UCOP Needs to Make the Call to Protect Survivor Health Insurance - Part 4 (the default is not in our stars)

Don't be afraid, UCOP. Make the call.

In past blog posts in this series, we have noted that survivors under UC retiree health insurance are frequently being dropped from benefits to which they are eligible under the plan.* We have also noted that this problem seems to be one just for UC; other comparable entities that provide similar survivor coverage don't have this problem. So, why does it arise at UC? 

Getting a straight answer from RASC/UCOP has been an issue. As a result, we will have to surmise what the problem is. 

Below you will find an official UC video explaining the eligibility rules for survivor benefits. Note that there are some categories of survivors who are not eligible. But also note that which survivors are not eligible is known before the death of the retiree. In a well-run system, these non-eligible individuals would be pre-identified and their coverage would drop after the death of the retiree. The other eligible survivors would not be dropped.

At UC apparently, what happens is that the non-eligible individuals are not identified in the system in advance. So, upon the death of the retiree, the default is to drop everyone and wait for complaints. Then there are delayed efforts to restore what should not have been dropped.

Again, we are working with surmises here because a clear, straight explanation from UCOP is not forthcoming. But we do know that the insurance carriers cut off eligible dependents when they cancel the policies of deceased retirees. They would only be doing that cutting off because they are being told to do it by UCOP. So - again - UCOP needs to pick up the phone, call the carriers, and instruct them that the default is not to cancel. Then the onus will be on RASC/UCOP to do whatever the folks there have to do to identify the non-eligibles and do the cancelling after the fact. (Or - even better - they could pre-identify who is eligible and who is not so that the problem is eliminated before the retiree dies.)

UCOP...pick...up...the...phone. Change the default from cancelling to not cancelling.

You can see the official UC video at the link below:

Or direct to https://ia902709.us.archive.org/12/items/regents-health-services-committee-6-14-2023/UC%20survivor%20benefits%202023.mp4; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IAlGMHSXtA (beginning around minute 35)

===

*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2023/06/ucop-needs-to-make-call-to-protect_17.html; https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2023/06/ucop-needs-to-make-call-to-protect.html; http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2023/04/ucop-needs-to-make-call-to-protect.html. Be sure to listen to the audio recording at the third link if you haven't already done so.

The Way We Live Now

From an email received earlier this week:

To: Administrative Officers, Deans, Department Chairs, Directors, Vice Chancellors and Vice Provosts

What you need to know:

• Film pranks at UCLA are relatively rare but can be unsettling when they occur

• Guidance is available to help you respond effectively in the event of a film prank occurring during classroom instruction

• We encourage you to become familiar with this document and to share it with members of your department

===

Dear Colleagues:

Colleges and universities across the country, including UCLA, have had their classrooms become a stage to film pranks orchestrated by social media influencers. These pranks are often designed to increase an influencer’s following and site advertising revenue. While the intention behind these pranks is usually not to cause harm to people's safety or health, they can be unsettling for those targeted and very disruptive to the classroom environment.

Reports received by the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), UCPD and other campus officials suggest that these incidents are rare at UCLA, and we have been successful in issuing cease and desist letters and stay-away orders to prevent recurring incidents.

To be prepared for these situations, we worked with the Academic Senate to create the UCLA Guidance for Classroom Film Prank Disruptions. This document covers how to identify when your classroom is being targeted, how to respond in the moment and who to report the incident to for any appropriate follow up.*

As we prepare for the summer term, we encourage you to share these guidelines with your faculty and instructors to help inform them about how to handle classroom disruptors. UCLA campus response groups monitor emerging issues and will continue to develop resources to best prepare our students, staff and faculty for unanticipated disruptions. Please visit the Bruins Safe Online – Report a Concerning Behavior website or contact the appropriate office outlined in the guidance to learn more.

Thanks for doing your part to create a resilient Bruin community. Have a wonderful summer ahead.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Beck

Administrative Vice Chancellor

===

*UCLA Guidance for Handling Classroom Film Pranks Disruptions by University Affiliates and Non-Affiliates

In recent years, there has been a rise in film pranks executed by influencers, including on university campuses and facilities, as seen on YouTube and other social media channels and often motivated by the desire to earn money by attracting viewership. While these events are generally not aimed at causing harm to safety or health, these unauthorized activities can be highly disruptive and in some instances jarring to those targeted depending on the nature of the prank, and it is recommended that the UCLA community minimize engagement when such instances are encountered.

