Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNaOAm5E-6w.
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Donor Database
The image accompanying this post shows the top donors to UCLA during 2009-2024, defined as those who provided at least 1% of total database-listed donations to UCLA during that period.
It is possible to use the Source database to isolate shorter periods and purposes of the grants.
You can find the database at:
Straws in the Wind - Part 392
From Inside Higher Ed: The Kansas Board of Regents... formally defined the terms “DEI” and “CRT,” paving the way for state-mandated curriculum changes that will eliminate gender-, race- and ethnicity-focused courses from general education requirements at public universities. Free speech advocates called the definitions “vague and confusing” and say they leave faculty and students “on shaky ground.” Public university faculty have mixed feelings on the definitions. Some said they could have been worse, and others said they pave the way for serious infringements on academic freedom.
In compliance with House Bill 2513—which passed the Legislature in March and which Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly grudgingly signed—the board of regents defined “DEI-CRT” as “diversity, equity, inclusion and critical race theory” and stated that a DEI-CRT course is one whose “title, course description or learning outcomes include DEI-CRT-related content.” That content is defined as anything which “intentionally establishes and promotes the preferential treatment of groups based on race, color, gender, ethnicity or national origin,” according to board documents. CRT content also includes anything that “presents racism as systemic within laws, policies, or institutions and promotes acceptance of that viewpoint rather than presenting it as a subject of scholarly, historical, or legal study.” Discussion of race, racism or the history of the civil rights movement is not considered DEI-CRT–related content under the policy...
Full story at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty/academic-freedom/2026/06/24/some-kansas-faculty-uneasy-over-vague-dei-definitions.
Members Needed
Dear Members of the Club and Members of the UCLA Family,
This is my last letter as I finish my term as Chair of the Board of Directors of the UCLA University Club. I will miss the responsibility for the success of the Club, but I will have the chance to continue to participate in its growth. I have been appointed to the ex officio seat on the board as the representative of the UCLA Emeriti Association. I leave with no qualms as I turn over the Chair to Kyle McJunkin, from the School of Public Health. Kyle is an visionary leader, full of energy and ideas, some of which I will share with you in a moment.
As I have written previously, each of us can share in the success of having stabilized the Club and assuring its continuation into the future. We will finish the year with little or no operating deficit, and we are free from the risk of closure in these fraught financial times. This success has come at a price. That price has been the curtailment of some money losing perks that we previously enjoyed. We have had to forego hot luncheon service this summer (to be discussed in a separate communication), we have no a la carte service on the patio in the Coral Grill, and no dinner service. We are taking steps to restore and enhance our member benefits, and Kyle will share this information with you soon.
I want to use the remainder of this communication to share with you the steps required to restore the Club to the full-service organization that we want. The short answer is money, the longer one requires a discussion of how we get there.
WE NEED MORE MEMBERS! Membership dues provide a base of support that is independent of usage. If we want a Club to be there when we want it, whether it is a university club, a social club, or a club associated with a religious institution, we have to assume some responsibility for its existence. This responsibility cannot be measured solely by the return that we get from our investment. Our membership numbers suffered greatly from the forced closure due to Covid and the desperately needed extensive renovations that took the following year. We are now at 60% of our pre-Covid membership levels. For those members who never returned when we reopened, we need you back. For those who are using the club with a departmental card, we need the larger contribution of full membership. Membership dues support some of the Club activities that have been curtailed. We need more members to provide more services.
Second, we need more events. It is these events that provide the economic health and cushion of the enterprise. Most of these events will come from the outside, but each of you can help by reminding your departments and your family and friends of the special meaning and atmosphere of the UCLA University Club. It is and should be more than an economic decision.
Finally, we need to continue to seek major philanthropic support for further capital improvements to the facility. The University stepped in with $10 million for major structural improvements, but we are responsible for improvements to the interior. We have spent, or will soon spend about $2 million on major improvements to the kitchen, the servery, the bathrooms, and others thanks to the generosity of the Morrisons, the Miller/McMahons, and the Steeles. We need still more upgrades, like the carpet in the main dining room and we need to meet emergencies which will continue to arise in our 60-year-old facility.
I want to appeal especially to the generosity of my generation, recruited to UCLA in the 60s, 70s and 80s of the last century, who often through little effort of our own, may have accumulated resources sufficient to consider major philanthropic gifts. If you are in that position, consider the UCLA University Club as a beneficiary. Your gift can have an immediate, visible impact on something very close to home and your heart. If you are interested you can contact me (scederbaum@mednet.ucla.edu), or the incoming chair, Kyle McJunkin (kmcjunkin@ph.ucla.edu).
I thank you again for having given me the privilege of having served as the Chair of the Club board for this past year.
