Posts Tagged: President Drake

Gov. Newsom proposes 5-year funding compact with UC

UC Office of the President released a statement on Gov. Newsom's budget proposal today. UC ANR is also grateful for the plan, which includes a 5% increase in UC funding, allocations for deferred maintenance and climate research and outreach. Please read the UC statement below.

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

Gov. Newsom proposes 5-year funding compact with UC

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today (Jan. 10) proposed a state spending plan that includes a five-year funding compact with the University of California. If enacted, it would bring budget stability to UC and support critical long-term investments in educational access and excellence.

Under the plan, UC would see a 5 percent budget increase over each of the next five fiscal years, allowing the University to increase enrollment, boost resources to help underrepresented groups achieve academic success, and expand college access and affordability for struggling students and families across the state.

Newsom's spending plan for the 2022-23 fiscal year also allocates $185M in one-time funds for climate change-related work, expanding the University's innovation ecosystem to accelerate new technological solutions.

“The University of California is grateful to Gov. Newsom for his continued leadership and steadfast support of the University,” said UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D. “The priorities he outlined today reflect our shared commitment to expanding the positive impact the University has on the lives of all Californians.”

Newsom's budget proposal marks the beginning of a negotiation process with the state Legislature that runs through June 15. Highlights of Newsom's spending plan include:

A 5 percent funding increase for UC in 2022-23, with additional 5 percent increases over each of the following four years.

$185M in one-time funding for research and innovation to combat climate change, including the creation of new climate-focused innovation hubs, workforce development for climate-focused careers, and seed grants that will attract matching funds to accelerate projects that foster resilience and mitigate the environmental impacts of climate change.

Significant one-time funding for energy-efficiency projects across UC campuses and critical deferred maintenance.

“We appreciate the governor's continued investment in UC as an engine of economic mobility. The steady, reliable levels he has proposed give us the foundation we need to grow enrollment at UC without compromising the excellence of our research, teaching and public service mission,” said Cecilia Estolano, chair of the UC Board of Regents. “It allows us to do our part to educate the next generation of California's leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.”

The funding to expand climate-related innovation builds on UC's ongoing partnership with the state to foster entrepreneurial efforts across California. In 2016, state lawmakers introduced legislation that allocated $22M to expand innovation efforts at all 10 UC campuses. That effort returned a 14-fold increase and launched more than 530 startups.

Today, UC has a strong network of incubators, accelerators and boot camps across the University. The governor's plan to leverage the strength of that innovation ecosystem to focus on climate change is a win for California, Chair Estolano said.

“We are heartened by the governor's confidence in UC's cutting-edge research on climate resiliency. These resources will enable our researchers to develop the technologies, practices and policies needed to address drought, wildfires, sea level rise, clean transportation, climate smart agriculture, building decarbonization, and climate justice. UC turns ideas into planet-saving and community-building action. This will help us elevate and accelerate our work in all sectors,” Estolano said.

University leaders said they looked forward to working with state lawmakers on a spending plan that will help UC improve the lives of people across the state.

“Gov. Newsom's budget proposal demonstrates his strong, continued dedication to furthering UC's excellence,” President Drake said. “We look forward to continuing to partner with his administration and with the state Legislature as they finalize the budget in the months ahead.”

 

Look for needs assessment Aug. 18; Drake reflects on his first year in office

Tomorrow (Aug. 18) you will receive by email a survey created by the UC systemwide Talent Management Consortium with my name in the “From” line. This survey is a needs assessment to gather feedback on UC's local and systemwide training opportunities on leadership and organization development.

Your feedback is important. This survey will present you with several existing, in-development, and potential courses and/or services. Please take this opportunity to weigh in on the value and need of leadership training content and organization development services in our UC communities. Thank you in advance for your participation.

I am also pleased to share with you a video message from President Drake to the UC community as he reflects on his first year in office, thanks the UC community, and shares his optimism for the future. I echo his sentiment of pride and optimism in the work we do every day and look forward to expanding the positive impact we have in communities across the State of California.

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

President Drake begins consultation process on possible expanded curtailment program

Dear Colleagues,

I have appreciated your remarkable efforts over the past seven months to manage what has been an unprecedented period in the University of California's history: a global pandemic led us to shift to primarily remote learning and campus operations, and our medical centers have been at the forefront of California's pandemic response. Through it all, the UC community has shown courage, compassion, and a fervent commitment to public service.

COVID-19 also resulted in significant economic challenges for our state and nation, which have inevitably affected our institution. I write today to tell you about another measure we are contemplating to address our budget shortfall while preserving as many jobs as possible and protecting our lowest-paid employees. No final decisions have been made, but I want our decision-making process to be as informed as possible.

As you may know, every campus and the UC Office of the President observe a certain number of curtailment days per year around the winter holidays. In consultation with UC Chancellors, Academic Senate leaders, the Board of Regents, and other UC stakeholders, we are currently considering a new systemwide program to achieve additional operational and salary savings. This program would expand the existing curtailment periods or add new curtailment periods as needed to achieve a minimum of five curtailment days at every UC location in fiscal year 2020-21.

Again, no final decisions have been made. At this juncture, we are simply considering our options and seeking feedback from UC constituents to help shape our approach. As we undertake these discussions, we will be guided by several core principles: 

• Measured cuts: we will only move forward with a curtailment expansion after implementing other prudent financial savings measures (you may recall former UC President Janet Napolitano implemented restrictions last spring and summer on hiring, business travel, and other spending);
• Protect as many jobs as possible: by taking measured steps early, we hope to preserve jobs, healthcare benefits, and pensions, and stave off the need for furloughs and temporary or permanent layoffs;
• Progressive approach: we will aim to ensure that our most vulnerable employees are the least impacted. Any cost-savings plan would be progressive and will have a larger impact on those with higher earnings;
• Minimal disruption: any plan we adopt will allow campuses to achieve material savings while providing flexibility to maintain essential campus and medical center services, such as UCPath and the UC Retirement Administration Service Center (RASC).

We know this is a challenging time for everyone, and that this news is difficult to receive. However, we must work collectively to ensure long-term financial stability for the University, its faculty and staff, and the people it serves. 

Thank you for all you do to keep the University of California moving forward and to maintain our standards of excellence and service as we all confront unprecedented personal and professional challenges. We may face additional hardships in the future, but I know that the UC community is adaptable, resilient, and creative. And I know that we will get through this together.

Sincerely,

Michael V. Drake, MD
President, University of California

 

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