Such incidents have occurred on our property. Based on incidents reported to the Behavioral Intervention Team (for non-affiliates), UCPD, and other campus officials, these occurrences appear to be infrequent, and UCLA has been successful in eliminating repeat disruptions and has issued cease and desist letters and/or stay-away orders to a number of YouTube influencers in response to prior disruptions on our campus.

This guidance document provides information on how to respond should this type of film prank take place during the course of classroom instruction, whether by a university community member (i.e., University faculty, staff or student), or those not affiliated with the university. In the event that the disruption is caused by a university community member, the appropriate university disciplinary policies will be followed (see references).

Indicators of possible unauthorized film crews:

- The disruption is caused by a group of individuals working together, and possibly in different areas of the room.

- Often one or more members of the group film the antics of other members with large cameras and boom microphones.

- The group brings in props and/or members arrive in costume.

- Members of the group make loud announcements or declarations unrelated to the subject matter of the class.

- Group does not present a film permit and/or is not accompanied by a member of the UCLA Events Office/Media Relations staff member.

When class or lecture is interrupted by a suspected unauthorized film crew, please follow these steps:

1. DO NOT physically engage with individuals disrupting the classroom.

2. Ask students not to engage with the film crew (e.g. “Please do not encourage or interact with them.”)

3. Calmly inform members of the group that they are being disruptive and must leave immediately.

a. Explain that UCLA does not allow filming without a permit including advanced approval from the class instructor.

b. Explain that classrooms, lecture halls, etc. are not spaces that are open to the public and their presence is unauthorized.

c. Tell them they are trespassing and may be subject to arrest (only as necessary).

d. Tell the members that if they do not leave, UCPD will be called (only as necessary).

4. If possible, take photos of members of the group for identification purposes.

5. Call UCPD General Line at (310) 825-1491 for assistance if the disruptor refuses to leave. 9-1-1 should only be called in the case of emergency or direct/imminent threat to safety.

Post-Incident Considerations:

1. Debrief with the class after the disruption ends and remind students of resources that are available for support (Case Management Services, CAPS, RISE, CARE Advocates, etc.). Please consider submitting a referral to Case Management Services for students who are distressed by the encounter.

2. If the disruption occurred during an exam, student presentation, or other course requirements, please be flexible about rescheduling/postponing the exam at a later time, especially if the disruption caused fear or may otherwise negatively affect student performance.

3. Coordinate with the department Chair/Dean/SAO to inform campus authorities of the incident.

a. Where the influencers were non-affiliates, report the incident to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), which will document the incident and involved parties and coordinate with the appropriate campus authorities on next steps.

b. If a crime is alleged or occurs, submit a report to UCPD.

c. If the disruption involved civil rights violations (e.g., discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of protected class identity), submit a report to the EDI Civil Rights Office.

d. If the disruptor is identified to be a member of the UCLA community (e.g., student, staff, faculty, etc.), the Department should report the matter to the appropriate office (see below) pursuant to applicable university policy and the disruptor’s conduct will be evaluated for policy violations (see references).

i. If the disruptor is a UCLA student, report to the Consultation and Response Team (CRT) and/or UCLA Dean of Students.

ii. If the disruptor is a faculty or staff, report to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT).

Cyber Insecurity - Part 2

We noted Wednesday that UCLA had suffered a cyber attack and data breach. All UCLA would say is that those people affected had been notified. It gave no indication of how many such people there are or exactly what data regarding those people had been exposed.

As it turns out, the same breach has affected CalPERS and CalSTRS. From the Sacramento Bee we learn that the breach involved such things as Social Security numbers and other personal information:

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma urged the chief executive officers of the nation’s two largest public pension funds to hold special board meetings on a recent data breach that exposed Social Security numbers, birth dates and other personal information on nearly 1.2 million retirees and other beneficiaries. Ma sits on the board of both pension funds: the California Public Employees Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System. “While it appears that member retirement benefits are not at risk, those affected may ... now be especially vulnerable to identity theft and other fraudulent activity,” Ma said...

Full story at https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article276811231.html.

Maybe UCLA needs to say something more about the magnitude of the breach. Are those affected being given free data monitoring?

