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OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR August 31, 2009
ALL ACADEMICS AND STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO
We encourage you to be part of a letter-writing campaign on behalf of UC San Diego, the University of California and public higher education in the remaining few weeks before the Legislature’s fall recess. As you know, the state budget for 2009-10 leaves UC with 20 percent less state funding than last year. To cope with this immediate budget crunch, we’ve implemented faculty and staff pay reductions, student fee increases, and program cuts at campuses and the Office of the President. This can’t continue – we need the state’s support. Our campuses are already seeing signs of “brain drain” as faculty recruitment is slashed dramatically, programs are pared back or put on hold, and competing institutions seek to lure away our world-class faculty and staff. As we look to the 2010-11 budget, we face even more challenges. There are indications we could face a several billion dollar deficit again. Federal stimulus funds probably won’t be available. And emergency measures we took this year can’t be continued without doing major harm to the quality of UC San Diego’s education, research and service. Academic quality, student access and affordability, and California’s innovation economy are all at risk. We encourage you to take this opportunity – before the Legislature’s scheduled adjournment on September 11 – to email the Governor, the legislative leadership, and your local members of the State Assembly and State Senate. * Tell them how UC San Diego has made a difference in your life. * Tell them how their diminished investment in higher education will impact you and our community. * Ask that public higher education be a priority in next year’s state budget. For your convenience, a sample letter is provided at http://advocacy.ucsd.edu. Please consider personalizing the message for greater effectiveness and, above all, please join us in this movement to ensure that California’s future is one of hope and promise.
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