Boston U Suspends Admissions to Humanities and Social Science Ph.D. Programs
In an email obtained by Inside Higher Ed on condition of anonymity, the heads of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), in which all the affected programs are located, pointed to increased costs associated with the union contract that graduate student workers won after their historic, nearly seven-month strike ended in October.
According to an undated post on the university’s website, the programs not accepting Ph.D. students for next academic year are American and New England studies, anthropology, classical studies, English, history, history of art and architecture, linguistics, philosophy, political science, religion, Romance studies, and sociology...
In the email, Stan Sclaroff, dean of CAS, and Malika Jeffries-EL, senior associate dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, referenced the new collective bargaining agreement multiple times as the source of what they called “budgetary implications.”
The deans also suggested that the larger university (which last reported an over $3.1 billion endowment) is leaving the college largely on its own to pay the higher tab. “The provost’s office has agreed to fund the increased costs this fiscal year, including students funded on external grants,” the deans wrote. “Beyond this year, CAS must work within our existing budget to fund this transition in our doctoral programs.”
The new grad workers’ contract did give Ph.D. students a big raise: They now have a $45,000 minimum annual stipend plus 3 percent annual raises during the three-year collective bargaining agreement. That’s roughly a 70 percent increase for the lowest-paid doctoral students. The university also continues to pay for Ph.D. students’ tuition.
But the BU Graduate Workers Union had sought much more in compensation, including $17,000 more in annual stipends for Ph.D. workers. The union also wanted 7 percent annual cost-of-living adjustments or adjustments tied to the median Boston rent increase, whichever was higher.
The university continually refused these demands, leading to the longest union-authorized work stoppage among any U.S. college or university employees in at least a decade, according to the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions. (Center executive director William A. Herbert has cautioned that his organization doesn’t know the length of some strikes during that period.) Last month, the union ended the strike—accepting a deal that gave it less than it desired...
The deans wrote that the pause in admissions won’t merely give the College of Arts and Sciences more time to understand the ramifications of the union contract. They mentioned an effort, underway long before that collective bargaining agreement was signed, in which the university was exploring possibly lowering the number of students in Ph.D. programs. They wrote that “all departments and programs contributed valuable reports on how to right-size our doctoral cohorts, considering factors such as selectivity in admissions, student success, job prospects and placements, standing and reputation of the program, etc.”
We're going to jump ahead in our coverage of last week's Regents meeting to the third day, November 14 which was entirely a series of full board meetings, including closed sessions.
Public comments in the morning were heavily tilted toward Israel-Gaza, antisemitism, and free speech issues. Also included were nonunion staff salaries, undergrad health clinics including for sexual assault, the use of a nonunion contractor on a construction project, COVID, and underrepresented student recruitment.
Grad student government comments covered federal funding in the post-election environment, and student debt. Undergrad comments were largely anti-Israel and concern about student health clinics and tuition increases for out-of-state students.
The board heard a presentation on the UC response to COVID by EVP Carrie Byington. It was noted that $1.69 billion was received from the federal government during that period. Precautions and other steps reduced excess mortality at UC to about 17 per 100,000, about a tenth of the rate for the State of California as a whole.
In the afternoon, the board approved recommendations from the various committees. Two items were singled out for discussion. Item F5 - the UCLA cogeneration plant - was controversial because of the 30% increase in costs when the original contract had a supposed ceiling on costs. Nonetheless, it was approved with some dissent. Item F10 - the UC budget for 2025-26 - also attracted concern because of the proposed 10% tuition hike for incoming nonstate students. But it was also approved. Note that what the budget will actually be awaits action by the state legislature next year.
Finally, the Regents took up "campus climate," code words for the protests and related issues. The board had received a report on campus antisemitism and other on Islamophobia. Most of the focus was on the antisemitism report, in part because there was regental criticism of the Islamophobia report as non-specific. Remarks concerning campus antisemitism included "insidious," "intolerable," etc., including by Chair Reily and President Drake.
Interim UCLA chancellor Hunt was asked if any UCLA student, staff member, or faculty who was the subject of a complaint had been disciplined. He responded that while there were "hundreds" of such complaints, nobody in any of these groups had (yet) been disciplined. The Regents were not happy to hear that response. The faculty rep made a defensive comment about the workings of the senate procedures. Again, the Regents were not happy.
