Economist and UC Berkeley Professor Robert Reich, two past University of California presidents and the president of the Public Policy Institute of California are scheduled to speak at the next meeting of the UC Commission on the Future the morning of Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Oakland Marriott City Center hotel. The commission, co-chaired by UC Board of Regents Chairman Russell S. Gould and President Mark G. Yudof, was created to help ensure excellence, innovation and access to opportunity across the UC system amid acute financial challenges. In addition to Professor Reich, who served as labor secretary in the Clinton administration, the other scheduled speakers are former UC presidents Richard Atkinson and David Gardner and public policy expert Mark Baldassare (related story: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/22326). They are scheduled to speak beginning at 9:15 a.m. following opening remarks by Gould, Yudof and UC Academic Senate Chair Henry Powell.

The commission and five working groups - focusing on the size and shape of UC, its education and curriculum, access and affordability, funding strategies and research strategies - will meet several times through March 2010.

At the Nov. 12 meeting, co-chairs of the working groups will provide updates based on visits to UC campuses.

Additional information about the UC Commission on the Future is available at http://ucfuture.universityofcalifornia.edu.

A live audio broadcast of the meeting will be accessible via the Internet. The URL will be posted at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/commission.pdf, where the meeting agenda is also available.

WHEN: 9 a.m.- noon PST
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

WHERE: Calvin Simmons Ballroom, Oakland Marriott City Center
1001 Broadway (at 11th Street), Oakland

RSVP: Media representatives planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP to
Alfred White, UCOP Communications. Phone: (510) 987-9200.