UC Statement on Anti-AA Decision

UC statement on SCOTUS decision regarding the use of race in college admissions

UC Office of the President, June 29, 2023

University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., issued the following statement today (Thursday, June 29) on the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the use of race in college admissions:

We are disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to bar the use of race in college admissions, a valuable practice that has helped higher education institutions increase diversity and address historical wrongs over the past several decades.

Student diversity remains a top priority for the University of California — one that we will continue to pursue with every tool available to us. Attracting, supporting and retaining a diverse student body leads to better quality instruction and educational outcomes, significant community benefits and overall fairness.

Since the consideration of race in admissions was banned in California 27 years ago by Proposition 209, the University of California has adjusted its admissions practices to comply with the law while continuing to aggressively pursue avenues for increasing diverse student applications, admissions, enrollment, and retention. Through a comprehensive admissions review process, we have made important strides in this area — but more work remains to be done by us all.

Today’s court decision bars the use of an important tool for other higher education institutions. The consideration of race was not the conclusive solution to inequities in college admissions, but it was a necessary pathway to addressing systemic deficiencies. Without it, we must work much harder to identify and address the root causes of societal inequities that hinder diverse students in pursuing and achieving a higher education.

The University of California continues to work to create clearer pathways to college and to address inequality in admissions. We stand ready to share our expertise and lessons learned as we collaborate with our partners to achieve a higher education landscape that reflects the rich diversity of our nation.

===

Additional background:

The consideration of race in admissions was banned in California in 1996 through the voter-approved Proposition 209. Since that time, the University of California has used a comprehensive review process to evaluate applicants based on multiple factors, including:

• Academic accomplishments in light of a student’s life experiences and special circumstances;
• Quality of academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in the applicant’s high school;
• Recent, marked improvement in academic performance as demonstrated by GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress; and
• Special talents, achievements, skills, or experiences.

The University of California offers information, training and academic support for students, their families and guardians, and K-12 educators to encourage college preparation and application from students of all backgrounds.

• Early Academic Outreach Program https://eaop.universityofcalifornia.edu/
• MESA https://mesa.ucop.edu/
• Puente https://www.thepuenteproject.org/
• UC Scout https://www.ucscout.org/
• Community partnerships, including with Black Girls Code, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Northern California College Promise Coalition, and more.

===

UC undergraduates by race and ethnicity

Fall 2022:

• 32.2% Asian
• 22.5% Hispanic/Latino
• 22.2% White
• 4.5% African American
• 0.5% American Indian
• 0.3% Pacific Islander
• 2.8% Domestic unknown
• 15% international

--

2002 (post Prop. 209)

• 38% Asian
• 14% Hispanic/Latino
• 36% White
• 3% African American
• 1% American Indian
• 1% Pacific Islander
• 8% Domestic unknown
• 1% International

--

1994 (pre-Prop. 209):

• 37% Asian
• 15% Hispanic/Latino
• 36% White
• 4% African American
• 1% American Indian
• 0% Pacific Islander
• 5% Domestic unknown
• 1% International

===

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-statement-scotus-decision-regarding-use-race-college-admissions. 

The Supreme Court's Anti-AA Decision

 

As expected, the US Supreme Court today ended affirmative action. From Inside Higher Ed:

The U.S. Supreme Court declared Thursday that the admissions systems used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill illegally violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. “Both programs lack sufficiently focused and measurable objectives warranting the use of race, unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping, and lack meaningful endpoints. We have never permitted admissions programs to work in that way, and we will not do so today,” said the decision, by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

“At the same time, as all parties agree, nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise,” the decision added. “But despite the dissent’s assertion to the contrary, universities may not simply establish through application essays or other means the regime we hold unlawful today.”

The decision was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissent and was joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, although Jackson did not participate in the Harvard case. She recused herself because of her service on a Harvard board, prior to joining the Supreme Court, that discussed the case.

The decision is expected to impact every college that uses affirmative action in admissions and some that use it in awarding financial aid. The decision, the concurring opinions and the dissents total 237 pages.