But the most telling remark - in the opinion of yours truly - came from Regent Pérez who questioned the way the issue was being presented. Back in 2015, when the issue of campus antisemitism was discussed at the Regents, Pérez complained that unlike other groups, there was always a twinning of the issue with Islamophobia - in contrast with discussion of discrimination against other (non-Jewish) groups. You can hear his remarks back then at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUC07I-CikM beginning at minute 8:42. Perez's remarks this time in the same vein are at the links below:
From Gov. Newsom's website: Governor Gavin Newsom... announced the following appointment:
Robert “Bob” Myers, of Santa Monica, has been appointed to the University of California Board of Regents. Myers has been an Advisor for the Washington Commanders since 2024 and a National Basketball Association Studio Host and Analyst at ESPN since 2023. He held multiple roles at the Golden State Warriors from 2012 to 2023, including General Manager and President of Basketball Operations. Myers was a Managing Executive and Agent at Wasserman Media Group from 2006 to 2010. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Myers is registered to vote with no party preference.
There is no further explanation for this choice. However, as blog readers will know, Newsom showed up at a closed Regents meeting and kicked up the storm over UCLA's change of athletic conference and its impact on Berkeley. Part of the outfall of that intervention was the creation of a Special Committee on Athletics at the Regents who had not previously showed great interest in athletics. It may be that having someone with an athletic background is one reason for this choice. Newly-appointed Regents must be approved by the state Senate. However, they take office on an interim basis prior to Senate action.
Inside Higher Ed recently carried a learned piece entitled "Grade Inflation: An Ahistorical Narrative."* After pointing to the interesting fact that back in the day (19th century), grades as we know them did not exist, the authors agree that grade inflation - starting in the 1960s - is real. But the piece never gets to the cause. And the cause is not hard to discern.
During the 1960s, and especially in the decade that followed, students - as a consequence of the protests back then - were given the opportunity to rate their professors and those ratings began to matter in the promotion process.
Unhappy students were able to create unhappy consequences for professors. That change created the incentive system that led to the outcome.
When prices inflate, there is always a higher price available. Thus, something that cost $10 could later cost $12, then $14, etc. There is, unfortunately, no letter before "A" and so eventually grades stop going up and all become A. Unlike uncapped price inflation, relativity disappears under a regime of grade inflation. Grade inflation stops when everyone hits the cap. While one good can always be more expensive than another, nobody's A is better than anyone else's A. If you don't like that outcome, you need to change the incentive system. Some academic departments do so by requiring grading on a curve and (presumably) penalizing faculty who deviate.
There are obvious problems with grading on a curve, particularly in small classes, but no incentive system is perfect. The true ahistorical lesson is that people, even faculty (!), respond to incentives. It has always been true. It will always be true.
The Regents met at UC-San Francisco last week. Tuesday's meeting included the Health Services Committee - evidently differed from last October to avoid problems around October 7th - and the Investments Committee.
The Health meeting began with public comments, all dealing with the Israel-Gaza War. There was also a very brief disruption during one of the subsequent topics, probably related to the war. EVP Rubin reviewed the year's developments in UC Health and then a discussion of what UC was doing in local community health. Regent Makarechian noted some confusion in data presented concerning the share of UC expenditures in uncompensated care.
Of most interest to UCLA was the presentation on UCLA's establishment of a Medicare Advantage plan for the LA County market which will launch on January 1. The plan is already advertising and taking in subscribers. This plan should NOT be confused be confused with the Medicare Advantage plan that UC offers to its own retirees. It was said that three fourths of patients at UC generally are connected with government-operated programs. About half of such patients are said to be Medicare. Forty percent of all patients at UCLA are said to be Medicare.
While UCLA currently services patients from other Medicare Advantage plans, it got permission from the Regents to start its own plan in LA County from the Regents two years ago. It was said that 60-65% of Medicare-eligible patients in the County are already in some Medicare Advantage plan.
Makarechian asked about the financial sustainability of the new UCLA plan. It was said that UCLA would need to attract 15,000 to 16,000 clients to its plan at a minimum to be sustainable. But it is shooting for a significantly higher intake.
The question was raised as to whether the basic license that UCLA obtained to set up its plan could cover other campuses with med centers if they were to choose to set up similar Medicare Advantage plans and it was said that the license would cover such potential plans.
It seems likely that the other campuses will be watching UCLA's experience.
The recent expansions of the UCLA via purchases of hospitals and other facilities - and the fact that there is a large network of urgent care centers and practices around the County under the UCLA brand may reflect the Medicare Advantage venture. In order to create a Medicare Advantage plan in a county, applicants have to show that they have facilities close to areas where there are significant concentrations of Medicare-eligible populations.
The Health Services Committee concluded with a presentation on UC-Davis' veterinary hospital. It was noted that some treatments on animals translate into new forms of treatment for people.
At the Investments Committee, there was a relatively brief presentation without the usual slides by UC CIO Bachhar. At the moment, his office is dealing with a portfolio of $188 billion of which $104 billion is the pension plan. He said the outlook for the US economy is bright. And he tended to avoid questions about the effect of the election, notably about the earlier UC divestment from fossil fuels, an industry which the incoming Trump administration is likely to favor.
