A Sad Day for California

Today, Governor Brown presented a State budget proposal under which, for the first time, the State will be investing less in the education of University of California students than the students themselves pay through tuition. This is a historic marker of disinvestment in public education that should be disturbing to all Californians -- whether they have family members attending a UC campus or not.

The proposed budget will cut the taxpayers' commitment to the University by half a billion dollars, reducing the level of  State support for UC to 1998 funding levels (in nominal dollars). The number of undergraduate students at the University this year is 175,000, compared to 116,000 in 1998-99 twelve years ago.

Undeniably, the State's economic and budget crisis has forced the Governor's hand; the proposal is, as he calls it, "a tough budget for tough times." The University will stand up and do all it can to help the State through these fiscal challenges. There can be no business as usual.

To that end, I will be giving each of the campuses' Chancellors specific budget reduction targets and directing them to develop and report back to me within six weeks their plans for meeting them. The systemwide office will do the same. I will then present The Regents with a detailed scenario of the steps required to absorb a $500 million reduction -- a budget cut that will lower the State's per-student support to $7,210, compared to the $7,930 paid by students and their families.

Today I am issuing an open letter to Californians, elaborating on these issues in greater detail. If you haven't already, I invite you to read it at http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=483652793378

The stakes for the University -- and California -- have never been higher. In the coming weeks, we will need everyone who cares about and who benefits from the University of California to urge the Governor and their State legislators to support public higher education. Please join us on our advocacy network at  http://ucforcalifornia.org/uc4ca/home/

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely yours,

Mark G. Yudof

President

University of California

PS - Although I will read all your e-mails, I am not able to personally respond to every one. I encourage you to follow me on Facebook and Twitter, where you can share your ideas and look for answers to many of your questions.