In 1993, SB 506 (Hayden, D, Los Angeles) expressed the Legislature’s intent that UC provide a number of courses sufficient to permit normal progress to a baccalaureate degree. The statute requires the Legislative Analyst to review and analyze the annual reports UC submits on faculty workload. The University’s March 1996 report provides trend data indicating that 1) total student credit hours per student increased by 0.4% from 1990-91 through 1994-95 and 2) faculty teaching workload, as measured by the number of 1994-95 classes taught per faculty member and student undergraduate credit hours per faculty member, increased by 3.4% and 2.6%, respectively. This change in faculty teaching workload represents a modest increase in the LAO’s view.
The report states, “In the fall 1995, an adequate number of open course sections and classroom seats (800 sections with 17,000 seats) were available to students.” For freshmen entering in the fall of 1989, 43% obtained their degrees within 12 quarters of study. This compares with 38% for the freshman class of 1988, and 36% for the entering class of 1985.
Although the UC’s 1997 faculty workload report was due to the Legislature by February 1, 1997, as of this writing sources in the UCOP indicated that it is not yet ready for distribution. We expect discussion and comments from the LAO on this subject during the budget hearings this spring.