May 15, 2025
Dear UC colleagues,
Earlier this week, we launched a new homepage at UniversityofCalifornia.edu focused on demonstrating the University’s state and national impact in key areas of importance to the general public and policymakers. This new homepage is part of our broader, ongoing strategy to communicate UC’s value, advocate for our priorities and needs, and activate our strong network of supporters. If you haven’t yet seen the new homepage, I encourage you to check it out and share it with your colleagues, family, friends, and neighbors. UC community members are some of our best, most effective advocates — and our new homepage helps us tell our story in a new, imaginative, and persuasive way.
Also this week, three U.S. House of Representatives committees marked up their portions of the federal budget reconciliation package. The University urged the California members of these committees to vote no on the bills because of the negative impacts they would have on the UC community. These bills, if passed as currently written, would result in patients losing health care access and impede the ability of college students and their families to address food insecurity, among other issues. We continue to analyze the reconciliation bills and will advocate for our community throughout the process.
You can stay up-to-date on the latest information by visiting the UC Federal Updates website.
Best,
Meredith Vivian Turner
Senior Vice President
External Relations & Communications
UC Office of the President
University Response & Communications
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University of California homepage: Our new homepage content package can be seen at www.universityofcalifornia.edu.
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May revision of Gov. Newsom’s budget: President Drake issued a statement following the release of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2025-26 revised state budget proposal, which reduces the University’s funding cut from 8 percent to 3 percent. The proposal offers critical state support at a time when UC is facing funding cuts at the federal level. The Governor and Legislature must agree to and pass a final state budget by June 15. It is imperative that we keep up our advocacy efforts to ensure the best possible outcome for the university.
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Washington, D.C. Advocacy: This week, UC advocates were in Washington, D.C. to participate in the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) Capitol Hill advocacy day. They advocated for National Science Foundation (NSF) funding and highlighted NSF-funded discoveries and innovations at the University of California.
New Resources
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Regional District Maps: Earlier this week, UC’s Institutional Research and Academic Planning team published new maps that show the UC campus impacts on the economy, employment, and tax revenue in regions across California, including the Bay Area, Central Coast, Inland Empire, La Matro, Monterey Bay, North San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento Sierra, and San Diego Imperial.
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California Student Aid Commission guidance: Last week, CSAC issued new guidance on AB 540 and compliance with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA).
Media Highlights
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Daily Californian: UC joins lawsuit to block science research funding cap
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Courthouse News Service: Judge poised to block student visa terminations after record purge
For ongoing updates and resources, please visit the UC Federal Updates website.