The Board of UC Regents met at UCLA on March 13 and 14th. UCSA President Siegel Singh provided remarks on Thursday about an upcoming report on student debt, standardized testing and the national college admissions scam, as well as stated her support against increasing tuition for nonresident students.
The following highlights from this meeting are:
In the Special Committee on Basic Needs, recent data shows that more students reported very low food insecurity (up 3% to 27% of undergraduates since 2015). Students of color and LGBTQ students more likely to be homeless and food insecure. Campuses facing highest food and housing security: UC Merced, UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara. Regent Anguiano asked about what new survey items being considered for future surveys. Regent Perez asked about non campus services to support food and housing security.
AFSCME 3299 members continued to provide public comment about their contract negotiations & held an action outside UCLA joined with students. The UC still has not provided a fair contract with AFSCME 3299. UPTE also spoke about their fight for a fair contract.
In Academic and Student Affairs Committee: Student observer spoke out against PDST increases. Student Regent Designate commented about the variability in student consultation regarding proposals on professional degree supplemental tuition increases. Chair Pérez expressed similar sentiment of making it more clear. PDST proposals increases for campuses approved, variety of when it will be going from. Some campuses will see it for 2 years while other for 5 years.
In Finance and Capital Strategies Committee: Student observer spoke out against the nonresident tuition increase and detailed benefits nonresident students bring, before the vote. Regent Lark Park said we should not be focused on recruiting wealthy international students, and think about refugees and vocally said that she cannot support nonresident tuition. Regent Kieffer said, “it’s not about educating the world but is your system competitive to attract world leaders” and Napolitano said “increase is not that much when considering inflation”. Park, Lieb, Markachian, and Cohen vote no, rest vote yes on approving increase to nonresident tuition and made this a separate item to discuss and vote on Thursday*
Before nonresident tuition vote, President Napolitano said, “that the increase is a modest increase to keep up with the ongoing educational mission for university. If we don’t increase, we are creating a $300 million deficit in budget”. Makarchian: spoke out against tuition increase countering Napolitano that there are no such thing as constant dollars for nonresident because fluctuation of currency. Cohen: spoke out against tuition, need to stop treating nonresident as cash cows and voiced we have to support on undocumented students. Perez: immoral where we have no means to support nonresident students with financial aid. Guber: keep tuition the same but provide resources that are vital for them to be here. Regent Oakley and Eleni Kounalakis verbally spoke out against tuition. Lansing said UC and this state needs to get more diversity with in-state and recommended to postpone vote. Leib: Said he voted no in committee and supports tabling. Butler: made motion to table item, passed.
In Compliance and Audit Committee, approved external audit plan and new changes on the scope of that audit. UCOP has 8 incomplete audit recommendations with a deadline by April 2020. Regent Lansing mentioned, “I hope I can speak for everyone and say raising fees is painful” when discussing PDST increases.
At the conclusion of the Board of Regents meeting as of 3/14/19, Regents’ Grades are:
Regent Anguiano: 48.6%
Regent Blum: 56.3%
Regent Elliot: 52%
Regent Guber: 52.08%
Regent Kieffer: 57.9%
Regent Lansing: 61.25%
Regent Makarechian: 55.83%
Regent Oakley: 53.65%
Regent Park: 54.69%
Regent Perez: 65.2%
Regent Sherman: 51.25%
Regent Tauscher: 65.3%
Regent Zettel: 48.33%
Regent Cohen: 53.75%
Regent Butler: 50%
Regent Estolano: 50%
Regent Leib: 59.5%
Regent Sures: N/A. This Regent was recently appointed, so not enough data exists to issue a grade.