Edward Blum, the founder and president of Students for Fair Admissions, which brought the suits, said in a statement: “The opinion issued today by the United States Supreme Court marks the beginning of the restoration of the colorblind legal covenant that binds together our multi-racial, multi-ethnic nation. The polarizing, stigmatizing and unfair jurisprudence that allowed colleges and universities to use a student’s race and ethnicity as a factor to admit or reject them has been overruled. These discriminatory admission practices undermined the integrity of our country’s civil rights laws." He added: “Ending racial preferences in college admissions is an outcome that the vast majority of all races and ethnicities will celebrate. A university doesn’t have real diversity when it simply assembles students who look different but come from similar backgrounds and act, talk, and think alike."

Many colleges expressed disappointment with the decision.

Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz of UNC-Chapel Hill, said: “Carolina remains firmly committed to bringing together talented students with different perspectives and life experiences and continues to make an affordable, high-quality education accessible to the people of North Carolina and beyond. While not the outcome we hoped for, we will carefully review the Supreme Court’s decision and take any steps necessary to comply with the law.” ...

Full story at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/2023/06/25/supreme-court-rules-against-affirmative-action.

In principle, because of Prop 209 - which bans affirmative action in California - UC admissions practices should not be immediately affected. One can imagine, however, future cases being brought challenging UC practices given the sentence above: “But despite the dissent’s assertion to the contrary, universities may not simply establish through application essays or other means the regime we hold unlawful today.” Of course, such a challenge could have been made under Prop 209, but it would have been a state court matter until today. Now a federal challenge would also be possible. It could be full employment for lawyers.

The actual Supreme Court decision is at:

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23864004/students-for-fair-admissions-inc-v-president-and-fellows-of-harvard-college.pdf.

It would be surprising if there was no discussion of this issue at the upcoming July Regents meeting.

The UC budget from a micro (management) perspective

The UC allocation within the budget enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor seems to have held steady throughout the process at around $4.7 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24 that begins on July 1. That's less, by the way, than the $5 billion that UC got this year. So don't be too cheery.

In any case, you might be surprised - given the supposed constitutional autonomy of the Regents - by the degree of micro-management contained within the budget. If you had any notion that the Regents just get a pile of money from the state and can do with it what they like, we'd like to have you abandon that notion. So, here - below - is the detailed budget bill's provisions for UC. We have helpfully boldfaced specific earmarks for UCLA:

6440-001-0001—For support of University of California ........................4,695,229,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................4,695,229,000 

Provisions:

1.          

This appropriation is exempt from Sections 6.00 and 31.00.

2.           (a)         

The Regents of the University of California shall implement measures to reduce the university’s cost structure.

(b)         

The Legislature finds and declares that many state employees hold positions with comparable scope of responsibilities, complexity, breadth of job functions, experience requirements, and other relevant factors to those employees designated to be in the Senior Management Group pursuant to existing Regents Policy.

(c)          (1)         

Therefore, at a minimum, the Regents shall, when considering compensation for any employee designated to be in the Senior Management Group, use a market reference zone that includes state employees.

(2)         

At a minimum, the Regents shall include in a market reference zone all comparable positions from the lists included in subdivision (l) of Section 8 of Article III of the California Constitution and Article 1 (commencing with Section 11550) of Chapter 6 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

2.1.       

Notwithstanding any other law, the Director of Finance may reduce funds appropriated in this item by an amount equal to the estimated Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship Program cost increases caused by a 2022–23 academic year increase in systemwide tuition. No reduction may be authorized pursuant to this provision sooner than 30 days after the Director of Finance provides notice of the intended reduction to the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

3.           (a)         

The Controller shall transfer funds from this appropriation upon receipt of a report from the Department of Finance indicating the amount of debt service anticipated to become due and payable in the fiscal year associated with state general obligation bonds issued for university projects.

(b)         

The Controller shall return funds to this appropriation upon receipt of a report from the Department of Finance.

4.          

Payments made by the state to the University of California for each month from July through April shall not exceed one-twelfth of the amount appropriated in this item, less the amount that is expected to be transferred pursuant to Provision 3. Transfers of funds pursuant to Provision 3 shall not be considered payments made by the state to the university.

5.          

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $215,554,000 shall be available to support operational costs.

(a)          To maximize transparency and accountability, the University of California shall report to the Department of Finance and the budget committees of the Legislature by October 1, 2024, how it spent the funds appropriated in this item.             

