The UC Board of Regents met at UCSF from January 21-23.
Below are highlights from the meeting. Items marked with an asterisk are agenda items tracked toward UCSA’s Regent Report Cards in which grades for Regents’ voting records and accessibility to students will be released at the end of the academic year.
Associate Vice President David Alcoccer and Interim Chief Financial Officer Paul Jenny presented on the UC Tuition & Fee Plan item*. They outlined where the UC budget currently stands, how the January budget of Governor Newsom fits into the university’s asks, and the need for more revenue to be generated on a continuous basis. Two models for tuition increases were presented, both of which were 5-year plans. The first would include annual increases on all current students at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate (currently at 2.8%). The second plan keeps tuition constant for current students, but increases it by slightly higher rates than CPI over future years and tapers off to CPI level increases at the end of the 5-year plan to make up for revenue loss. Both proposals received some criticism for their multi-year approach of increases and lack of responsiveness to the more generous investment Governor Newsom provided this year in his January budget. The Regents delved into conversations around impact on student financial aid, affordability, and predictability of both tuition models if implemented. A vote will be taken in a subsequent meeting, likely in March or May 2020.
Vice Provost Gullatt, along with staff from UC Berkeley and Santa Cruz, led a presentation on the basic needs of parenting students*. Kiyoko Thomas, the Basic Needs Manager at UC Berkeley, presenting on the matter from a housing standpoint. Several factors were brought up in consideration of housing support for parenting students such as access to childcare, transportation, proximity to campus, and affordability. There is only 1 temporary space in family housing for parenting students at UC Berkeley who pay be facing homelessness. Ron Williams, the Independent Student Program Director at UC Berkeley, presented on his program that serves foster youth, military-affiliated, re-entry, and parenting students. He emphasized the importance of treating childcare as a basic need that impacts access and engagement. Mariah Lyons, the Slug Support Director at UCSC, presented on the program’s mission of addressing housing and financial needs for students, including parenting students, through a connective approach to community resources and departments. UCSC’s financial aid office is implementing the new Cal Grant Access for students with dependents. The Student Parent Meal Plan serves 23 students in its inaugural year, providing 10 free meals for the student and their dependent per quarter through their campus Student Fee Advisory Committee. The program helps increase networking with peers and a sense of belonging to the university. UCOP Student Affairs has initiated a UC Parenting Students Workgroup to address campus best practices and the community’s needs more holistically.
Vice President of Institutional Research Pamela Brown and Dr. Suzanna Martinez presented on housing insecurity and homelessness among students across the UC system*. Dr. Martinez shared her research on the matter. Based on student focus group findings from across the UC, 8 themes were identified, of which the first defined the various elements that are considered to be basic needs: sleep, sufficient healthy food, stability (peace of mind), safe/secure housing, hygiene, and transportation. The findings recommend assessing student experiences of housing insecurity to better address basic needs for students. VP Brown stated that IRAP will incorporate questions on basic needs in student surveys as early as Spring 2020.
Provost Brown and IRAP Vice President Brown presented on the freshman pipeline to the UC*. The focus is K-12 access to UC across California, focusing on a district-level analysis. There is least variation in high school graduation rates, percent receiving admission into UC, and percent enrolling at UC. The two factors with the greatest variation across districts is the percentage of students who complete A-G courses, and of those who do, the percentage that apply into UC. The rate of enrollment of 9th graders to joining UC later is at an average of 7.9%, but ranges between 18.1% and 3.1% depending on which district examined. Three SAPEP programs were shown on the database to represent UC outreach and its impact. These programs are EAOP, MESA, and Puente Project. Regent Lansing inquired if A-G courses are available in all public schools by high quality, credentialed math and science teachers. Provost Brown stated that this was not the case. Regent Lansing suggested UC run a program that recruits future California teachers. Provost Brown agreed, highlighting that many schools have high graduation rates but low college-ready levels (assessed by A-G completion). UC Scout, a nearly free online UC platform that offers 45 A-G courses, was highlighted as one of the ways this issue was addressed. Rural areas, such as the Inland Empire, tended to have high graduation rates but lower completion of A-G and low rates of application to UC.
Systemwide Title IX Director, Suzanne Taylor, and her Deputy Director, Kendra Fox-Davis, led a presentation on systemwide initiatives pertaining to sexual violence and harassment (SVSH)*. Title IX prohibits sex and gender discrimination or harassment. In 2014, a task force was established by the President to examine ways of developing a comprehensive approach to SVSH. Some recommendations included mandated comprehensive training/education, an advocacy office for survivors on each campus called CARE, a Respondent Services Coordinator, and a systemwide website with consistent content. In 2016, systemwide SVSH policy was issued and a response team model was established. In 2017, a Peer Review Committee was established systemwide and on a campus level to review and approve sanctions for senior university leaders and faculty members with substantiated SVSH complaints. In 2018, a student advisory board was developed to connect undergraduate and graduate students with the systemwide Title IX Office. Student complaints have increased since new policy modifications, likely attributed to better training and the improved reporting process. In January 2019, a California Appellate Court ruled that universities must hold live hearings to resolve sexual misconduct allegations against students. UC had to change their investigative model to a hearing model for that reason. Finally, workgroup was created to develop Presidential Policy on sexual harassment in the clinical setting. Interim directives were released until more thorough policies are put forth.
