Here is an excerpt from an article in yesterday’s New York Times titled “California Cuts Weigh Heavily on Its Colleges”:
The compromise to close the state’s huge budget gap included cuts to state agencies of all kinds, but none were as deep as those to
the state’s public colleges and universities… “There’s no question that California has had the most emulated public universities in the nation, and for the rest of the world,” said Terry W. Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education. “What we are seeing is the abandonment of the state’s commitment to make California’s education available to all its citizens.” … While states across the country have tightened their belts, none of their higher education cuts have matched the severity of California’s, Dr. Hartle said.
The article also references the brain drain of faculty leaving UC for greener pastures in Texas, the inability of UCR to get its medical school accredited, and other recent hot topics. The full article is available at:
Spend thrift UC Chancellor adds to deeper cuts with wasteful spending. Like any addiction, admitting you have a problem is the first step toward correcting it. University of California Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau ($500,000 salary) has forgotten he is a public servant, steward of the public money, not overseer of his own fiefdom.
Tuition, fee increases exceed national average rate of increase.
Recruits (using California tax $) out of state, foreign $50,600 students who displace qualified sons, daughters of Californians from Cal.
Spends $7,000,000 + for consultants to do his & vice chancellors work
(Prominent East Coast University accomplishing same 0 cost).
University accrues $150 million of inefficiencies over his 8 year reign.
Pays: ex Michigan governor $300,000 for lectures.
In procuring $3,000,000 consultant failed to receive proposals from other firms.
Latino enrollment drops out of state jump 2010(M Krupnick Contra Costa Times)
Best in nation rank: # 70 Forbes
Academic rank: QS academic falls below top ten.
Tuition to Return on Investment drops below top 10.
Cal most expensive USA public university
NCAA: absence senior management oversight, basketball program on probation.
These are not isolated examples: it’s all shameful. There is no justification for such irregularities by a steward of the public trust. Absolutely none.
Birgeneau’s spend thrift practices will not change. University of California Board of Regents Chair Sherry Lansing must do a better job of vigorously enforcing financial oversight of Birgeneau who treat’s Cal. as his fiefdom. Only then will confidence of Alumni, donors begin to improve.
My agenda is transparency. I have 35 years’ consulting experience; have taught at UC Berkeley, where I observed the culture & the way senior management works. No, I was not fired or downsized & have not solicited contracts from UC/Cal.
Email opinion to Dianne.Griffiths@ucop.edu