(1)          Specifically, the University of California shall report how much of this appropriation it spent on increases for represented staff compensation, policy-covered staff compensation, contract spend for any outsourced work traditionally performed by represented staff for the fiscal year 2023–24, contract spend for any outsourced work traditionally performed by policy-covered staff for the fiscal year 2023–24. The university shall identify how much of the appropriation was spent on hiring new employees into vacant positions, and shall provide a breakdown of represented staff vacancy rates on July 1, 2023, and June 30th 2024 by University Campus location.

(2)          The University of California also shall report how much of this appropriation it spent by programmatic area, including for instruction, research, public services, academic support, student services, institutional support, operations and maintenance of plant, student financial aid, and any other notable programmatic expense.   

(3)          It is the intent of the Legislature that, where applicable, this funding be used for represented employees rather than outsourced contractual services.  

6.           (a)         

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $15,800,000 shall be available to support meal donation programs, food pantries serving students, CalFresh enrollment, and other means of directly providing nutrition assistance to students. As a condition of receiving this funding, campuses shall maintain a data-sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program with the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits. Each campus shall use this data to outreach to these students, offer assistance with filing a CalFresh application, and track the number of students receiving CalFresh benefits. These data-sharing agreements shall be entered into no later than February 1, 2024. All monetary assistance provided to students pursuant to this subprovision shall be distributed to the student by the campus financial aid office. The funds described in this subprovision may also be used for any of the following:

(1)         

To assist homeless and housing-insecure students in securing stable housing.

(2)         

To supply students with personal hygiene products.

(3)         

To establish basic-needs centers as a centralized location on campus where students experiencing basic-needs insecurity can be identified, supported, and linked to on- and off-campus resources to support timely program completion. Campus basic-needs centers may use funds for operations of the center.

(4)         

To designate or hire dedicated basic-needs coordinators for the basic-needs centers who will serve as a single point of contact for students.

(b)         

The University of California shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature by February 1 of each year regarding the use of funds specified in subdivision (a) and Provision 7. The report shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following information for the preceding fiscal year and estimates of all of the following for the current fiscal year:

(1)         

The amount of funds distributed to campuses, and identification of which campuses received funds.

(2)         

For each campus, a programmatic budget summarizing how the funds were spent. The budget shall include any other funding used to supplement the General Fund.

(3)         

A description of the types of programs in which each campus invested.

(4)         

A list of campuses that accept or plan to accept electronic benefit transfer.

(5)         

A list of campuses that participate or plan to participate in the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program.

(5.5)       The number of students who started receiving CalFresh benefits in the preceding year as well as the total number of students in the preceding year receiving CalFresh.           

(6)         

A list of campuses that offer or plan to offer emergency housing or assistance with long-term housing arrangements.

(7)         

A description of how campuses leveraged or coordinated with other state or local resources to address housing and food insecurity, and student mental health.

(7.1)       The number of students receiving mental health services on campus, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, age group, and type of service received.             

(7.2)       The average wait time for initial routine mental health counseling appointments.   

(7.3)       The average number of campus mental health counseling appointments per student.       

(7.4)       The number of students referred to off-campus providers for mental health services.  

(7.5)       The number of student mental health staff by provider type and the counselor-to-student ratio.            

(7.6)       Total spending on student mental health services, by fund source, including spending covered by insurance providers.  

(8)         

An analysis describing how funds reduced food insecurity and homelessness among students, increased student mental health, and, if feasible, how funds impacted student outcomes such as persistence or completion.

(9)         

Other findings and best practices implemented by campuses.

7.          

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $21,300,000 shall be available to increase student mental health resources.

8.           (a)         

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $3,700,000 shall be available to support rapid rehousing efforts assisting homeless and housing insecure students. All monetary assistance to students shall be distributed to the student by the campus financial aid office.

(b)         

Campuses shall establish ongoing partnerships with community organizations that have a tradition of helping populations experiencing homelessness to provide wraparound services and rental subsidies for students. Funds appropriated in this item may be used for, but authorized uses are not limited to, the following activities:

(1)         

Connecting students with community case managers who have knowledge and expertise in accessing safety net resources.

(2)         

Establishing ongoing emergency housing procedures, including on-campus and off-campus resources.

(3)         

Providing emergency grants that are necessary to secure housing or to prevent the imminent loss of housing.