Steve Cederbaum
Chair, Board of Directors
UCLA University Club
===
It might be noted that back in the day, this blog helped save the Faculty Club from total demolition by rallying support. (The original plan was to build a version of what is now the Luskin Hotel and Conference Center on the site of the Club. You can get a sense of what went on by typing "Faculty Club" into the search option for this blog and going back to 2010 and 2011.)
Interview
UC President James Milliken was interviewed by Michelle Deutchman, director of the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. Topics included Clark Kerr and the Master Plan for Higher Education, campus protests, academic freedom, recent reports on problems in higher education, and the conflict with the Trump administration.
You can hear the interview at:
Upcoming Regents Agenda: July 14-15, 2026
Normally, the Regents' upcoming agenda wouldn't be available quite so soon. But it apparently was prepared early because of the holiday. Happy 4th of July.
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA:
Agenda: July 14-15, 2026, UC-San Francisco
==
Tuesday, July 14
10:30 am Board (open session - includes public comment session)
Public Comment Period (30 minutes)
Committee Report:
Special Committee to Select a Student Regent: Appointment of 2027–28 Student Regent
Remarks of the Chair of the Board
Remarks of the President of the University
Remarks of the Chair of the Academic Senate
B1 Discussion: UC Inspires: Celebrating America’s 250th and UC's Contributions to the Nation
--
1:15 pm Health Services Committee (closed session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 5, 2026
H1(X) Discussion: UC Irvine Health Acquisition Integration and Risk Review
H2(X) Discussion: UC Health Litigation Update
H3(X) Discussion: Appointment of and Compensation for Chief Nursing Executive, UCSF Health, San Francisco Campus
Upon end of closed session:
Health Services Committee (open session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 5, 2026
H3 Action: Approval of Appointment of and Compensation for Chief Nursing Executive, UCSF Health, San Francisco Campus
H4 Discussion: Quality Dashboard Review: An Update from the University of California Health Clinical Quality Committee
--
3:15 pm Compliance and Audit Committee (open session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 18, 2026
C1 Action: Compliance Plan for 2026-27 and Internal Audit Plan for 2026-27
Upon end of open session:
Compliance and Audit Committee (closed session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 6, 2026
C2(X) Discussion: Data and Trends in Professional Liability Settlements
C3(X) Action: Recommended Settlements for Board Action:
Swinerton Contractors, Inc. Pre-Litigation Dispute – Proposed Settlement – Construction Delay – Santa Cruz
C4(X) Discussion: Appellate, Trial Court Developments and Updates
1. CITY OF PASADENA, et al. v. REGENTS, et al. (Rose Bowl Litigation) – Motions Denied – Breach of Contract – Los Angeles
2. DO NO HARM, et al. v. REGENTS, et al.; STUDENTS AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION v. REGENTS, et al.; ZHONG, et al. v. REGENTS, et al. (Admissions Litigation) – Various Activity – Racial Discrimination – All Campuses
Note: These are complaints of illegal "affirmative action" in admissions
3. DOES v. REGENTS, et al. (Heaps) – Trial Date Set – Sexual Misconduct – Los Angeles Medical Center and Campus Health
4. FEDERAL FUNDING LITIGATION – Various Activity – Contracts and Grants – Systemwide
5. PALESTINE SOLIDARITY PRA COLLECTIVE v. REGENTS – Petition for Writ of Mandate Granted – Office of the President
6. PROTEST-RELATED CASES – Various Activity – Multiple Campuses
9. UNITED STATES v. REGENTS, et al. (AB 540 Litigation) – Motion to Dismiss Fully Briefed – All Campuses
Note: AB 540 is the California statute providing in-state tuition, etc., to DACA and other undocumented residents.
22. GENERAL COUNSEL’S UPDATE ON LITIGATION
Note: Missing numbers above refer to various individual employment discrimination, whistleblower, medical malpractice, and sexual harassment cases.
C5(X) Information: Settlements and Separation Agreements under Delegated Authority Reported from April 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026
==
Wednesday, July 15
8:30 am Board (open session - includes public comment session)
Public Comment Period (30 minutes)
Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of May 5 and 6, 2026
Remarks from Student Associations
Annual Council of University of California Staff Assemblies Report
President’s Outstanding Student Awards and Regents Foster Youth Awards
B2 Discussion: Report on Retention and Graduation Rates
--
10:45 am Special Committee on Nominations (closed session)
S1(X) Action: Appointment of Regents-designate and Faculty Representatives to Standing Committees for 2026-27
--
10:50 am Board (closed session)
B3(X) Discussion: External Funding Litigation and Legal Issues
--
Concurrent meetings:
12:45 pm Academic and Student Affairs Committee (open session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 6, 2026
A1 Discussion: UC Education Abroad Program: Global Learning for Career and World Impact
A2 Discussion: The Economic Impact of a UC Degree
A3 Discussion: The History and Role of A–G in UC Admissions
Note: There is no mention of the SAT controversy in A3.
