Mark Yudof began his new term as president of the University of California earlier this past week with new hopes and expectations from student leaders within the UC system.
Student leaders from the university have expressed high hopes for the new UC president, whom they want to not only address the budget cuts but also to help with other issues.
Affordability, greater access to the university and increased rates of diversity were some issues that student leaders hope Yudof will soon address.
“I really want to see him focus with diversity, not just with undergraduates, but graduates as well and the faculty and staff,” said Louise Hendrickson, president of the University of California Students Association.
For some student leaders, what is important is for Yudof to make the effort to communicate with the student body.
“I think overall, having a president who understands and is willing to address the concerns of students and is willing to meet with students about issues (is important),” said Jesse Melgar, the external vice president of the Undergraduate Student Association Council at UCLA and a board member of the University of California Students Association.
Other students also said they hoped Yudof would grant students a more prominent role in the decision-making process.
Hendrickson said she hopes Yudof will give students “a place at the table when decisions are made” and should advocate on behalf of students.
He should be “willing to stand up to state legislature and, if necessary, the regents, in order to make sure that students are a priority in the system,” Hendrickson said.
Yudof’s succession as UC president comes as the university system faces large budget cuts from the state.
A January budget proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a 10 percent, or $332 million cut in state funding for the university. A revised budget in May restored $98.5 million to the university for the 2007-2008 budget.
Still, the new budget does not provide enough funding for increased costs of inflation and funding for other programs, according to a statement on the UC Office of the President Web site.
The budget cut, coupled with the 7.4 percent increase in student fees for the 2008-2009 school year, continues to be a controversial issue. The increase brought opposition from student protesters at regents’ meetings at UC Berkeley and UCLA.
Though his appointment has been well received thus far, some believe that his annual salary is excessive. His compensation package has an estimated value of $828,000, which includes an allowance for housing and automobile costs.
“We’re a little concerned about the size of his compensation packet. … It’s a bit excessive considering that the state is in a budget crisis and that the board of regents decided to increase students’ fees,” Melgar said, speaking on behalf of students from UCSA.
Ultimately, apart from the controversy regarding Yudof’s salary, student leaders have been pleased with his appointment. Hendrickson said she hopes to see Yudof follow through with the promises he has made thus far. She said that gaining student input is always critical.
“We are what make the university a university,” said Hendrickson.