289.html

Seems like a very odd assignment for a UC president.  But maybe there is more to it!