UC Board of Regents Chairman Russell Gould is calling on California lawmakers to find the political will to make support for the University of California a priority.
Gould, a former director of the state Department of Finance, concludes two years as chair of the Board of Regents on June 30. In a video message, released today (June 13), he reflected on the role UC plays in California's economy and the importance of state financial support to sustain the university as an engine of opportunity.
Gould said he recognized that lawmakers need to make tough budget choices: "They always need to make choices. That's leadership, and we need the leadership to stand up and say the University of California is a priority, it's a priority for California's future."
June 15 is the constitutional deadline for the California Legislature to approve a final 2011-12 budget. Legislators already have dealt $500 million in cuts to the UC budget. Gould and other university leaders have pressed lawmakers to avoid further UC cuts and to find a stable, long-term funding solution for the university.
Gould, who will continue as a member of the board until his term expires in 2017, said UC has created the best public higher education model in the world, one that benefits all Californians.
"I think everyone who has seen California grow recognizes that the University of California has been the vehicle for growth and opportunity for so many people," he said. "And so while people are constrained and are struggling through their own tough times, they want that opportunity to be available for young people."