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We are happy to report that the Internet Archive is getting back to normal. While there are still hiccups remaining from the cyber attack, we were able to upload the various Regents sessions for November since - as blog readers will know - it is unclear how long the Regents will retain their recordings.
You can find both the Health Services and the Investments recordings at:
From Inside Higher Ed: The 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid is on track to launch ahead of its Dec. 1 deadline, Education Department officials announced on a press call Thursday afternoon, likely around Nov. 22—though the officials said they couldn’t confirm an exact date. The department released this year’s FAFSA in phases to test the form for bugs and user compatibility issues. Officials said the rollout entered its fourth and final testing phase Wednesday, after initial testing received cautiously positive feedback from families and college access groups...
All eyes are on the FAFSA after last year’s overhaul and bungled rollout of the application led to months of delays and a significant decline in completion rates, dampening first-year enrollment this fall. Last year, the form launched at the end of December, with a slew of technical errors and glitches that flummoxed students and stymied financial aid offices...
Wilshire Bl and Westwood Bl: Manhole Maintenance Work
Summary
Metro contractors will access manholes for maintenance needs on Wilshire Blvd and Westwood Bl to continue work at the UCLA Station. The work will require temporary closures restricting traffic along Wilshire Bl, Westwood Bl, Ashton Av, and Midvale Av. Please follow the traffic restriction signage.
Date: November 16, 2024, to January 15, 2025
Work hours: Continuous Weekends, Friday, 9pm to Monday, 6am
Traffic Control:
Phase 1:
Two westbound lanes on Wilshire Bl will be closed to traffic between Glendon Av and Westwood Av, including the left turn pockets at the intersection.
The east leg crosswalk at the intersection of Wilshire Bl and Westwood Bl will be closed. Three other crosswalks will remain accessible.
Phase 2:
A Westwood Bl lane for north and southbound traffic will be closed between Ashton Av and Wilshire Bl.
The northbound left turn pocket lanes will be closed at Westwood Bl and Wilshire and Westwood Bl and Aston Av.
One of the left turn pockets for westbound Wilshire Bl traffic at Westwood Bl will be closed, and one will remain open.
The south leg crosswalk at Wilshire Blvd/Westwood Bl will be closed. Three other crosswalks will remain open at all times.
Phase 3:
The Ashton Av center lane will be closed between Westwood Bl and Midvale Av.
The east leg crosswalk at Midvale Av and Aston will be closed. The west leg crosswalk will always be maintained for pedestrian access in this area.
Noteworthy:
All work will receive the necessary permits and approvals.
Access to driveways, residences & businesses will always be maintained unless notified in advance.
Access for pedestrians will be maintained outside of construction zones.
Access for the Fire Department and emergency responders will be maintained.
Parking restrictions will be implemented in the immediate area of the work zone.
Construction is dynamic and schedules are subject to change.
24/7 Hotline: 213-922-6934
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Wilshire Bl and Gayley Av: Manhole Access Work
Summary
Metro contractors will access a pressure-rated manhole on Wilshire Blvd and Gayley to continue work at the UCLA Station. The work will require temporary closures restricting traffic along Wilshire Bl, Gayley Av, and Midvale Av. Please follow the traffic restriction signage.
Date: November 2024 to January 15, 2025
Work hours: Monday to Friday, 9pm to 6am
Traffic Control:
Phase 1:
Three eastbound Wilshire Blvd eastbound lanes between Veteran Ave to Gayley Av will be closed.
The south leg crosswalk closure at Wilshire Bl and Gayley Av will be closed. Three other crosswalks will remain accessible at all times.
Northbound through traffic on Midvale Av and the left turn pocket between Ashton and Av and Wilshire Bl will be restricted.
The southbound Gayley Av through traffic and left turn pocket between Lindbrook Dr and Wilshire Bl will be closed.
Phase 2:
Three eastbound Wilshire Blvd eastbound lanes between Veteran Ave to Gayley Ave will be closed.
The east leg crosswalk at Wilshire Blvd/Gayley Ave will be closed. Three other crosswalks will remain open at all times.
Northbound Midvale Av through lane traffic and the left turn pocket between Ashton and Av and Wilshire Bl will be closed.
The southbound Gayley Av through traffic and left turn pocket between Lindbrook Dr and Wilshire Bl will be closed.
The westbound Wilshire Bl left turn pocket at Gayley Av/Midvale Av to proceed southbound will be closed.
Noteworthy:
All work will receive the necessary permits and approvals.
Access to driveways, residences & businesses will always be maintained unless notified in advance.
Access for pedestrians will be maintained outside of construction zones.
Access for the Fire Department and emergency responders will be maintained.
Parking restrictions will be implemented in the immediate area of the work zone.
Construction is dynamic and schedules are subject to change.
