The caliber of the University of California will decline as it
struggles with the state budget crisis, the university’s
senior budget administrator said Thursday.
“I do not want to suggest to you that quality will not be
eroded. It will be eroded,” said University of California
Budget Vice President Larry Hershman.
At a meeting of the UC Board of Regents, held Thursday via
teleconference, Hershman predicted the state and university will
face tough budget problems until the middle of the decade.
For the UC community, slashed budgets will translate into fee
hikes, larger class sizes and lower salaries.
Gov. Gray Davis’ proposed budget for 2003-2004 cuts the
university’s funding in almost every area of UC business.
According to the Davis administration, the state will suffer a $35
billion deficit next fiscal year and his budget plan includes deep
cuts across the state.
At the UC, cuts for 2003-2004 and midyear reductions for the
current year’s base budget total more than $373 million. The
university also expects to lose out on additional funds the state
had earlier agreed to provide.
On the plus side, Davis’ budget fully funds enrollment
growth and Hershman said he expects the proposed 50 percent cut in
outreach programs will not be included in the final budget.
The university has said top priorities during the budget crisis
are protecting the instructional program and pay for faculty and
staff. The current plan will likely compromise both goals.
The student fee increases planned for next academic year and
spring quarter combined equal a 35 percent hike over previous
levels.
If these numbers are approved, resident undergraduates will be
required to shell out another $1,200 to attend the UC.
Additional fee revenue is expected to cover $179 million in cuts
that otherwise would slash funding for the instructional
program.
But the instructional budget is not safe ““ Hershman said
an additional $35 million in unallocated cuts will likely be taken
out of teaching.
“This was a devastating cut,” Hershman said, adding
“it only reflects the desperation of this
administration.”
The current plan includes no state funds for pay raises.
“I don’t think there’s any hope of getting
money for salary increases,” Hershman said.
To keep faculty salaries competitive, Regent Norm Pattiz said
the UC will have to pay less instructors.
“The only way to deal with that problem is you’ve
got to have fewer people … teaching larger classes,” he
said.
As the UC adjusts to the cuts, staff positions will be in
jeopardy and the university’s workforce is expected to
shrink.
“It’s clear that much of this will be done by not
filling positions as they become vacated … there will have to be
some layoffs,” Hershman said.
More students, less money
According to university figures, in 2003-2004 the UC system will
enroll over 12,000 more students than planned in the
university’s 1999 agreement with the state.
But can the university continue to enroll as many students?
“To maintain enrollment we’re going to have to
sacrifice quality,” Pattiz said.
Regent Ward Connerly said the UC should admit less students,
since no one knows when the state budget will stabilize.
“We’re staring at the prospect of long continuous
cuts in our budget and/or rising student fees,” he said,
adding “We can’t take as many students as we have been
taking.”
But to limit access would be an unpopular move in the state
legislature, which controls how much state funds the UC
receives.
“All the pressure we have had from the state so far is to
take the students, maintain the access,” Hershman said.
A revised version of Davis’ budget will be presented in
May. The UC plans to make a recommendation on fee increases to the
board at that month’s regents meeting.