UC

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UC Executive Pension Issue Discussed on Local Radio Program

Byuclafaculty

KPCC’s Patt Morrison interviewed Nanette Asimov of the San Francisco Chronicle who broke the story on the demand by high-paid UC executives for lifting the cap on their pensions. One tidbit that comes out is that – so far at least – no one has located a Regents vote in 1999 that said the pension cap would go up if the IRS approved. (The IRS did approve several years later.) Apparently, a committee of the Regents endorsed the idea back then, but if there was no vote of the full body, it is difficult to see how a legal commitment…

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More Newspaper Editorial Comment on High-Paid UC Execs’ Demand for Lifting Pension Cap: This One Says “Outrageous”

Byuclafaculty

Are they paying attention? UC execs’ threatened lawsuit over pensions misses the point (excerpt) Jan.3, 2011, Stockton Record Three dozen of the University of California’s highest-paid executives are threatening to sue unless their pensions are substantially raised. Incredible. Perhaps these men and women, all of whom make more than $245,000 a year, are so busy doing the public’s good works that they missed that: » The state is facing a $28 billion budget deficit. » Student tuition at UC increased 32 percent last fall and will jump an additional 8 percent next fall because of sagging state support. » The…

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A Message from Faculty Association Chair Dwight Read on Faculty Pay

Byuclafaculty

Annual Faculty Equity Adjustment The Faculty Association proposes a new annual Faculty Equity Adjustment to Salary that could incorporate a number of widely-used indicators, such as the mid-point salary point between UC’s Comparison-8 Universities, the level of the regional California Consumer Price Index (CPI), or the increased employee cost of the combined annual benefit increases (such as retirement and health). The point is that there should be an Annual Faculty Equity Adjustment. We realize that until the California economy recovers and the unending budget crisis is resolved, state funds will not be the source for funding the proposed Annual Faculty…

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Sacramento Bee Article Predicts a Not-So-Cheery Budget Outlook for Higher Ed

Byuclafaculty

A Christmas present from the UCLA Faculty Association blog. Scroll down to the large print. What budget cuts, taxes and gimmicks might Jerry Brown propose? (excerpts) Dec. 25, 2010, Sacramento Bee, Kevin Yamamura Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued grim budgets the last two years, but in many ways he had it easier than the challenge facing Gov.-elect Jerry Brown in 2011. In proposing ways to close the budget gap, Schwarzenegger relied on ideas few expected to come to pass, like eliminating CalWORKs and getting $7 billion from the federal government. But Brown has already assailed budget gimmicks, such as counting on…

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LA Times Op Ed Says No Pay, No Say to Legislature

Byuclafaculty

Want more say over UC? Pay up (excerpts) The lawmakers outraged over tuition hikes are partly responsible for them by presiding over a sustained decline in public support for higher education. By Gary Fethke and Andrew Policano December 22, 2010, LA Times As The Times notes in its Dec. 17 editorial, California legislators — who increased state funding to the University of California system this year in exchange for greater control over finances — are incredulous over the university’s recent tuition increases. Their outrage is ill-informed. While they complain about rising costs, they fail to recognize that what has changed…

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New Funding Model for UC: Details Uncertain

Byuclafaculty

Word has been circulating on campus of a new systemwide funding plan for all the campuses coming out of Oakland and President Yudof. It is referred to as a “revenue allocation model” for the campuses, whereby each campus will retain its own revenues. A “tax” will be imposed on each campus to support the central UCOP operation. The new model is slated to go into effect as a pilot program in 2011-12, with full implementation in 2012-13. Exactly what is entailed in this model is not clear, nor are its implications for campus operation or the faculty. Since we are…

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Chair of UCLA Faculty Assn. Comments on LA Times Article Concerning Legislative Challenges to UC Autonomy

Byuclafaculty

Below is a note from Chair Dwight Read followed by excerpts from the LA Times article to which he is responding. A link to the full article is also provided. A Note from the Chair of the UCLA Faculty Association Professor Dwight Read Today, Dec. 16, the LA Times ran an article, “State Wants Say in UC, CSU Budgets,” about a constitutional amendment that would strip the University of California of its autonomy. To provide historical context, the excerpt below explains how UC gained its autonomy, why the citizens of California voted for it in 1879, and why it is…

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Court Upholds Prop 209 Ban on Affirmative Action in University Admissions

Byuclafaculty

Federal judge upholds Calif affirmative action ban Dec. 8, 2010, Fresno Bee, Terence Chea – Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit challenging California’s voter-approved ban on affirmative action in public university admissions. U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Conti on Wednesday ruled against the challenge to Proposition 209, which banned the consideration of race and ethnicity in public education, employment and contracting… Full article at http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/12/08/2190629/federal-judge-upholds-calif-affirmative.html

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The Incredible Shrinking University

Byuclafaculty

Andy Sabl pointed me to a lengthy article on the fate of UC entitled “Mission Shrinking.” An excerpt with a link to the full article is below. You can get the tone from the brief excerpt. Mission Shrinking, Diana Jean Schemo, Dec. 7, 2010 In the galaxy of public higher education, the University of California system once shined as a kind of North Star. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Golden State’s premier institutions, the University of California at Los Angeles and at Berkeley, boasted some of the strongest research and teaching faculties in the world. A UC education was…

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Yee of Little Faith (In UC & CSU Foundations)

Byuclafaculty

The latest from State Senator Leland Yee, the only state senator who puts Ph.D. at the top of his official webpage. From Capitol Alert, 12/3/10 Senator to revive his higher ed foundation “transparency” bill (excerpt) It ended up twice vetoed. But it was a bill that gained traction after students demanded to know how much Sarah Palin was paid to speak at a California State University campus fundraiser this year. Today Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, announced that when the state Senate reconvenes Monday he plans to re-introduce a bill that would force more disclosure of information from private foundations…