In the ongoing controversy over how the University of California uses student fees and other monies to back up the bonds it sells for construction projects – a new letter from UC’s Chief Financial Officer answers one question and exposes severe shortcomings in executive oversight.
TO: The Working Groups of the UC Commission on the Future
AT: Their public Meeting on the Berkeley Campus, December 3, 2009
FROM: Charles Schwartz, Professor Emeritus Schwartz@physics.berkeley.edu
For Your Consideration, I submit the enclosed proposal:
A BETTER PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
3 pages summarizing this comprehensive PLAN, followed by 20 pages of relevant background material from my recent seminar on this topic.
In submitting this proposal, I request a thoroughgoing review that will produce a critical response: first identifying any faults you may find in my assertions of fact or logic; then offering whatever opinions you may develop about the feasibility and desirability of the changes that are proposed. That is the caliber of work we expect in the University.
The overall concept of this PLAN is to seek a partial renewal of state funding for the University of California together with substantial changes in the way that UC handles the money it receives. This approach (“walking on two legs”) should be the best way to bring the University and California together again and thus avoid the perils of UC either decaying from its preeminent academic standing or abandoning its invaluable public character.
To be perfectly frank, these proposals do step on the toes of certain factions of the University, namely, the Board of Regents and their chosen executives. But, please remember, our primary goal is to preserve the University, this center of great learning in the service of the public good.
I will be happy to provide an electronic copy of this presentation, so that it can be posted on the central website of the Commission for any interested persons to access.
Thank you,
Charles Schwartz
The PLAN is also posted at http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~schwrtz