UC DAVIS: OFFICE OF THE PROVOST
December 4, 2003
Provost's Update
BUDGET:
As you are likely aware, the Governor has proposed mid-year budget reductions as a first step in his budget balancing strategy. For UC systemwide, he has proposed a $15.7 million unallocated (not targeted) reduction, growing to a $47.1 million reduction in 2004-05 (approximately 2% of the University's State General Fund Budget). Based on the typical proportions of how such cuts are allocated to campuses, this would mean a $2.4 million reduction for UC Davis this fiscal year and a $7.1 million cut next year.
The Governor has also proposed eliminating K-12 outreach, with a systemwide reduction of $12.2 million this year and $33.3 million next year. While the Governor proposed this reduction be effective January 1, 2004, we are currently reviewing how and when such a reduction would be implemented and the share of this reduction for our campus. If approved, this reduction will likely affect staff positions and we will approach any reductions carefully and with compassion to program staff.
It should be noted that both of these reductions are proposals to the legislature. A special legislative session is now underway to consider these proposals. The next significant milestone in the state budget process will be the submission of the Governor's Budget in early January. He may well propose additional cuts for the University at that point.
The campus Budget Work Group will initiate a new series of meetings to assess the mid-year reductions and undertake planning for next year's budget process. Once we know the Governor's Budget proposal for 2004-05, we will move as quickly as possible to create a firm framework for your 2004-05 plans.
All of us are aware that budget uncertainty generates anxiety, so responding appropriately to budget challenges is of the highest priority. Thankfully there are many talented folks on this campus to develop creative solutions. Having information is key to developing such solutions, so we are committed to reporting information to you as it becomes available. Additional information on the UC budget will continue to be posted on the campus budget web site at http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/budget/
STRATEGIC PLAN- THE UC DAVIS VISION:
I surely encourage you to review and provide input on the new strategic plan for the campus at http://strategicplan.ucdavis.edu/. At the Chancellor's Fall Conference in late September, we began in earnest to define the highest priority actions we need to take now to reach goals outlined by the plan in the areas of learning, discovery, and engagement.
We now need your help to move us along the path to action. I invite you to reflect on the report of the Conference that can also be found at http://strategicplan.ucdavis.edu/ and give particular attention to the three strategies participants identified as the highest priorities for the campus at this time:
- Learning: Ensure that the campus maintains and develops high-caliber courses, curricula, and academic programs.
- Discovery: Invest in targeted areas of established and emerging excellence and distinction.
- Engagement: Contribute to the solution of society's most pressing problems locally and around the globe through disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, lifelong education, and community partnerships.
Please send to strategicplan@ucdavis.edu your specific suggestions about implementing actions recommended by the Conference or suggest actions that you think should be on the list. Please also consider the remaining 11 strategies identified in the plan and suggest actions we might consider to advance them. The ideas we receive in this way will be reviewed by the Council of Deans and Vice Chancellors and/or other appropriate campus advisory and constituency groups with the goal of implementing the ideas that will move the campus forward.
TA BARGAINING ACTIVITY:
The University of California and the UAW reached a tentative agreement on a new contract on Tuesday, December 2. The contract will cover Teaching Assistants, Readers, and Tutors. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this period of time and look forward to an early ratification of the tentative agreement. Details of the tentative agreement will be shared soon.
CAMPUS PROGRESS HIGHLIGHTS:
MAJOR INCREASE IN RESEARCH FUNDING:
After a 20 percent increase in 2002-03, research funding at UC Davis now ranks third in non-federally financed research expenditures and 15th in overall research expenditures among public and private universities, according to the National Science Foundation. For details, please see: http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=6773
APPROVAL OF THE LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN:
In November, the UC Board of Regents approved a roadmap for the future growth of the UC Davis campus. The planned development projects, totaling more than $1 billion, include a transit-friendly neighborhood, a research park, educational partnerships, and new academic buildings. For details, please see: http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=6746
RECORD FACULTY HIRING:
Our campus community is joined this year by 131 new faculty members. Clearly we are all excited to welcome them to our UC Davis community. You can read a bit more about them at http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/dateline/dl_detail.lasso?id=7079 and http://academicpersonnel.ucdavis.edu/faculty/newfaculty2003-04.pdf
They will surely enrich our campus by their contributions in a wide variety of disciplines.
Best regards,
Virginia S. Hinshaw
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
University of California, Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-8558
530/752-4964; Fax 530/752-2400
vshinshaw@ucdavis.edu