June 2005
This newsletter is available on the web at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/newsletter/issue18.html.
Dear UC Colleague:
We have come to the end of the academic year, which provides a good opportunity for each of us to look back and reflect upon our achievements of the recent past. I want to congratulate all of you for what you have accomplished this past year as part of the University of California community. Special congratulations are due to our students who are graduating – completing one very special part of their lives and moving on to another. My best to all of you.
Below, you will read about a few of the things that have been occurring at a systemwide level in recent weeks. While we are still awaiting a final State budget, I am pleased to report that the Legislature has supported the Governor's compact with UC, which promises an end to the last four years of cuts to the University's general-fund budget. We have launched an exciting new collaborative initiative to expand the supply of high-quality science and math teachers for California's schools. And The Regents have voted to compete for the Los Alamos National Laboratory management contract, offering the nation UC's track record of scientific excellence in combination with the strengths brought by a set of private-sector industrial partners.
Thank you for your continuing service and dedication to the University of California. Even as I work on issues of the moment, I am constantly reminded that UC is an institution without peer in terms of its excellence and public impact – and that is due to your tremendous contributions.
Have a great summer. I'll be in touch again soon.
Sincerely,
Robert C. Dynes
President
Expanding supply of high-quality science, math teachers
On May 31, UC announced a new partnership with Governor Schwarzenegger, corporate supporters, and the California State University system to expand the number of high-quality science and math teachers for California's public schools.
Under the program, UC will quadruple its annual production of science and math teachers. In addition, UC undergraduates will be able to achieve, in four years including one summer, both a bachelor's degree in science, mathematics, or engineering and the preparation needed to become a secondary-school science or math teacher.
The program's goal is to expand the delivery of high-quality science and math instruction in California's K-12 schools, helping provide the workforce and capacity for innovation needed for California to sustain its position of leadership in the global knowledge-based economy. The initiative was called for in the governor's May 2004 “compact” with UC, and leading California companies have pledged an initial $4 million to launch the program.
More information is at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/academics/1000teachers/.
Regents appoint new UC Irvine chancellor
At its May meeting, the UC Board of Regents appointed longtime UC faculty member and administrator Michael Drake as chancellor of UC Irvine. Drake, who currently serves as vice president for health affairs for the UC system, succeeds departing chancellor Ralph Cicerone. Cicerone is leaving UC to assume the presidency of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. Drake's appointment as chancellor takes effect July 1.
More information is at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/may26.html.
Update on national lab competitions
In mid-April, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded UC the contract to continue managing the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ( www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/apr19a.html). In May, DOE released its final request for proposals for the Los Alamos National Laboratory contract, and the UC Board of Regents voted to compete for that contract ( www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/may26a.html.) Mike Anastasio, current director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has been appointed to lead UC's Los Alamos competition team, which includes Bechtel National , Washington Group International, BWX Technologies, and a consortium of New Mexico higher education institutions ( www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/may17.html.)
“I believe we should compete for the Los Alamos contract for three essential reasons: the excellence in science that we bring to the table, the strength of the management team we have put together, and the contribution this unique combination of players can make to the nation,” President Dynes told the Regents. “Science and technology are critical to national security. In this competition, the nation will have a clear choice between a partnership with scientific excellence at its core and other options with defense contracting at their core.” (Read President Dynes' full statement at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/dynes_lab52505.pdf.)
Updates on all of the national laboratory competitions are available at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/labcontract/welcome.html.
UC achievements making news
• Eight UC researchers received Guggenheim fellowships for 2005: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/apr13.html
• UC received a “best-in-class” award from U.S. Bank for its success in reducing costs: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/may27.html
• UC faculty, staff, and students at the campuses and national laboratories continue to make major contributions to California, the nation, and the world through their activities in teaching, research, and public service. For highlights of these contributions, see the President's Report at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/presidentsreport.html
New UC leadership institute launched
A full house of 350 UC managers from across the system attended the first UC Leadership Institute (UCLI), sponsored by President Dynes, May 15-17 in San Diego. UCLI speakers included many of UC's senior leaders including President Dynes, Provost Greenwood, Senior Vice Presidents Darling and Mullinix, as well as experts from within and outside of UC. The institute's curriculum was focused on these three areas:
• Promoting a healthy, productive, and motivating workplace where employees can do their best work in support of the University's mission;
• Building, sustaining, and managing a diverse workplace that best supports and encourages ethical decision-making; and
• Creating and sustaining model employment practices.
As UCLI is currently designed as an annual program, the next session is slated for some time in spring of 2006. More information about the institute is available at http://www.ucop.edu/ucli/.
Hearing focuses on future of UC
Five Nobel Prize-winning members of the UC faculty joined President Dynes in testifying last month before a legislative subcommittee regarding the future of the University and its role in the life of California. President Dynes' remarks are at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/president/speeches/051105speier.pdf, and a video of the entire hearing is at http://www.calchannel.com/MEDIA/0511F.asx.
