Making the case for the priorities and challenges facing the University of California is not just a job for governmental relations professionals.

Across California, faculty and staff are joining with Regents, alumni, business leaders and campus administrators to carry the UC message to legislators, both in Sacramento and in their legislative districts. In addition, they are participating in a range of activities designed to help demonstrate to the broader California community the value of UC research and public service programs, including academic preparation.

These efforts are the result of an enhanced statewide advocacy program intended to build on and expand collaborative efforts involving all of the 10 campuses.  The systemwide advocacy program identifies, cultivates, educates, and activates advocates; organizes events; and produces a variety of materials on current issues facing UC and California. The program is growing rapidly, reaching new audiences, and generating new sources of UC support up and down the state.

The need has never been greater: Over the past three decades, the proportion of the state General Fund going to UC has fallen from 7 percent to approximately 3.5 percent.  Today the University faces a major gap between its current funding levels and what is necessary to truly sustain a world-class public university.  Faculty salaries are now 10 percent behind those at comparable universities, and a similar market challenge affects staff salaries.  The University’s deferred maintenance backlog is several hundred million dollars.  UC’s student-faculty ratio trails that of many top American universities.  And many programs cut in previous budget downturns, from research to student services, have never fully recovered.

UC support-building activities involve everyone from students to Regents. Some examples from the year so far:

Spring Forward – Sacramento Events

Sacramento advocacy involves a continuous series of visits by the Regents, President, campus Chancellors and others, but beyond that has also included such events as the UC Legislative Caucus dinner, hosted by Board of Regents’ Chairman Richard Blum and President Robert Dynes for legislators who are UC alumni or who represent a UC campus or medical center.  In late March, more than 300 alumni traveled to Sacramento to meet with legislators and “show the colors” at UC Day, the annual lobby day of the Alumni Associations of the University of California.

California business and industry leaders have been particularly active in Sacramento this year. Members of the President’s Board on Science and Innovation, representing many of California’s major companies, visited with legislators and Gov. Schwarzenegger in February to urge support for UC research funding and the importance of academic preparation programs in developing California’s future workforce. They were followed a month later by a UCLA-led industry leader visit featuring five prominent Los Angeles corporate leaders who also met with the governor and legislative leaders to talk about UC’s priorities. 

Students are also involved. In addition to activities by the UC Students Association, an estimated 175 students will travel to Sacramento in late May for the annual Student Leadership Forum and to make legislative visits to share their personal stories and ask that academic preparation funds be restored to the state budget.

Electronic Advocacy

You don’t need to travel to Sacramento to make a difference. Thousands are participating in the “UC for California Alliance,” an electronic community of UC alumni, faculty, staff and other friends who receive updates on current University issues and are given the opportunity to share their views with elected officials. With more than 13,000 members, UC for California advocates have sent thousands of letters this year to the governor, state legislators and Congressional representatives on key legislation and funding decisions affecting the University.

All Points California – Dynes Tours

Important support-building activities also occur on the campuses, which regular host legislators and community issue forums; in legislative districts; and in other regions of the state. It’s all designed to highlight the important work UC is doing throughout California – and why it needs the support of all Californians.

President Dynes has made regional visits one of his highest priorities. Just this year he has toured Ventura, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, where he has met with high school students participating in UC academic preparation programs, visited UC agricultural sites and health clinics, and demonstrated the power of UC’s campuses working together in a wide variety of other regional research initiatives.

On each of these visits, President Dynes also meets with alumni to urge them to help build broader support for UC.

President Dynes will be visiting the Riverside and San Diego communities at the end of the month, and Orange County in June. 

To learn more about the president’s tours, visit www.universityofcalifornia.edu/everyday/dynes.

Interested in getting involved? Visit the “UC for California Alliance” website at www.ucforcalifornia.org.

What would you like to read about the UC system in future editions of "Our University"? Send your feedback and story suggestions to communications@ucop.edu. Produced by Strategic Communications, University Affairs, UC Office of the President.