Where are the courses, and where is the money?
This September many new students have come to UCLA only to find out that they cannot get into their required courses. In fact, the UCLA College has declared that it is running a budget deficit, so a large number of classes will be cut this year. To make matters worse, these cuts were announced before the state budget was finally signed, and a new round of cuts are now being discussed.
The big question is this: Why does UCLA not have enough funds to support its basic teaching mission? Administrators will tell you that the state keeps cutting the UC budget and does not give enough money to fund any increase in enrollment. But the same administrators also argue that these shortfalls have resulted in the recent increase in student fees. Moreover, only 13 percent of UCLA’s total budget comes from the state, and so we must ask, where does all of the other money come from and where does it go? For instance, who pockets all of the profits made by selling housing, parking and services to students, faculty and staff?
It seems that even though UC is a public institution, its budget remains hidden and opaque. However, what is clear is that money that could be going to undergraduate instruction is being spent on other priorities. Students and parents need to contact UCLA’s chancellor and make sure undergraduates get the courses they need so they can graduate on time.
Bob Samuels, lecturer, writing programs
President, University Council-AFT