UC Davis Budget Cuts

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There have been budget cuts in the California higher education system (UC, CSU, and community colleges) for the last 30 years. That is, the California legislature has been paying a smaller and smaller percentage for higher education over time. What are the consequences of budget cuts in the UC and UCD? "Furloughs" (pay cuts), libraries closing, student fees increasing, layoffs — etc. The Death of the California Master Plan for Higher Education.

There were walkouts/strikes/protests on the first day of classes at UCD (September 24, 2009) and November 18-20, 2009. On November 19, 2009, students converged on Mrak Hall to protest the UC Regents approval of a 32% student fee hike that will happen over the next year. Students' reaction to the UC Regent's vote was covered by ABC News 10. As these budget cuts affect all UC students, protests have also taken place at other UC campuses.

UC President Mark G. Yudof was quoted in the SF Chronicle as saying, "There will not be any students who won't be able to afford a UC education...If someone slips through the cracks, send me an e-mail and we'll take care of it." According to the article, Yudof "was referring to UC's Blue and Gold program in which the university will pick up the entire tuition, excluding living and campus costs, for students whose families earn $70,000 or less and who qualify for other financial aid such as Cal Grants and federal Pell Grants."

• Assembly Bill 656 (AB 656), authored by Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico. It would generate funding for the UC, the CSU, and the community colleges by enacting a new tax on oil and natural gas "severed" from California land or water. California is the only oil-producing state in the nation that lacks an oil/natural gas severance tax. You can join the Facebook "causes" page for the bill.

• SB 218, which strengthens the California Public Records Act by including any auxiliary organizations receiving public funds or performing government functions on state college campuses

• SCA 21 and ACA 24, which allow California voters to decide whether the state should create a check on the Board of Regents through public oversight and, if necessary, legislative intervention.

• In the past, the Governor has vetoed SB86, which prohibits pay-raises for top executives in years in which the UC or CSU budget does not receive an increase in state funding and SB 219, which ensures that all UC employees are given the same whistleblower protections as other state employees.

October 21, 2009 School of Veterinary Medicine The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine will face a $2.6 million loss for the 2009-2010 school year. This funding gap, both a product of the state budget and a weakened veterinary services market, has left the school's Academic Council little choice but to cancel programs, eliminate positions and forestall expansion - cuts that have the potential to significantly shake the foundation of the school.

October 20, 2009 School of Education The School of Education received a 3.9% cut for the 2009-2010 year, compared to the previous year.

October 19, 2009 Graduate School of Management must shave an additional $560,000 off of their 2009-2010 budget. Newly appointed Dean Currall said that the GSM has already reduced programs, including two marketing campaigns for MBA students as well as the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series. Dean Currall expressed some optimism saying that he's worried about how the cuts will affect the programs but that they seem "modest" and that it is too early to clearly define their effects.

The UC Board of Regents made plans to cut funding, while at the same time giving a top administrative aid a 26% pay increase of $61,000.

GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL CUTS UC SYSTEM

• Fall 2004 freshman enrollment would be reduced 10 percent
  

• Spending on faculty would be cut 5 percent, aimed at increasing student-faculty ratio
  

• Fees would increase 10 percent for undergraduates, more for graduate/professional
  

• Financial aid would be cut from 33 percent of new student fee revenue to 20 percent
  

• Deeper cuts proposed for outreach, research, administration, other programs

• Undergraduate Student Fees
  

• UPTE Strike 2009
  

• UC Davis' Graduate Student's Association's wikispot regarding UC Budget
  

• UniversityProbe.org - A Critical Forum on Research Universities
  

• Ways for students to have input
  

• UC System vs CSU system

• Democracy Now

• November 20, 2009 Nearly 50 arrested in Mrak Hall demonstration
  

• November 20, 2009 Students outraged by UC Regents' decision
  

• July 2009 NPR

• San Francisco Gate

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2009-11-21 23:04:10   Whoa, so if my dad decided to work a little less I would get a free education? Huh. My parents are not the type to work less to get stuff for free and they raised me better than that too. I know that Ivy Leagues give enough financial aid so that families earning less that $160,000 a year pay no more than 10% of their incomes for an education, but even they only give free rides to those making less than $40,000 a year. The $70,000 a year seems a little high. —hankim

The cost of living varies significantly throughout the country, and is among the highest in the Bay Area, where UC Davis draws the majority of its students from. $70,000 here is very different from $70,000 in many other parts of the country. —IDoNotExist


• Even so, a family of four making $70,000 a year is not that bad even in the Bay Area, unless you are living in San Francisco or some other ridiculously expensive neighborhood. —hankim