Dear Colleagues,
It's hard to believe the end of the semester is imminent and final exams are around the corner, not to mention the ensuing holiday season. The academic year thus far has been personally very rewarding, and as I continue to meet more faculty, lecturers, staff members and students, I am gaining a greater understanding and appreciation for all that you do and also a greater awareness of the challenges you have faced. While it seems like there's never enough time to accomplish all the work that needs to be done, you should be proud of the progress that has been made in the campus' short history.
With so much of the world's attention focused on the Occupy movement and its recent expressions across the University of California system, I want to begin this letter by thanking and commending the entire UC Merced community for your thoughtful and effective response to our own student demonstrations. As I said in an earlier statement, peaceful protest and dissent are deeply ingrained in the UC culture and are protected under the U.S. Constitution. We must do all we can to support our students as they engage in peaceful assembly and free speech while also ensuring the normal operations of the university can be sustained. With this delicate balance in mind, I directed members of my staff to update the UC Merced protocol for responding to peaceful protests on UC Merced property, with special attention to clear guidelines on the authorization and use of force. View a working draft of these guidelines.
As in all matters, when the eyes of the world are upon us, I want this campus to stand out for the exemplary manner in which we comport ourselves and uphold the UC tradition of excellence.
Capital Construction and Space Challenges
Despite the lingering gloomy forecast for the state's economy, UC Merced's physical plant continues to grow. We recently learned that the 2011 Series G lease revenue bond sale closed last week. Upon the Department of Finance's approval to award construction contracts, all state funding will be available for the planned Science and Engineering Building 2, which is necessary for the growth of research and academic programs. The projected construction start time continues to be early spring 2012, with the goal of opening the building by fall 2014. Other planned capital projects include:
- Recreation Center North — ground floor to open in late summer 2012
- Student Services Building — one-story Classroom Pavilion due to open in Fall 2013, and the three-story portion of the building to open by January 2014
- Student Housing Phase 4 — scheduled to open in August 2013
In addition, the Board of Regents approved last week the 2012-13 Capital Budget for State Capital Improvements for the system, which includes two critical projects for our campus — a Classroom and Office Building and much-needed expansion of campus infrastructure and site development. The challenge now is to secure funding for these approved projects through the legislative process.
While we welcome these much needed capital construction projects, the shortage of space continues to pose a challenge for our burgeoning research university. As I've noted to many of you, we cannot count on the state of California to finance the construction of new academic and research space at a level or pace that meets the needs of our growing university, which means we must explore all other feasible options for financing campus capital development needs. To assist us in this effort, I've been working with the UC Office of the President to identify needed expertise in capital financing. We will also be using the consulting services of the Urban Land Institute, a respected nonprofit organization, to assist us in taking a fresh and creative look at the options available for meeting current and future capital development needs.
As you know from past campus updates, we are also engaged in a process of assessing current and near-term space needs of administrative and support staff. The limited availability of on-campus space will regrettably necessitate moving some people or units into off-campus locations. Following a process of campus input on the criteria to be used for determining on- and off-campus space assignments, each division headed by a vice chancellor or dean — and managers of other areas such as IT and library — completed a comprehensive space self-assessment. Capital planning staff have now completed the process of compiling these self-assessments and current space assignments for administrative and support staff. This week, they will begin the task of determining the best use of existing space, both off and on campus, to meet current and near-term administrative and support staff space needs. By early to mid-January, the capital planning team will be prepared to present scenarios and recommendations to the university's leadership team for decision and action.
Update on Process-Improvement Initiative and Internal Communication
As explained in my campus message on Oct. 24, administrators are developing a process-improvement action plan based on input provided earlier this fall by faculty and staff. I hope you will join us for the next campus town hall, co-sponsored by Staff Assembly, to be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Dr. Lakireddy Auditorium, where we will be prepared to introduce the plan to the faculty and staff.
