Budget Crisis

The University Council - American Federation of Teachers is committed to protecting access, affordability and quality at the University of California. The long term trend of defunding of higher education by the State of California has reduced the UC's academic budgets to the point where these three key tenets of our model public university are all in serious jeopardy. To make matters worse, the leadership of the University of California, headed by UC President Mark Yudof, is framing these fundamental changes to the University as necessary and unavoidable, while failing to advocate in any meaningful way for the continuation of UC's egalitarian tradition. In fact, the Office of the President has consolidated deep and likely permanent cuts in core instructional areas, while maintaining funding for private and profit making sectors of the University.

UC-AFT advocates the following measures for the reform of higher education funding and UC budget priorities:

State of California

Progressive tax reform, including reinstatement of 10% an 11% brackets and closing corporate tax loopholes
Oil severance tax
Reform of Prop 13

University of California

Budgetary and accounting transparency, including access to UC's feduciaries
Legitimate and open dialogue about UC's major funding pools including investment accounts and reserves
An investigation into the reasons for the rampant growth of administrative and executive positions throughout the system

March 4th Statewide Day of Action--Californian's Unite to Support Education

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 13:13

Budget Crisis

A broad coalition of students, faculty, and staff from K-12, the community colleges, CSU's and UC are uniting in a statewide day of action on March 4th to protest chronic underfunding of education in California, and to demand restoration of access, affordability and quality for all. UC-AFT and our state affiliate, CFT, have endorsed the actions on March 4th. We encourage all of our members to take this opportunity to raise awareness about the impacts of the budget cuts on our ability to deliver the highest quality of instruction and service in the classroom and libraries.

Democracy Now Coverage Including Interview with Bob Samuels

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 16:11

Budget Crisis

UC-AFT President, Bob Samuels, was interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. The interview covers the protests at UCLA on November 18 and 19. Bob discusses UC finances and the impacts of regental and UCOP priorities on undergraduate education.

Here is the full Democracy Now coverage including great interviews from UCB, including UC-AFT member and Lecturer, Michael Cohen.

Fee Increase Passes Despite Opposition and Protest

Budget Crisis

The Regents passed a 32% fee increase at their meeting on November 19 at UCLA. Student fees at UC will reach $10,300 not including various campus based fees that will raise the cost of attendance to nearly $13,000, not including housing, food, and books. The decision to increase fees was made in the face of significant opposition and protest by UC students and workers who feel that the budget deficit is being balanced on the backs of those who can least afford it.

Fee Increase Passes Despite Opposition and Protest

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 14:57

Budget Crisis

Saving Public Education: Lesson Plans

Budget Crisis

In order to promote critical thinking and raise awareness about the current budget situation affecting public education, we encourage you to take 10 minutes each week to educate students about what is currently going on at UC and beyond. UC-AFT Local 2199 members will be working to provide many lesson plans to come to get your students thinking about what is at stake for them and their families.

Lesson Plan #1: The Yudof Interview

9/24 to 11/17- The Struggle To Save UC

Submitted by administrator on Mon, 10/05/2009 - 16:35

Budget Crisis

With most of the budget reductions planned or in place, the remaining budget balancing mechanism proposed by UC is an additional 30% fee increase that would be phased in over the coming year. These fee increases would generate $117 million for 09/10 and $292 million for 10/11. UC President Yudof is already campaigning for the fee increase in the media and he's focusing his message directly at the students. Here's a link to an essay based on his comments at the Regents meeting on September 16th.

9/24 Actions Build Momentum Toward November Regents Meeting

Submitted by administrator on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 14:17

Budget Crisis

On Thursday, September 24 a wave of protests washed over University of California campuses to draw attention to what protest organizers are calling a “priority crisis.” UC administrators’ and regents’ arbitrary decisions to impose layoffs, furloughs, and skyrocketing student fees have sparked resistance throughout the institution.

Interview with Yudof's Alter Ego

Submitted by administrator on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 09:25

Budget Crisis

This article contains the real interview that UC President Yudof did with Deborah Solomon of the N.Y. Times Magazine on September 24th, 2009. It also contains a mock interview with Yudof's alter ego, Alter-Y, a fictional character who answers the interview questions with some deference for the position and title he holds, and some consideration for the importance of the decisions his office is making. Finally, there is a fictional N.Y. Times reader commenting on Yudof's real answers.