Last month, Governor Schwarzenegger released the “May Revision” to his 2005-06 state budget proposal. The May Revision continues to support the governor's compact with UC, which includes a modest increase in state funding in 2005-06 to fund student enrollment growth, increases in faculty and staff salaries, and the opening of UC Merced, among other things.
More information about the May Revision is at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/factsheets/Budget_May_Revise_2005-06.pdf.
Since the May Revision, budget subcommittees in both houses of the Legislature have voted unanimously to support the compact. In addition, the subcommittees in both houses voted to restore $17.3 million in funding for UC academic preparation programs that the governor's budget proposes to withdraw in 2005-06. Preserving funding for these programs, which boost the college preparation of educationally disadvantaged students in California, remains a high priority for the University in this budget cycle. UC also will be pressing for funding in the final state budget for the science and math initiative described above. Both of these issues will be resolved in final budget negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders in the coming weeks. More information about funding for academic preparation programs is at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/budget/academic_prep_52305.pdf.
Updates on the impact of the state budget process at UC always are available at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/budget/welcome.html.
Dynes' Desk is a way for anyone to email a comment, idea, or suggestion to President Dynes. While he is not able to respond personally in most instances, President Dynes does read each email submitted. In each edition of “Our University,” he will respond to a couple of Dynes' Desk emails addressing issues of broad interest to the UC community.
To submit an email to Dynes' Desk, visit www.universityofcalifornia.edu/president/desk.html. Below are President Dynes' responses to a few recent submissions.
Email: Making a deal with the governor was akin to making a pact with the devil. I am so alarmed that the middle class (which is being eroded to working class) will no longer be able to afford college. I am a struggling mom, trying to live in the Bay Area and keep my daughter at UCSB. Tell me how you plan to provide opportunities for everyone to obtain a degree that is AFFORDABLE.
Bob Dynes: I know very well that many families are coping with multiple financial stresses right now, and I appreciate your taking the time to write and share your own situation. One of the reasons we reached the compact with the governor actually was to provide some predictability in the setting of undergraduate and graduate student fees -- and to ensure that fee increases would be more moderate than they have been in some of the last few years. In the last few years, state support for UC has dropped 15%. To maintain the quality of the instructional program and the quality of the experience students and parents expect of UC, we unfortunately had to implement some large fee increases to backfill the lost state support. But we have always placed a high priority on ensuring that financial aid is available to keep UC accessible to students of all financial backgrounds -- through Cal Grants, UC grants, federal grants and loans, and other mechanisms. I hope your daughter is being assisted by one or more of these programs, and I would encourage you to be in touch with the campus financial aid staff if they can be of assistance in answering questions or providing advice. I do respect and sympathize with the challenge you are facing.
Email: Thanks for taking the time to meet with us in San Jose. I have been associated with the University of California since 1966, first as a student, and now for more than 30 years as a Farm Advisor and County Director. This was the first time I have ever met our president, and you certainly impressed me with your knowledge of our role in the greater university system. I truly appreciate your vision and dedication to helping us deliver our programs to our clientele throughout the state of California. I am very proud to be part of the University of California family…
Bob Dynes: Thank you ! Through my visits around the state, it has been both fascinating and very gratifying to see first-hand all the different ways UC touches the lives of Californians, including the many significant contributions to local communities and businesses that flow directly from the science-based, practical information that Cooperative Extensive programs provide. You and your colleagues play a unique and important role in the University's ability to solve important problems and to address the critical agricultural, environmental, nutritional, and youth-related challenges that California is facing in the 21 st century, and you make us all proud.
Email: Why don't the clericals get pay raises or cost of living increases, this is not fair. I don't want to strike, I just want to be treated fairly. Cost of living is increasing and I'm trying to make it on the money we get paid. It's hard. Please do something.
Bob Dynes: Believe me, I am very sensitive to how difficult these past several years have been for employees, especially for lower-paid staff. I know you have been struggling, and I and the other University leaders are working hard to change the fact that our resources are not allowing us to give everyone throughout the system regular raises. This is precisely one of the reasons we worked so hard last year to get the budget compact with the governor -- to get a funding promise from the state so that we can get back on our financial feet, including regular raises for all employees. I know that my gratitude for all your hard work and continued loyalty to the University does not help you pay your bills or feed your family, but please know that you, along with all the other staff employees that make up the administrative backbone of this institution, are sincerely and greatly valued -- you are critical to our ongoing success. Also, know that we will get out of this financial crunch and that at least some relief is on its way.
FEEDBACK TO PRESIDENT DYNES
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/president/desk.html
BUDGET NEWS
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/budget
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies/labor_relations/index.html
UC NEWS
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news
UC SYSTEM
www.universityofcalifornia.edu