Meanwhile, I want to thank the more than 150 faculty and staff who responded to our internal communications survey and provided thoughtful feedback on the institution's strengths and challenges in information sharing. While your responses tell us we're doing some things reasonably well (town hall meetings and formal communication about UC Merced as a whole, for example), it's clear we have much room for improvement in many other areas. For example, too often, people don't know where to find information, and information provided on campus websites is too frequently out of date.
In our ongoing efforts to improve organizational communication, campus senior leadership will join me next month for a two-day retreat led by a communication specialist to discuss the findings in detail and create an action plan for improving communication within divisions and schools as well as throughout campus. As a result, I am confident you will note an improvement in the quality and frequency of the sharing of information by lead administrators in the coming months.
Strengthening Fundraising Efforts
We recently implemented a significant administrative change that reflects the fiscal challenges our campus faces as the state's disinvestment in higher education continues. Now, more than ever, we need to bring in private funding to support our research and academic programs. Accordingly, based on the advice of a number of experts with whom I consulted, I have changed the scope of responsibilities for the Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations (formerly known as University Relations) position in preparation for a nationwide search to fill this position. The future vice chancellor will be expected to carry a significant fundraising portfolio and, therefore, focus primarily on fundraising and alumni relations. Accordingly, effective Dec. 1, the Office of Government Relations and the Office of Communications moved from that division to the Chancellor's Office, with the corresponding lead administrators reporting directly to me. In addition to allowing the incoming vice chancellor to strengthen UC Merced's fundraising profile, this new structure — consistent with changes made at other UC campuses in recent years — will also promote the close coordination required between my office and those two areas, which often need immediate access to me, and vice versa, in order to address the quickly shifting political and communications landscapes.
Trigger Cuts, Tuition and UC Spending Plan
On the state budget front, it is now quite likely that revenue will fall sufficiently short of the assumptions built into the state budget for this fiscal year to trigger a $2 billion mid-year cut. The University of California’s share of this cut could be as high as $100 million. The good news in this gloomy scenario is that the UCOP has created a "bridging strategy" through reserve funds to offset the shortfall during the current fiscal year. President Yudof has further announced that there will be no mid-year tuition increase, which should be welcome news to UC Merced students and their families.
What we do not know at this time is whether the $100 million cut will be temporary — for this fiscal year only — or a permanent, further decrease in the University of California budget.
During its last meeting, the UC Board of Regents approved a budget proposal ("spending plan") that will now be sent to the state Legislature. This budget proposal requests $2.8 billion in funding from the state, an increase from $2.3 billion last year. Although this would still be considerably less than what the UC received from the state four years ago, without additional sources of state revenue it is unlikely that the budget proposal can be fully funded.
I will keep the campus community informed of budget developments as they occur during the upcoming legislative session. Additional information can be found at the University of California Budget News website.
Opportunities for Giving to the Less Fortunate
As I wrap up this latest letter to the campus, I want to encourage each of you to share the spirit of giving that is part of the holiday season. Whether you live in Merced or another locale in the San Joaquin Valley, you've witnessed the dire economic plight of many of our neighbors. With unemployment and poverty rates hovering at 20 percent and educational attainment rates markedly lower than throughout much of the state, we have many opportunities to help address the distress that many in the community endure.
The campus will kick off the yearly United Way campaign on Jan. 12. I hope each campus community member will join me in donating to support United Way programs that directly benefit those in need right here in Merced County. Learn more about our local United Way and how you can support it through donations or volunteering.
I also invite you to participate in the toy drive that will be conducted during this year's faculty and staff holiday reception. Of the residents living in poverty and at its margins, many are children who have little to look forward to during the holidays. We can each make a big difference in the lives of our local kids by donating a toy for boys and/or girls. I encourage you to bring a wrapped new toy to the reception, which will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 on the second floor of the Social Sciences and Management Building. (Please indicate whether the toy is for a boy or girl and the appropriate age group.)
In closing, I wish each of you a relaxing and joyous holiday season. You make profound contributions to this campus every day. Your pride in what you do, and who we are, will continue to make UC Merced an extraordinary institution.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Leland
Chancellor