(c)         

Funding shall be allocated to campuses based on demonstrated need.

(d)         

The terms “homeless” and “housing insecure” shall be defined as students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are:

(1)         

Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.

(2)         

Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.

(3)         

Living in emergency or transitional shelters.

(4)         

Abandoned in hospitals.

(5)         

Living in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

(6)         

Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

(e)         

The University of California shall submit a report to the Director of Finance and, in conformity with Section 9795 of the Government Code, to the Legislature by February 1 of each year regarding the use of these funds, for the preceding fiscal year and estimates for the current fiscal year, for information including the number of coordinators hired, number of students served by campus, distribution of funds by campus, a description of the types of programs funded, and other relevant outcomes, such as the number of students that were able to secure permanent housing, and whether students receiving support remained enrolled at the institution or graduated. This report may be submitted jointly with other basics needs reporting due to the Legislature.

10.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $10,917,000 shall be allocated for a statewide grant program expanding the number of primary care and emergency medicine residency slots, as established by subdivision (c) of Section 30130.57 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. The amount is intended as supplemental funding to provide total funding, from all fund sources, of $40,000,000 for the grant program, notwithstanding the reduction in Proposition 56 funds required by subdivision (h) of Section 30130.57 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(a)         

In order to maximize transparency and efficiency in providing funding for the grant program, the Director of Finance may decrease or increase this item to ensure the amount provided in subdivision (a) conforms to the final determination of Proposition 56 revenues made pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 30130.57 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

11.         (a)         

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $12,900,000 shall be available to support and expand existing UC Programs in Medical Education and to establish a new UC Program in Medical Education focused on Native American communities. These funds may also be available to establish additional UC Programs in Medical Education that are state priorities. The University of California is encouraged to use these funds to support UC Programs in Medical Education that would serve underrepresented areas of the state.

(b)         

One third of the funds appropriated in this provision shall be used to augment need-based financial aid for UC Programs in Medical Education students.

(c)         

The University of California shall report the following information about UC Programs in Medical Education program outcomes to the Department of Finance and the Legislature annually by March 1, until March 1, 2027:

(1)         

Enrollment numbers and student demographics in each program.

(2)         

A summary of each program’s current curriculum.

(3)         

Graduation and residency placement rates for each program.

(4)         

To the extent feasible, postgraduate data on where each program’s graduates currently practice and the extent to which they serve the populations and communities targeted by the program in which they participated.

12.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $1,823,000 shall be used for legal services for undocumented and immigrant students, faculty, and staff.

13.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $3,000,000 shall be used for the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center. It is the intent of the Legislature that these funds be directly allocated by the University of California to the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center, and that the University of California and the University of California, Davis campus shall not assess administrative costs or charges against these funds.

14.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $1,000,000 shall be used for the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.

15.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $4,000,000 shall be used by the University of California to provide summer-term financial aid to any student who is eligible for state financial aid and is a California resident, including students receiving an exemption for nonresident tuition pursuant to Section 68130.5 of the Education Code. These funds shall be used to supplement and not supplant existing funds provided by the University of California for summer-term financial aid. The Legislature finds and declares that this provision is a state law within the meaning of subsection (d) of Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code.

16.         (a)          (1)         

Of the amount in subdivision (a), $30,000,000 funds the replacement of 902 nonresident undergraduate full-time equivalent students in 2023–24 with an equal number of resident undergraduate full-time equivalent students at the Berkeley, Los Angeles, and San Diego campuses, pursuant to Provision 43 of Item 6440-001-0001 of the Budget Act of 2021 (Chs. 21, 69, and 240, Stats. 2021), as well as Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 93000) of Part 57 of Division 9 of Title 3 of the Education Code. This funding amount offsets the decrease in nonresident tuition and fee revenue associated with the reduction in nonresident enrollment.

(2)         

If the actual reduction in nonresident undergraduate enrollment in 2023–24 at these three campuses is less than 902 full-time equivalent students, the Director of Finance shall reduce funding for the University of California by the portion of the appropriation in this subdivision that is attributable to each student under the target reduction level, as specified in Section 93000 of the Education Code.

17.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $6,000,000 shall be available on an ongoing basis to support foster youth programs pursuant to Section 92663 of the Education Code.

18.        

