The chairs of the UCLA College ““ the largest and most
comprehensive academic unit in the nation ““ have banded
together to express their contention with Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts in an unprecedented
letter sent to the University of California Board of Regents last
week.
Authored by Glen MacDonald, chairman of the geography
department, the letter calls for the regents to reject the
governor’s proposal to raise graduate student fees by 40
percent and for a new contract to be negotiated between the regents
and the state.
The latest contract between the state and the UC, called the
Partnership Agreement, was formed in 1999 but has been historically
underfunded by the state. In 2001-2002, for example, the state
underfunded the agreement by $956 million.
“The new compact that we ask the state and the university
to negotiate is one that would allow the University of California
the freedom to directly implement strategies … in order to
address the consequences of budget cuts of the magnitude we now
face,” the letter states.
The magnitude of the proposed cuts to the graduate programs
prompted 30 chairs of the College to be signatories of the
letter.
“As chairs, we see the day-to-day impact of the cuts on
graduates, undergraduates, staff and infrastructure,”
MacDonald said. “We are the ones who are dealing with
that.”
No chairs declined to sign the letter, though a few were out of
town and unable to respond, MacDonald said.
The proposed 40 percent hike in graduate fees is particularly
worrisome to many because it could harm the UC’s ability to
competitively recruit top graduate students, which could negatively
impact the research and prestige of the university, as well as the
quality of undergraduate education.
“It is very clear that we cannot raise fees arbitrarily on
the graduate students, but there are areas where we can raise fees
that will not effect the democracy of the university,” said
Teofilo Ruiz, chairman of the history department.
“It is very clear that there are places where we can
charge more,” he added.
In a minimal response to the letter, Chancellor Albert Carnesale
said he shares the concerns raised by the faculty and agrees with
the need for flexibility, but he did not say whether he plans to
lobby the regents on behalf of the faculty.
MacDonald expressed concern that no direct response had been
made to the letter from the chancellor, the regents or the UC
president as of Friday.
Hanan Eisenman, a spokesman for the UC Office of the President
said the office supports the sentiments of the department
heads’ letter.
“We concur with the faculty of UCLA, and we will try to
negotiate a new compact with the new administration,”
Eisenman said.
The regents also agree the cuts would be devastating, said
student regent Matt Murray, but said it is ultimately up to the
governor in what agreement he accepts.
As part of the current partnership with the state, the UC agrees
to fulfill its responsibilities under the Master Plan for
Education, and in return, the state agrees to fund the UC.
“The partnership agreement is structured so we will make a
good faith effort to complete certain policy goals, and the state
will make a good faith effort to fund those efforts,”
Eisenman said.
The UC’s commitments under the current plan include
ensuring access to the top 12.5 percent of high school graduates
““ whose number is supposed to grow by about 5,000 each year
““ providing competitive faculty salaries, and offering the
classes students need to graduate in four years or less.
Some of the state’s commitments are to increase funding
for the UC by 4 percent annually to cover enrollment growth and to
fund “special research initiatives, outreach and public
service programs,” according to the UC Office of the
President.
The partnership agreement is currently in limbo, however,
because the state will cut its funding for the UC by $372 million
next year, which will hinder the UC’s ability to fulfill some
of its commitments.
The collaboration of numerous department heads ranging from all
fields of study reflects the urgency of the situation, many chairs
say.
“The amount of funding has been dropping precipitously
over the years, and there is no real sense of turning it around.
… So we feel that some fundamental structural changes are
necessary for the university to restore itself,” said Robert
Buswell, chairman of the East Asian languages and cultures
department.
MacDonald said he is looking to collaborate with faculty from
other UC campuses in the future, but hopes the statement made by
the UCLA faculty makes a difference.
That the biggest single academic department in the nation is
“rising up” and working together means that the UCs
have a problem, MacDonald said.
With reports from Melody Hanatani and Charles Proctor, Bruin
senior staff.