SUBJECT:

A newsletter from President Dynes

In light of the state budget being finalized, a special edition of the Our University newsletter from President Dynes has been published.

If you have any questions concerning this notice, please contact Sylvia Lepe-Askari at 4-5357.

Margaret F. Pryatel Associate Vice Chancellor Resource Management

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July 11, 2005

This newsletter is available on the web at
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/newsletter/issue19.html

Dear UC Colleague:

Governor Schwarzenegger signed the 2005-06 state budget today, and I wanted to pass along the news just as quickly as possible. We have developed this abbreviated version of “Our University” to share the budget outcome with you; our next edition will contain the usual full complement of University news, “Dynes' Desk” responses, and other material.

Overall, this budget is very good news for the University, particularly after the last four years of difficult cuts.

The new budget fulfills our compact with the Governor, which means funding for faculty and staff salary increases this year and for student enrollment growth , among other things. It sustains state support for our academic preparation programs, which was a personal priority of mine during this budget process – though the funding was sustained on a one-time basis, and we have more work to do with the Schwarzenegger administration on this issue. It provides important funding for our new initiative to train more high-quality science and math teachers for California 's schools, and it provides the necessary funding to open the new UC Merced campus this fall. Finally, it funds our capital improvements program for the coming year, to help us keep pace with our many facilities needs.

I very much appreciate the support the Legislature and the Governor have demonstrated for the University through this budget. I also want to thank everyone at UC who has persevered through the budget uncertainties of the last several years and who has played a role in bringing us to this very positive resolution today – and that, in some way, includes all of you. Your work, your dedication, and your effectiveness continue to be the best arguments for strong public investment in the University of California.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Dynes
President

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Below are highlights of the final state budget for the UC system:

• Enrollments: Funding for enrollment growth of 5,000 full-time-equivalent students in 2005-06, a 2.5 percent increase, consistent with the compact.

• Faculty and staff compensation: A 3 percent funding increase for salary increases, including merit-based increases, and additional funds to help contribute to employee health benefit costs and to address market-based and equity issues. (Specific compensation levels are subject to local programs and collective bargaining agreements where applicable.)

• Academic preparation: Continuation of $17.3 million in state funding for UC's academic preparation programs, which work to help improve academic achievement and college preparation among students in disadvantaged public schools in California . The governor's budget message indicated that this funding will be sustained “on a one-time basis, with the understanding that the University will work with the Administration to fully evaluate the cost-effectiveness of each program and eliminate those that cannot demonstrate an adequate return on investment.”

• UC Merced: Continuation of $10 million in ongoing operating funds plus $14 million in one-time money for the new campus opening in fall 2005, along with enrollment funding (part of the above 5,000-student allocation) to enroll its entering class in 2005-06.

• Science and math initiative: A $750,000 allocation for UC to begin the “California Teach: One Thousand Teachers, One Million Minds” program. In this program, UC will work with corporate partners and the CSU system to dramatically expand the training of high-quality science and mathematics teachers for California 's schools in order to bolster the state's long-term economic and technological competitiveness.

• Labor institute: In one exception to the overall good news in the budget, the governor vetoed $3.8 million from the budget passed by the Legislature for the Institute for Labor and Employment. The governor's veto message said the funding “was provided on a one-time basis in the 2004 Budget Act, and these reductions are needed to help bring ongoing expenditures in line with existing resources.”

• Student fees and financial aid: The Board of Regents last November approved undergraduate and graduate student fees for 2005-06, consistent with the levels outlined in the compact and consistent with the final state budget outcome. The action included increases of 8 percent ($457) for resident undergraduates and 10 percent ($628) for resident graduate academic students. Details about 2005-06 student fees are available at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/budget/fee_fact_sheet05.pdf. UC financial aid, in conjunction with Cal Grants, will be sufficient to cover the fee increase and some other increases in costs of attendance for undergraduates eligible for UC grant aid. (The Regents are scheduled to consider additional proposed fee increases for professional school students at the board's July meeting.)

• Capital improvements: Funding of $352.5 million from a voter-approved general obligation bond measure to expand and upgrade academic facilities to support enrollment growth and to maintain progress on seismic and other life-safety improvements while also addressing essential infrastructure and building renewal needs.

The University's press release on the budget is available at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/jul11.html.

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