University of California campuses may have to layoff hundreds of faculty members and enroll more out-of-state students to deal with Gov. Jerry Brown's budget cuts. The UC Board of Regents met yesterday in San Diego to talk about their next steps.
Brown has hit the UC system with potentially $500 million in state-budget cuts. Regents say the UC is grappling with an additional $500 million in costs associated with UC pensions and rising utility bills. Altogether, the UC-budget gap stands at $1 billion.
Regents say access, affordability and the quality of the UC system will be severely affected.
“We need to assume that we are not going to get the $500 million,” said UC Regent Frederick Ruiz. “The stakeholders need to know, whether it's the faculty, or the students or employees, their livelihoods are at risk.”
UC campuses might also have to enroll fewer California residents in favor of out-of-state or out-of-country students because they pay higher fees.
Cuts to enrollment, classes, programs and services are also on the table.
UC President Mark Yudof said the system has already approved furloughs and tuition hikes for this year.
“If the furloughs are gone and the fee increases are gone, then you’re looking at some harsh realities," Yudof said. “You're talking about layoffs. You're probably talking about thousands and thousands of them.”
Yudof wants the nine UC Chancellors to submit cost cutting plans within six weeks.
