Though Gov. Gray Davis proposed to chop university outreach
funding in half earlier this year, University of California
officials are optimistic the final cuts will not be that
painful.
Nearly every university program faces cuts because of the
state’s budget woes, but no program faces as large of a cut
as outreach.
University officials fear the outreach initiative will be unable
to succeed if these cuts are approved, leaving some disadvantaged
students out in the cold.
“It’s cutting these programs to where they have
almost no chance of success,” said Dexter Ligot-Gordon, UC
student regent.
Outreach refers to a variety of programs by which the UC goes to
help K-12 schools in disadvantaged areas of the state.
The program is intended to help the K-12 schools and show
students in disadvantaged circumstances that a UC education is
available to them.
When Davis proposed his budget in January, he allocated
$23,365,000 for outreach. It received over $40 million in each of
the past four years.
But Davis’ proposal is not the law of the land; a
finalized budget is months away and will need approval from the
state legislature, which gives UC officials time and hope that the
cuts can be softened during the budget-negotiating process.
Larry Hershman, UC vice president of budget, told the UC Board
of Regents he does not expect Davis’ proposed 50 percent cut
to be approved.
The Latino caucus ““ a coalition of Latino members of the
state legislature ““ has made restoring outreach funding one
of its priorities, said Drina Collins, press aide for Assemblyman
Manolo Diaz, D-San Jose.
Assembly Budget Chairwoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, and Diaz
““ the two vice-chairs of the Latino caucus ““ both
oppose cuts to UC outreach.
The program has primarily benefited ethnic groups that are
underrepresented in UC admissions: blacks, Latinos and American
Indian.
“Assemblywoman Oropeza will do everything she can to fight
a cut, but she can’t promise anything,” said Ray
Sotero, Oropeza’s press aide.
Ligot-Gordon said the best source for outreach funds to be
restored is the state Assembly.
But the outlook is better in this area than in other parts of
the university’s budget for next year.
“The UC is resigned to believe that all the cuts will go
through except for outreach,” Ligot-Gordon said.
While some legislators have already pledged their support for
outreach, others such as Assembly Higher Education Committee
Chairwoman Carol Liu, D-Pasadena, are undecided.
Her committee heard a presentation this past week on the
university’s efforts by Winston Doby, UC vice president of
outreach.
They will not make any decision on budget cuts until after the
governor’s May revise, according to committee press aide
Bruce Hamlet.
In the May revise, Davis provides updated estimates of the
state’s income and changes his January budget proposal
accordingly.
But he will not change his original proposal to cut outreach
unless students can mount political pressure to restore funding,
Ligot-Gordon said.
“The governor has no incentive to change his mind unless
he believes these programs are supported by his
constituents,” Ligot-Gordon said.
If these cuts are upheld, the remaining parts of university
outreach will be unable to function, he said.
Oropeza is concerned that cuts to outreach will reduce the
number of students who can receive a UC education.
“She’s concerned it will reduce opportunities for
many qualified students,” Sotero said.
The diminishing of outreach could reduce diversity throughout
the UC as its main beneficiaries are underrepresented groups.
In turn, such a reduction may be problematic for the system,
which boasts a proud reputation as one of the more diverse
universities in the nation.