UCLA’s ability to compete with other schools could
potentially be affected by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
proposal to cut $11.6 million from University of California
research.
“Some projects have been reduced and will not receive
funding in the future,” said Andrew Neighbour, associate vice
chancellor for research.
In addition, a lack of “infrastructure support” will
affect the university’s ability to support research,
Neighbour said.
Some multi-year projects will no longer receive funding if the
proposed budget passes, he said.
The governor’s budget proposal will end up affecting
certain parts of campus more than others.
“Since the North Campus has less in the way of extramural
funding, (the proposed research cut) will affect North Campus
research centers more,” said Elisabeth Johnson, director of
Strategic Research Initiatives for the North Campus.
In the past two years, funds allocated for research have been
decreased by 20 percent, said Roberto Peccei, vice chancellor for
research.
If the governor’s budget proposal passes, it will spell an
additional 5 percent cut, Johnson said.
Previous cuts have already made it more difficult for research
centers to function.
The Center for the Study of Women is one research center that
has had to scale down its operations due to past cuts.
“We had created strong bonds with other women’s research
units across the globe, and we have had to cut back on maintaining
those relationships,” said Regina Lark, graduate advisor
manager for the center.
It may become more difficult to maintain research in individual
centers due to cuts, and it may be necessary for faculty to conduct
research when they are scattered across campus, Johnson said.
“It could potentially diminish our competitiveness,”
she said.
Undergraduate researchers could be indirectly affected by the
governor’s budget proposal, as limited funds would influence
how many student researchers faculty can have, said Audrey Cramer,
director of the Undergraduate Research Center for the Sciences.
“Undergraduates could miss out on research
opportunities,” Cramer said.
Graduate students who conduct research will be hit especially
hard if the budget passes, since it includes a 40 percent tuition
fee increase in addition to reduced funds for research, Peccei
said.
For some, research cuts to the UC indicate that the new state
government does not recognize the importance of university
research.
“It sort of puts into question how much research is
understood by our new governor,” Cramer said.
However, cuts to the UC are understandable, despite the effects
they may have on campus research programs.
“From the point of view of the governor, he is trying to
close a gap, and has chosen to close it by taking cuts from
programs,” Peccei said. “You have to look at it from a
much broader context.”
A number of other priorities have to be juggled in addition to
university research, which makes the task of balancing the budget
much more difficult.
“When you have to put research against helping families
and Medi-Cal, it’s a tough choice,” said Jeannie
Oropeza, program budget manager for education systems for the
California Department of Finance.
“But if everyone shares a little in the pain, then maybe
it won’t be as painful as eliminating something
altogether,” she added.