February 4, 2009 at 6:17 pm
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STATEMENT TO THE UC BOARD OF REGENTS
MEETING ON FEBRUARY 4, 2009
BY CHARLES SCHWARTZ, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, UC BERKELEY
DURING THESE DIFFICULT BUDGET TIMES WE OFTEN HEAR UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT I SEE. IN DECEMBER I ISSUED A PAPER WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF ALTERNATIVE BUDGET POSSIBILITIES, WHICH YOU HAVE COMPLETELY IGNORED.
LET ME TRY AGAIN, WITH A NEW INSPIRATION THAT COMES FROM WASHINGTON DC. ONE DAY AFTER BEING INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BARAK OBAMA ANNOUNCED THAT MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF WOULD HAVE THEIR PAY CAPPED AT $100,000. THEIR PURPOSE WAS PUBLIC SERVICE, NOT PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.
HOW MIGHT THAT CONCEPT APPLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA? WE ARE CERTAINLY DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE; AND WE HAVE A GREAT MANY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PAID OVER $100,000 PER YEAR.
LET ME OFFER A VERY MODEST SUGGESTION. IF YOU WERE TO TAKE ONE PERCENT – JUST ONE PERCENT OF THE SALARIES PAID TO THOSE EARNING OVER $100,000 THROUGHOUT UC, THAT WOULD NET YOU $29,000,000.
THAT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO COVER THE FULL COSTS FOR THOSE 2,300 NEW STUDENTS THAT YOU WERE PLANNING TO TURN AWAY NEXT YEAR.
SO, THERE IS A NEW IDEA FOR YOU TO PUT ON THE TABLE AND DISCUSS.
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January 15, 2009 at 1:00 am
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WHAT DO THE FACULTY WANT?
an invitation to discourse by the
Research Professoriate
Instigated by Charles Schwartz, Professor Emeritus of Physics,
University of California, Berkeley January 15, 2009
These hard financial times are hitting our public and private universities. In what ways will that impact the research faculty? What can we do about it? Some open discussion and debate is called for, so let us try to start.
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December 15, 2008 at 6:00 pm
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Financing the University – Part 17
by Charles Schwartz
BUDGET ALTERNATIVES for UC
This is no time for the same old approach to the University’s budget since it is most unlikely that the state of California will be able to provide what is being asked. Here we open some closet doors in UC’s big house and show how three alternatives, with several side options, can provide all of the required funding – without raising student fees, limiting enrollment, or harming academic quality. This approach is based on fiscal honesty and shared sacrifice to get us through these hard times.
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November 4, 2008 at 9:05 am
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Financing the University — Part 16
by Charles Schwartz
THE NEW PUSH FOR TRANSPARENCY
Mark Yudof entered into the position of President of the University of California (UC) with a proclamation that he would advance the cause of Transparency and Public Accountability at this institution. That is a very popular campaign promise nowadays:
“My administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.”
– Senator John McCain, in his speech accepting the Republican Party nomination to be President of the United States, September 4, 2008.
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October 9, 2008 at 9:03 pm
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Seminar at the Center for Studies in Higher Education, UC Berkeley
by Charles Schwartz
ABSTRACT
A longstanding business practice at universities and colleges hides the cost of faculty research under the accounting category of “Instruction.” This is especially misleading for research universities in their communications with students, legislators and the general public about financial matters. A proper cost analysis for the University of California shows that undergraduate student fees here are now at 100% of what the institution actually spends, averaged per-student, for that mission. This result contradicts the official claim that student fees cover only 30% of the cost of their education. Estimates of this discrepancy are also provided for some other research universities, both public and private. This has broad implications for public policy regarding higher education.
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June 26, 2008 at 12:39 pm
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Financing the University — Part 15
by Charles Schwartz
WHAT FUTURE FOR UC? – SEVERAL VOICES
On May 27, 2008, the Los Angeles Times ran a large Op-Ed spread with the heading:
“What should UC be? Next month, Mark Yudof will take over as president of the massive university system. Here’s a preview of what’s going into his suggestion box.”
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December 15, 2007 at 9:55 am
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Old and New Thinking about Financing the Research University
by Charles Schwartz, Professor Emeritus of Physics
University of California, Berkeley
Schwartz@physics.berkeley.edu
December 2007
The leading research universities, like my own University of California (UC), are having a difficult time with finances. The standard complaint from our administrators is that the governments, state and federal, are not providing enough money and that is why, regrettably, they have to raise student fees so much.
I want to take a different look, focusing on an old accounting habit that gives a misleading answer to the simple question, What do we spend on undergraduate education and what do we spend on other missions? First, some background.
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