By Noah Grand and Rachel
Makabi
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
ngrand@media.ucla.edu
rmakabi@media.ucla.edu
For a long time, it seemed like the hits just kept coming for
UCLA.
The recent downturn in the state economy left state allocations
to UCLA on shaky grounds. Shortly afterwards, but unrelated to
that, UCLA’s number-two man, Executive Vice Chancellor Rory
Hume, announced his decision to leave UCLA for another position as
vice chancellor and president of a university in Australia.
But incoming EVC Daniel Neuman will hopefully navigate the
university through the difficult financial times ahead ““ a
challenging responsibility, but one his colleagues say he will be
able to handle.
“We have worked closely with Dean Neuman ever since he has
been a part of the UCLA family; he is a well known and highly
respected academic leader,” said Vice Chancellor of Budget
and Finance Steve Olsen. “He is going to get up to speed very
quickly on what the major issues are.”
One of the biggest issues Neuman will have to deal with is the
state budget, which Olsen refers to as “the 800 pound gorilla
hanging on our back.”
Neuman may not be able to conquer the gorilla any time soon, but
he can tame it.
Preparing for reductions in state funds is the main budget issue
Neuman will have to deal with, Olsen said.
During the economic boom of the late nineties, the UC enjoyed
strong financial benefits from the state, including the
implementation of a Partnership Agreement with the governor. Under
the Partnership, the UC would receive an annual five percent
increase in state funding, with one percent going toward core costs
and four percent toward salary increases.
But as the state’s fiscal situation began to deteriorate,
Gov. Gray Davis revised his plan, reducing the promised five
percent to two percent.
The reduction in funds of the Partnership coupled with the bleak
state budget outlook left many officials anticipating budget cuts
to the UC.
The cuts may come at a time when the UC must also deal with
tidal wave two ““ the expected influx of 60,000 students to
the UC over the next 10 years. UCLA is expected to take in about
4,000.
But his colleagues say they are confident of Neuman’s
abilities to tackle the budget problems.
“He is going to come in with some ideas, it’s not
like he’s a stranger to the campus,” said Assistant
Vice Chancellor of Academic Planning and Budget Glyn Davies.
As EVC, Neuman will have to make the primary decisions for
campus enrollment growth.
Even though he cannot decide on system-wide issues, like
increasing student fees to make up for other losses in revenue,
Neuman will be primarily responsible for deciding how budget cuts
will be allocated at UCLA, Olsen said.
Though Neuman is entering the office at a difficult period, the
office of EVC is not a stranger to change ““ Neuman will be
the fourth EVC since 1991.
“This office has, over the last seven to eight years, had
a number of changes at the EVC level,” Davies said.