Proposed state budget cuts would devastate academic preparation programs critical to the University of California’s continuance as one of the leading public education systems in the country.
Depending on the outcome of today’s ballot propositions, the UC will undergo severe, or more severe, unallocated budget cuts.
If the propositions pass, the UC will see a total cut of $240 million from the 2009-2010 operating budget.
If they fail, the UC will experience a cut of $322 million according to a statement issued by the UC Office of the President on Thursday.
The UC Board of Regents decides what programs would be affected, but according to Ricardo Vázquez, a spokesman for the UC Office of the President, academic programs such as Early Academic Outreach Program and the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement outreach program are at risk.
Proposed cuts to the EAOP are particularly alarming.
EAOP works with more than 15,000 students annually, particularly those at underserved middle schools and high schools, and helps them attain eligibility for a postsecondary education.
Program activities include preparation workshops for the PSAT, ACT and SAT tests, career workshops, tutoring and mentoring programs.
Students at UCLA have already lost Covel Tutorials.
The University of California’s objective is to make higher education accessible to everyone, particularly low-income and underrepresented students, but if programs such as EAOP and MESA are axed, the university would become estranged from these demographics.
The UC makes considerable public fuss whenever it does something to “improve diversity.” But immediately targeting these outreach programs for budget cuts has the opposite effect.
Budget cuts would undermine the revisions made to admissions policies in recent years such as the one in February guaranteeing financial aid to any student whose parents make less than $60,000 annually.
The UC Regents also removed the SAT subject tests as an admissions requirement. Both of these policies will take effect for the fall 2012 incoming class.
We applaud these efforts to make higher education more accessible to underserved high school students, and while these new policies are positive, these students depend on access to programs that would help them be competitive and academically eligible for acceptance to the university.
The university’s fundamental missions are teaching, research and public service.
The actions of the UC Regents seem hypocritical given that they are considering eliminating important academic advancement programs.
When the board decides where to allocate the inevitable state budget cuts, it should consider the consequences of slashing programs fundamental to the UC’s mission.
Cutting funds from these programs threatens campus diversity and accessibility.
We realize the UC Regents have increasingly fewer choices of programs to cut, but we urge them to keep the UC’s obligation to teaching, research and public service in mind when they are deciding what to put on the chopping block next.
Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Bruin Editorial Board.