BUDGET UPDATE 5 P.M. JUNE 26: The UC Office of the President late this afternoon posted a video letter from President Mark G. Yudof to all faculty and staff, as a follow-up to his recent communication (June 17) to the UC community regarding proposed furloughs-salary reductions. "The president very much wants an open dialogue concerning these proposals, and he invites your comments," the UCOP communications staff said.
Watch the president's message and write to him at this Web site: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/budget.
EARLIER COVERAGE: Budget shortfalls, program cuts and new ways of doing things. Layoffs, furloughs and pay reductions. Option I, Option II and Option III.
All of this makes for anxious times for UC employees, including UC Davis staff who may be weighing the Voluntary Separation Program or wondering what they will do if they are laid off.
For information on these topics and more, Human Resources invites all staff to an open forum, 1 to 3:30 p.m. July 9 in Freeborn Hall. Registration is now under way (see below).
“It is important that staff understand HR programs and services that are available to support them during these difficult times,” said Karen Hull, associate vice chancellor for Human Resources. She advised represented staff to bring their budget concerns and feedback to union leadership.
Forum topics include the layoff process (including available benefits), preferential rehire rights and re-employment options, severance, career counseling and staff development, as well as the Voluntary Separation Program and initiating retirement.
Hull said the forum also will cover Academic and Staff Assistance Program services available to employees and families, and mediation services.
The UC system is looking at an $813 million loss of state funds over two years, 2008-10. UC Davis’ share is estimated at $108 million.
“These are unprecedented times, and we are facing unprecedented challenges,” UC President Mark G. Yudof said in a June 17 letter to employees.
He outlined three options for pay cuts or furloughs, or a combination of the two. Each option figures to reduce individual compensation for all faculty and staff by 8 percent (or 4 percent for people who make less than $46,000 annually). The reduction would be in effect from Aug. 1 until at least July 31, 2010.
A UC Davis survey on the options had drawn nearly 4,000 responses as of June 24. (The survey closes today, June 26.)
“The university has never faced a funding deficit of this magnitude and responding to it will require sacrifice from every member of the university community,” Yudof said.
Student fee increases will bring in about $211 million — about a quarter of the systemwide shortfall. Any of the furlough-pay cut options would save an estimated $195 million.
“The remainder of the projected cuts will fall to the campuses, and likely will affect course availability, class size, student services and other aspects of the educational program,” Yudof said.
UC Davis’ shortfall of about $108 million is being offset by the student fee increases and Provost Enrique Lavernia’s first round of budget cuts (which he ordered in March) in academic and administrative units.
That leaves about $65 million, of which furloughs and pay cuts would save up to $30 million in state general funds, according to Kelly Ratliff, associate vice chancellor for budget planning.
The campus would still be short at least $35 million. Furlough and-or pay cut savings from other funds will be used to offset this to the extent possible, Ratliff said, but there will also be more layoffs and downsizing.
On the Net
Chancellor and provost’s letter (June 17)
President’s letter and the furlough-pay cut options (June 17) [en Español]
UCOP furlough-pay cut Q&A [en Español]
Voluntary separations at UC Davis
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Take the UC Davis survey on furloughs-pay cuts.
Questions, ideas, feedback: budget@ucdavis.edu or ucfeedback@ucop.edu
Open forum
All employees are invited to an open forum on human resources issues related to the budget: 1-3:30 p.m. July 9, Freeborn Hall. Space is limited; register at lms.ucdavis.edu (search for “HR Forum”). HR officials said they would videotape the forum and make the tape widely available for people who are unable to attend.
A similar forum took place June 4 for managers and supervisors. A recording of this session is available online, in two formats:
Windows Media Player
Flash Player
Media Resources
Clifton B. Parker, Dateline, (530) 752-1932, cparker@ucdavis.edu