By Donna Hemmila

Mary Croughan took over as chair of the universitywide Academic Senate this fall in the midst of one of the worst budget climates UC has ever faced. The campuses and Office of the President are currently coping with a $148 million shortfall in state funding. Yet the poor financial outlook hasn't deterred Croughan from pursuing the priorities important to the Academic Senate in maintaining the University of California's high standards of teaching and research.

"One major goal I had for this year was to bring forth an understanding of shared governance with Mark Yudof," said Croughan. "I'm happy to report we have already accomplished that."

One of the most important Senate priorities, she said, is improving faculty and staff compensation. That goal is not so easily attained.

"It's a very difficult financial situation for the University of California and for the state of California," she said. "I think we're going to have serious financial issues for at least the next two years. Having said that, there still has to be a commitment to raising compensation."

In October 2007, UC Regents approved a four-year plan to adjust faculty salary scales to bring them in line with those at comparable institutions. The increases went into effect last year, but the budget deficit means there are no increases this year. Croughan, who served on the President's Work Group on Faulty Salary Scales, would like to see the increases that should have been paid in 2008 be made up when the budget situation improves. UC loses quality faculty to universities that can pay higher salaries, she said, and the same thing happens with promising graduate students.

Another top Senate goal is to increase the ratio of graduate students in the UC system and to increase support for them. Loan forgiveness programs and housing allowances, she said, would help to keep outstanding students from leaving the UC system for universities that offer more financial support.

Changing the UC freshman admissions requirements is another major Senate initiative, one faculty members have been working on for four years. The UC Board of Regents is expected to vote on the proposal at an upcoming meeting. The goal of the admissions reforms is to give more qualified students a chance to enroll at UC, she said.

"These are difficult times," Croughan said. "I look forward to working with the president, faculty and others in continuing to sustain the high quality of UC."

Croughan served as the Senate vice chair in 2007-08 and succeeded Michael Brown as chair. She joined the UC San Francisco faculty in 1987 and is professor in residence in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Visit the Senate Web site for updates on faculty issues.

Donna Hemmila is editor of Our University.