Big Picture Focus Needed for Higher Education
Almost six decades ago, California adopted the Master Plan for Higher Education that has produced the most successful public higher education system in the world. The challenge is how we maintain and build on that success. One positive sign is that the State Assembly has convened a Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher […]
The University of California Doesn’t Need Fixing
“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Sacramento lawmakers ought to keep that adage in mind before they adopt legislation to “fix” the University of California. The last thing the University needs is micromanaging by the Legislature. For more than 50 years, under California’s Master Plan for Higher Education, UC has been the linchpin of […]
Adequate Cal State Funding Can Ease Teacher Shortage
Dick Ackerman and Mel Levine co-chair the California Coalition for Public Higher Education. Ackerman is a former California State Senator and Assemblyman, and Levine is a former U.S. Congressman and State Assemblyman. California has a severe shortage of teachers and one of the reasons we aren’t producing more instructors is the failure to adequately fund […]
Higher Education Is A State Responsibility
Both the University of California and the California State University system are in the process of instituting increases in tuition and fees to help maintain educational quality and keep the doors open to worthy students. Both systems are acting responsibly, but these increases also underscore the failure of the State to do its part in […]
State Has The Funds To Boost Higher Education
The State’s coffers are in good shape. The Legislative Analyst projects an $11 billion surplus in 2017-18, including $2.8 billion in discretionary reserves that the Legislature can approve for any purposes. At least half of that discretionary money should be reinvested in California’s system of public higher education. On November 8, voters approved measures that […]
UC Stays On Top
The polls are in, and the University of California dominates—in academics, not football. UC Berkeley and UCLA sit atop the new U.S. News and World Report rankings of the top public universities in the nation. Six of the top ten public universities are UC schools, and all nine UC campuses made the list of America’s […]
Higher Education Is Path To Raise Incomes
Globalization and technological change have shattered many of the economic models that have prevailed since World War II. This rapid change has driven justifiable concern about income stagnation and the prospects for this and future generations. Fortunately, there is a positive path forward through higher education, if we don’t take our eyes off the road. […]
Legislature Should Fund, Not Micro-manage UC
The University of California is the Golden State’s ultimate success story, but there is always room for improvement. Certainly, there is broad consensus around the goals of admitting more California students and for increasing diversity. These goals, however, are not going to be advanced by legislative micro-managing and more shortfalls in State financial support for […]
Keep Politics Out of University Governance
The University of California is arguably the finest public higher education institution in the world and one of this state’s premier assets. The last thing we need is to politicize the governance of UC, but that is exactly what would happen under an ill-conceived legislative proposal to impose term limits on the UC Board of […]
UC Needs Funds, Not Limits
We need to open doors wider at the University of California to allow more Californians in, but proposed legislation to limit out of state enrollment at UC campuses is misguided and counterproductive. AB 1711 by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty of Sacramento would limit the enrollment of out of state and international students. This proposal fails to […]