The University of California Board of Regents will hold its regular business meeting Wednesday, Sept. 16, and Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Mission Bay Community Center (1675 Owens St.) on the UCSF Mission Bay campus. The Regents will be briefed on a variety of issues over the two-day meeting, including finances, diversity and efforts to reopen the Martin Luther King-Harbor Hospital in Los Angeles County. The meeting agenda is available at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/sept09.html

On Wednesday, the vice president for UC's budget office will brief the Finance Committee on the 2009-10 budget and development of the 2010-11 budget in light of the persistent state budget crisis. The budget update by UC Vice President Patrick Lenz will outline a financial challenge deeper than what was initially addressed through previous actions, as well as concerns at the campuses that, without additional revenues, the quality of basic educational services and programs could be threatened.

In that context, part of the discussion will focus on the possibility of increasing student fees while maintaining financial assistance for needy low- and middle-income students. This action is for discussion only. No action will be taken on fee increases at this meeting.

NEWS MEDIA AVAILABILITY: UC Vice President Lenz, Chief Financial Officer Peter Taylor and Interim Provost Lawrence Pitts will be available to answer news media questions about financial issues from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Wednesday in Room 311, across the hall from the meeting auditorium.

On Thursday, as part of President Mark G. Yudof's new accountability framework for the UC system, the Regents will be presented with a subreport on diversity. In addition, the Regents' Health Services Committee will receive a status report from Senior Vice President John Stobo about the ongoing discussions regarding the possible reopening of Martin Luther King-Harbor Hospital.

NOTES FOR REPORTERS

Media interested in attending are encouraged to register in advance with Alfred White (alfred.white@ucop.edu), UCOP Communications, by Monday, Sept. 14.

Reporters with visible press identification (business card or other identification from your media organization with photo ID) who have registered in advance with UCOP Communications may enter without going through the screening process with the public.

The pressroom is Room 311-312, across the hall from the meeting auditorium. Please sign up for a meeting-room credential once you have arrived. The pressroom phone number is (415) 476-0619, and the fax number is (415) 476-0618. Internet access is available.

Live audio broadcasts of open sessions will be available via the Internet. For more information: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/sept09.html.

Directions to the Mission Bay Community Center (1675 Owens St.): www.ucsf.edu/maps/directions-to-ucsf-mission-bay/

Parking is available, for a fee, in the Community Center parking garage.

UCSF shuttles run regularly from the 16th Street-Mission BART Station to the community center. For shuttle timetables: www.campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/shuttles (red line)

For more news and information about the University of California:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu