Maintaining California's Master Plan for Higher Education, simplifying course requirements and better communicating the commission's goals were among the suggestions the UC Commission on the Future heard at its public forum at UC San Francisco on Tuesday (Dec. 8).

"The University of California and the California Master Plan are the envy of the world", said Dan Simmons, vice chair of the UC Academic Senate, who said he was expressing only his personal opinions. He urged the commission tread cautiously when considering major changes because "there is no silver bullet" for the current fiscal woes.

"We've developed a system that works very well," he said. "We should avoid jumping onto the newest fad."

Simmons said he's open to ideas such as more online classes and admitting more nonresident students, but only in ways that enhance the educational experience, not merely as a way to cut costs or increase revenue.

But with the California budget deficit projected to grow to $20.7 billion next year, UC President Mark Yudof said the university has to do something systemic to deal with the prospect of even more state cuts.

"We can't just look at the revenue side," Yudof said. "We have to look at how we do our business."

The commission, co-chaired by Yudof and UC Board of Regents Chairman Russell Gould, was created in July to develop long-range approaches to ensuring excellence, innovation and access across the 10-campus UC system amid financial challenges triggered by state budget cuts.

The commission's five working groups — which are focusing on the size and shape of UC, education and curriculum, access and affordability, funding and research strategies — are composed of members drawn from faculty, students, alumni, administration, staff, the Regents and experts not affiliated with UC. There will be close consultation with the Academic Senate throughout this process.

The public forums are designed to allow the commission to hear ideas and perspectives from an array of individuals. A second public forum is scheduled for Southern California in January; the specific date and location will be available on the commission's Web site.

On Tuesday, the commission heard presentations from Simmons, representing faculty; Lin King, chair of the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies; and Student Regent Designate Jesse Cheng, who is also a commission member.

Only three members of the public made comments at Tuesday's forum, with two people suggesting UC support efforts to raise taxes on oil companies to fund higher education.

"The university's overall mission of making sure it's accessible is critically important," said Kevin Roony, a UCSF technician and systemwide executive vice president of the University Professional & Technical Employees union.

He also said UC and unions don't have to be at odds with each other: "We have common goals. Let's work together."

While there was not a large turnout Tuesday, representatives of the working groups have visited all 10 UC campuses to hear from students, faculty and staff.

"I found the listening tours really constructive and energized," Nathan Brostrom, UC's interim executive vice president of business operations and a commission member, said after the forum. "I was little disappointed that there was not more public involvement here."

Cheng suggested increasing outreach and using social media such as Twitter and other online tools to communicate with the public.

"We are asking the public to fund the UC," Cheng said. "It's very important to engage the public. It's important to sell, invest and involve them."

King offered ideas for streamlining to save money, such as purchasing software and computer hardware on a campuswide or systemwide basis.

Simmons suggested standardizing lower division course offerings to simplify the community college transfer process. He also broached the idea of undergraduate "tracks" that would lead students to specific majors.

The working groups will each present two or three key recommendations to the full commission in March, with additional recommendations made by the summer.

Harry Mok is principal editor in the UC Office of the President's Integrated Communications group.