At publication time, the state Legislature was still discussing a budget for the 2007-08 fiscal year. The state Assembly had approved a state budget containing most, though not all, of UC’s budget priorities for 2007-08. However, that version of the budget had not received sufficient support in the state Senate, where Republican members were seeking cuts in state spending.

UC advocates have been working hard to ensure that elected officials in Sacramento understand the value of state investment in UC and the importance of funding the university’s budget priorities. Regents, administrators, alumni, business leaders, and many others from inside and outside the UC community have been making personal contacts with legislators and participating in an e-mail advocacy campaign at www.ucforcalifornia.org.

The Assembly-passed budget contains the funding for enrollment growth and employee compensation included in the governor’s original budget proposal. It also includes funding for student academic preparation programs, labor research, and two elements of the governor’s research initiative: the Energy Biosciences Institute and Helios project in Berkeley. The Assembly-passed budget also includes augmentations for the California State Summer School for Math and Science, agricultural research, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD.

Not included in the Assembly budget is requested operating funding for the California Institutes for Science and Innovation and state funds in the event UC wins a federal competition to build a “petascale” supercomputer. The university hopes to explore opportunities for re-engaging state elected leaders on these subjects later this summer.

Once a state budget is passed, information about its effects on UC will be available at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/.

What would you like to read about in future editions of Our University? Send your comments and story suggestions to donna.hemmila@ucop.edu. Our University is produced by Strategic Communications, University Affairs, UC Office of the President.