CALIFORNIA COMMENTARY : UC’s Shrinking Piece of the Pie

We got a taste of what mandated funding can mean in the just-completed state budget process. In the end, a shortfall in anticipated state revenues combined with required expenditures left the University of California budget $163 million short of what was deemed essential to meet the state’s growing higher education needs.

Through a series of cost-saving measures, administrative cuts, reductions in research and public service, and increased student fees, UC will preserve its basic teaching programs for at least the next year. Every new mandated claim on the state budget further jeopardizes UC’s ability to receive adequate state support to serve the people of California.

California is the most prosperous state in the nation, in good part because of our commitment to higher education. The University of California is widely accepted as the world’s premiere public university. Its research also fuels the innovations and technological breakthroughs that keep California on the cutting edge of new industries.

My fear is that the day may soon come when no amount of good will and support by the governor and Legislature will be enough to ensure funding to meet the needs of non-mandated programs like the University of California.