By November 1 each year, the University of California shall report key information regarding UCPath to the Department of Finance and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. At a minimum, the report shall include UCPath’s staffing levels, funding by source, and spending by function. The funding source data shall summarize fund sources used by campuses to cover any campus assessment. The report shall include actual data for the prior fiscal year, budgeted data for the current fiscal year, and projected data for the coming fiscal year. The report shall include any cost savings resulting from the UCPath project at the campus level.

19.        

To provide for legislative oversight, the Office of the President of the University of California shall report to the Legislature and the Department of Finance, by September 30 each year, all of the following information for the preceding fiscal year and estimates of all of the following for the current fiscal year:

(a)         

The amount of any campus assessments charged to support the Office of the President of the University of California, reflecting amounts contributed by each campus and the fund source or sources from which those amounts were paid.

(b)         

The total budget of the Office of the President of the University of California.

(c)         

A categorized list of actual and planned budgetary expenditures for the Office of the President of the University of California.

(d)         

Factors contributing to any year-over-year change in the budget of the Office of the President of the University of California.

(e)         

The amount of the budget of the Office of the President of the University of California that either passes through to recipients across the state or supports fee-for-service activities aligned with the university’s mission.

(f)          

Information on reserves and fund balances held by the Office of the President of the University of California.

20.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $100,000,000 shall be available for the construction of an Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at the University of California, Los Angeles. One-time funding appropriated pursuant to this provision is not subject to Section 92495.5 of the Education Code. It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate an additional $300,000,000 in the 2024–25 fiscal year for this purpose.

21.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $650,000 shall be available to support the integration of Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities members onto the ASSIST platform.

22.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $1,000,000 shall be available on an ongoing basis to support the California Vectorborne Disease Surveillance Gateway.

23.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $4,000,000 shall be available to the University of California on an ongoing basis for disbursement to all undergraduate-serving University of California campuses, after consultation with Underground Scholars directors and coordinators, to establish and sustain Underground Scholars programs as a centralized location on campus where incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and system-impacted students can be provided with recruitment programs, retention services, advocacy, and wellness programs to support admission to the University of California system and timely program completion. Campuses shall share best practices for program operations annually with other University of California campuses for purposes of developing spending plans to serve incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and system-impacted students. Each undergraduate-serving University of California campus shall have one or more dedicated Underground Scholars directors and coordinators who will serve as a point of contact for students.

24.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $5,000,000 shall be available on an ongoing basis for the University of California to establish and operate student services programs on each campus to serve undocumented students.

25.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $22,500,000 shall be available on an ongoing basis to support Student Academic Preparation and Educational Partnerships programs.

26.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $75,000 shall be available on an ongoing basis to support the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management to include climate change economic impacts by California region in the UCLA Anderson Forecast economic forecasting model for California.

27.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $6,500,000 shall be available to the University of California to support UC Medical School Projects at UC Merced and UC Riverside.

28.        

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $13,000,000 shall be available on an ongoing basis to support research, education, and public engagement on labor issues in California. The funds shall be allocated as follows:

(a)         

$3,000,000 to the University of California, Berkeley Labor Center.

(b)         

$3,000,000 to the University of California, Los Angeles Labor Center.

(c)         

$3,000,000 to the University of California, Merced Community and Labor Center.

(d)         

$500,000 to the University of California, Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program.

(e)         

$500,000 to the University of California, Los Angeles Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program.

(f)          

$3,000,000 to be allocated to support a multicampus initiative as determined by a five-member committee comprising the directors of the centers specified in subprovisions (a), (b), and (c), or their designees, as well as two members appointed by the California Federation of Labor. The committee shall allocate these funds based on proposals submitted by the University of California’s Davis, Irvine, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz campuses. The committee shall determine the criteria and timeline to submit proposals, as well as how to allocate funds among eligible proposals.

29.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $30,000,000 ongoing General Fund shall be allocated to support debt service associated with approved UC Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program projects. 

30.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $33,300,000 ongoing General Fund shall be allocated to support debt service associated with UC Merced and UC Riverside Campus Expansion Project and the UC Berkeley Clean Energy Campus Project. 

31.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $2,000,000 ongoing General Fund shall be allocated to support the UC Riverside School of Medicine.       

32.         (a)          From the funds appropriated in this item, the University of California shall increase resident undergraduate enrollment by 7,800 full-time equivalent (FTE) students in 2023–24 over the estimated 2022–23 level of 195,597 FTE students.      

