UC

| |

LA Times Editorial Calls for Easing Transfers to UC & CSU

The LA Times editorial refers mainly to transfers from community colleges to CSU but then notes: Another bill, AB 2302, introduced by Assemblyman Paul Fong (D- Cupertino), asks the University of California to study and report back on what it can do to streamline the transfer process for community college students. (Unlike CSU, UC cannot be forced to make such changes via legislative mandate.) As the state’s elite public university, UC must of course maintain a higher standard for admission, and its schools should be given more leeway on setting their own requirements. Still, there are too many disconnects. Students…

|

Post-Doc Union at UC Reports Tentative Contract

The UAW-affiliated union representing post-docs at UC reports reaching a tentative agreement (must be ratified by the members) with the administration. Press release at:http://www.prouaw.org/news/files/Tentative_Agreement_Press_Release20100802.pdf The union’s website describes the contract details elsewhere on the site as: NIH/NRSA (National Institutes of Health – National Research Service Award) pay scale as a minimum wage for all new Post-docs. Phasing in over the next four years the NIH/NRSA step system for all existing Post-docs (and those appointed before June 2011). Post-docs on NIH steps will have their pay increase annually by the percentage that the NIH steps increase and by advancing to the…

| |

More on the Edley Online Plan for UC

Insider Higher Ed has a lengthy story today on Dean Edley’s proposal for an online UC degree program at: http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/news/2010/08/03/california Excerpt: California DreamerAugust 3, 2010 Much of the news surrounding the University of California system has involved whether the network of universities will be able to survive its current budgetary crisis without shrinking in size or quality. In that context, it is no surprise that Christopher Edley Jr.’s plan to use online education to expand the university’s footprint “from Kentucky to Kuala Lumpur” has turned some heads — and churned some stomachs. Edley, dean of the law school at the…

|

Brown Statement on Higher Ed in California

Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown released a plan for education. Most of it deals with K-12. However, there is a section on higher ed reproduced below. It picks up on the prisons vs. higher ed theme that the current governor sounded back in January – although there is no promise of an initiative that the governor outlined at that time. From:http://www.jerrybrown.org/sites/default/files/Education%20Plan.pdf Higher EducationThe California Master Plan was created in 1960. When I was Governor in the 1970s, the Master Plan was working far better to provide college access and success. In recent years, however, the master plan has been undermined, and…

|

Reports to the Regents on Graduate Education

An “Accountability Subreport on Academic and Professional Degree Students” presentation to the Regents on graduate education at UC is available at: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/jul10/j2attach.pdf The presentation contains data on enrollments, time to completion, etc. Conclusions (last slide) are: UC Leads Nationally* Attracting high-quality graduate students, an essential condition to recruit & retain the best faculty* Training high percentage of URM (Underrepresented Minority) students* Training a high percentage of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) doctorates* Training a high percentage of the nation’s Ph.D.s UC continues to strive for improved student qualityUC has not yet met its aspirational goals for:* Diversity* Student Support*…

| |

UC Davis Chancellor cautious regarding online degrees

July 19, 2010UC Davis Chancellor cautious regarding online degrees From The Swarm blog, Sacramento Bee The editorial board met with University of California, Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi this afternoon in a wide-ranging recap of her first year on campus. Last year, she spoke to the board about the challenges of fulfilling the public mission of the university in an era of reduced state funding. “That mission,” she said, “has been compromised by the inability to fund it. … The struggle is to keep quality in place and to keep it affordable.” That challenge remains. On Monday, she handed out a…

|

Law gives fired whistle-blowers right to sue UC

Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, July 17, 2010 University of California employees who believe they have been fired in retaliation for blowing the whistle on improper activities can, for the first time, sue for damages under a new law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor signed the bill into law Thursday over the objections of UC administrators. Until now, UC employees could complain about retaliation only to the university’s own administrative review panel, but could not go to court as other state employees may do. Employees of California State University and the community college system also…

| | |

UCLA Admissions in NY Times

July 15, 2010, NY timesIn California, a University Tries to Enroll Students that Reflect a Diverse StateBy RACHEL GROSS Which college in the United States gets the most applicants? It’s not Harvard or Yale; it’s the University of California, Los Angeles. The urban campus, the most selective in the 10-campus system, received 57,578 freshman applications for fall 2010, though less than a quarter of those got in. Systemwide, a record 100,000 students applied as freshmen this year, according to a new admissions report presented by the university this week. Full article at:http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/in-california-a-university-tries-to-enroll-students-that-reflect-a-diverse-state/?pagemode=print

| |

UC to develop online undergraduate degree program

Published Thursday, Jul. 15, 2010, Sacramento Bee http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/15/2892158/uc-developing-online-undergraduate.html SAN FRANCISCO — University of California regents have agreed to develop an Internet-based undergraduate degree program that will save money and expand access to tuition-paying students. Regent Sherry Lansing told regents at Wednesday’s meeting in San Francisco that the leading-edge online program gives the university system an opportunity to show everyone else how to do it. Regents Chairman Russell Gould says it’s one of the ways UC might thrive in an era of shrinking financial support from the state. An estimated $6 million in private donations is planned so faculty can begin…

|

Dean Edley Presentation on Online Courses to Regents

Dean Christopher Edley of the UC-Berkeley law school made a presentation to the Regents on online courses. Slides available at: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/documents/online_pilot_presentation_regents_0710.pdf The UC press release related to this presentation of 7-13-10 is reproduced below: UC online instruction project proposed The University of California is exploring the use of online undergraduate instruction through a proposed pilot project. Christopher Edley, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law and special adviser to the UC president, will introduce the project to UC Regents for discussion at their meeting tomorrow (July 14) at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus. Read Edley’s presentation. The pilot project will…