By Donna Hemmila

The governor's May Revision to the state budget proposed restoring $98.5 million to UC, leaving state support for the university at roughly the same level as 2007-2008 funding.

But UC still faces a big budget challenge for 2008-09. The university is still lacking state funding needed to cover costs that are increasing next year for student enrollment growth, faculty and staff salaries, benefits, utilities and other inflationary operating expenses.

To help offset the funding deficit, UC Regents reluctantly approved a 7.4 percent student fee increase at their May 15 meeting.

After funds for student financial aid are set aside – more than one-third of UC students will receive aid to cover the increase - the fee revenue is projected to generate about $70 million for university operations. Part of that money will be used to fund an $8 million expansion of student mental health services – a high priority for the campuses and for student leaders.

UC expects to save another $68 million in administrative costs, including $28 million through the restructuring of the Office of the President.

Even with those actions and the improvements in the May Revision, however, UC is up to $240 million short of what it needs to cover cost increases for 2008-09. Campus budget cuts will be needed to address the shortfall.

"UC's advocacy efforts have paid off," said UC Regent Russell Gould during a briefing on the budget revision. "But there's still work to do."

That work will continue over the next several weeks as the governor and legislators debate the final budget. A coalition of faculty, staff and students from community colleges, UC and CSU has been organizing advocacy efforts around the state to call attention to the magnitude of the blow state budget cuts will deliver to higher education.

Thousands have taken part in rallies, lobbying visits with legislators and letter writing campaigns. All have the same message: An investment in higher education is an investment in the future of California's quality of life, economic growth, health and environmental sustainability. Here is a snapshot of some recent advocacy efforts.

Study-in at the Capitol. On May 19, UC students staged a sit-in in Sacramento. Since many are in finals week, organizers encouraged students to bring their books and get some cramming in while protesting.

Students lobby for academic prep. On May 13, 200 students, parents and counselors involved in UC's academic preparation programs went to Sacramento for a Student Leadership Forum. High school and community college students who take part in the Early Academic Outreach Program, Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement program and the Puente Project attended. The students, who come from low-income, underserved communities, met with legislators and their staffs to explain how important these programs are to helping students like them get into college and to ask legislators to prevent further cus to education.

SoCal education leaders visit Sacramento. On May 8, UC Irvine's Peter the Anteater used his cheering skills at Capitol Mascot Day, an event Orange County higher education leaders organized. Peter joined with Cal State Fullerton's Tuffy Titan and a lineup of community college mascots to deliver thousands of letters to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators. Written by students, faculty, staff, parents and business leaders, the letters asked lawmakers to support the state's investment in higher education as a proven way to strengthen California's economic competitiveness. The leaders of Orange County community colleges and CSU Fullerton joined UC Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake at a rally and press conference. Watch video of Peter the Anteater at work.

Corporate advocates carry the message. On April 30, UCLA-affiliated business leaders met with key legislators to reinforce the importance of UC to the state's economy. Speakers included Woolas Hsieh, founder and president of Solarmer Energy Inc., which is developing solar cell technology invented at the California NanoSystems Institute, a collaboration of UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. [http://www.cnsi.ucla.edu]

Higher ed leaders unite. On April 28, UC President Robert Dynes, UC Provost Rory Hume, CSU Chancellor Charles Reed and CCC interim Chancellor Diane Woodruff made a rare joint visit to Sacramento to urge policy-makers to resist the deep budget cuts for higher education. They outlined the devastating consequences for California's economy, which depends on the state's educated and highly skilled work force to grow.

Students rally statewide. On April 21, more than 2,000 UC, CSU and community college students marched in Sacramento to protest state budget cuts and higher fees. Hundreds more attended campus rallies throughout the state.

What can you do? Send a message to your state lawmakers.

Donna Hemmila is editor of Our University.