--
12:45 pm Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (closed session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 18, 2026
F1(X) Action: East Campus Student Apartments Phase 5 Project, Irvine Campus: Ground Lease Business Terms, Financing, and Budget
Upon end of closed session:
Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 6, 2026
Consent Agenda:
- F2A Action: Consent Item: Heathcock Hall, Berkeley Campus: Amendment of Budget and External Financing
- F2B Action: Consent Item: Hyde Hospital Behavioral Health Renovation, San Francisco Campus: Budget, Scope, and Design Following an Exemption Determination Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act
F3 Action: East Campus Student Apartments Phase 5 Project, Irvine Campus: Design And Long Range Development Plan Amendment Following Action: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act
F4 Action: Advanced Work Phase of the Hillcrest Medical Center Renewal Project, UC San Diego Health Campus: Working Drawings and Construction Funding, Scope, External Financing, and Design Following Consideration of an Addendum to the Hillcrest Campus 2019 Long Range Development Plan Environmental Impact Report Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act
F5 Action: UCLA West Valley Medical Center Replacement Hospital and Parking Structure, UCLA Health, Los Angeles Campus: Preliminary Plans Funding and External Financing
F6 Discussion: The 2026-27 State Budget Act
F7 Information: Significant Information Technology Projects Report for the Period January 1, 2026 through April 30, 2026
--
2:15 pm National Laboratories Committee (open session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of January 20, 2026
N1 Action: Allocation of LLC Fee Income to Be Expended in Fiscal Year 2026–27
--
2:30 pm Governance Committee (open session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 5, 2026
G1 Action: Resolution to Exclude a Regent from Access to Classified Information
--
2:35 pm Board (open session)
B4 Action: Endorsement of Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026
Committee Reports Including Approvals of Recommendations from Committees:
Academic and Student Affairs Committee
Compliance and Audit Committee
Finance and Capital Strategies Committee
Governance Committee
Health Services Committee
National Laboratories Committee
Special Committee on Nominations
Resolution
Officers’ and President’s Reports: Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings
Upon end of open session:
Board (closed session)
Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 6, 2026
Committee Reports Including Approval of Recommendations from Committees:
Compliance and Audit Committee
Finance and Capital Strategies Committee
Health Services Committee
Officers’ and President’s Reports:
Personnel Matters
Report of Interim Actions
Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings
==
Source: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/agendas/july26.html.
Friday, July 3, 2026
Donation
 |
| Jeffrey Cunard (center) with Professor Rahim Shayega and Dean Alexandra Minna Stern --- |
As blog readers will know, we like to take note of donations to UCLA that involve research and teaching (as opposed to bricks and mortar). From the UCLA Newsroom:
Enhancing our knowledge of ancient cultures is an essential foundation for humanistic understanding and can illuminate many of the challenges of today and the future. That vision is behind the new UCLA Jeffrey P. Cunard Center for Global Antiquity, made possible by alumnus Jeffrey Cunard’s $11 million blended gift.
Housed in the UCLA College Division of Humanities, the Cunard Center will support and expand the groundbreaking work of faculty and students on the diversity, achievements and interconnectedness of ancient cultures. The center aims to deepen interdisciplinary expertise and scholarship about the cultures of the past, both across campus and beyond.
The Cunard Center’s intertwined goals are to:
Foster deep, enthusiastic faculty scholarship, which, in turn, will inspire innovative new programs and undergraduate and graduate courses.
Provide critical funding for graduate students and awards to faculty, as well as graduate and undergraduate students.
Provide a forum where scholars across disciplines and departments can come together to discuss and further comparative knowledge as to the similarities and differences in how ancient peoples around the globe — not just in the Mediterranean — dealt with all aspects of the human condition.
Explore how the teaching and experience of ancient cultures can inform the present and the future.
Disseminate the work of all involved to other scholars and the general public via multiple formats and platforms, including a new podcast, academic publication series, enhanced research initiatives, and public and academic programming, including a new Cunard Lecture Series in Global Antiquity.
“UCLA is at the forefront of developing ancient studies as an interdisciplinary and critical field, led by diverse, world-class faculty members studying the ancient past,” said Alexandra Minna Stern, dean of the humanities division. “This gift will help ensure that UCLA remains a leader in approaching the discipline with a full and nuanced understanding of the ancient world, and we are deeply grateful to Jeffrey Cunard and inspired by the opportunities his generosity will create for humanities scholars now and in the future.” ...
Full news release at https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ancient-studies-expansion-new-center-humanities-division.
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