(b)          If the University of California enrolls more resident undergraduate FTE students than specified in subdivision (a), the Director of Finance shall increase funding proportional to each student above the target level. Funding shall be increased at the 2023–24 state marginal cost rate of $11,640 per FTE student. If the University of California enrolls fewer resident undergraduate FTE students than specified in subdivision (a), the Director of Finance shall reduce funding proportional to each student under the specified level. Funding shall be reduced at the 2023–24 state marginal cost rate of $11,640 per FTE student.        

(c)          It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of California increase resident undergraduate enrollment each year through 2026–27. The University of California shall grow resident undergraduate enrollment by an additional 2,014 FTE students in 2024–25, 2,034 FTE students in 2025–26, and 2,053 FTE students in 2026–27, for total resident undergraduate growth of 13,900 FTE students over the 2022–23 level. In 2026–27, resident undergraduate enrollment at the University of California shall be 209,497 FTE students.     

(d)          The systemwide growth identified in this provision is inclusive of the additional 902 resident undergraduate FTE students resulting from the replacement of nonresident undergraduate FTE students identified in Provision 16 of this item.        

33.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $1,500,000 shall be available on an ongoing basis to support students with disabilities. This funding shall supplement, not supplant, core funds the University of California spends to support these students. The University of California shall allocate these funds to campuses based upon their number of students with disabilities. Campuses shall use these funds to improve services for these students, with a focus on increasing the number of professional staff serving them, thereby reducing their associated caseload.     

34.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $4,000,000 one-time General Fund shall be available on a one-time basis to support the Cal-Bridge Initiative. These funds can be used to support fellowships, undergraduate research, salaries and benefits for postdoctoral students, scholarships for students prior to their first Ph.D. year, faculty professional development, and administration of the program.             

35.         Of the funding in this item, $5,000,000 is available on a one-time basis to support the University of California, in partnership with the State Department of Public Health and the FIRESCOPE Cancer Prevention Subcommittee at the Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), to establish a fire service community based participatory research program examining bio-markers of carcinogenic exposure and effect in order to identify the biological mechanisms that cause cancer in firefighters and to reduce the incidence of cancer among California firefighters.

36.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $250,000 shall be available to UC Merced Labor Center to support a study of oil and gas industry change on local services and jobs.

37.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $6,870,000 shall be available to the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and the Berkeley Institute for Data Science at the University of California, Berkeley to establish the Police Records Access Project, a collaborative database for records related to misconduct and force by California peace officers, for use by journalists, researchers, government officials, and members of the public. It is the intent of the Legislature that these funds be directly allocated by the University of California to the University of California, Berkeley Investigative Reporting Program and Berkeley Institute of Data Science, and that the University of California and the University of California Berkeley campus shall not assess administrative costs or charges against these funds. The amount shall be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2026. 

38.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $5,000,000 shall be available to the University of California, Davis, for the Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center. 

39.         Of the funds appropriated in this item, $5,000,000 one-time General Fund shall be available on a one-time basis to support the University of California, Los Angeles Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide $3,000,000 ongoing General Fund for this program beginning in the 2024–25 fiscal year.

6440-001-0007—For support of University of California, payable from the Breast Cancer Research Account, Breast Cancer Fund ........................6,459,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................6,459,000        

6440-001-0042—For support of University of California, payable from the State Highway Account, State Transportation Fund ........................1,000,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................1,000,000        

Provisions:

1.          

The funds appropriated in this item shall be used for the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center.

6440-001-0046—For support of University of California, payable from the Public Transportation Account, State Transportation Fund ........................980,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................980,000           

Provisions:

1.          

The funds appropriated in this item shall be used for the institutes of transportation studies.

6440-001-0234—For support of University of California, payable from the Research Account, Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund ........................10,463,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................10,463,000      

6440-001-0320—For support of University of California, payable from the Oil Spill Prevention and Administration Fund ........................2,500,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................2,500,000        

Provisions:

1.          

The funds appropriated in this item shall be used for the Oiled Wildlife Care Network.

6440-001-0890—For support of University of California, payable from the Federal Trust Fund ........................ 3,500,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................3,500,000        

Provisions:

1.          

The funds appropriated in this item shall be used for the federal Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1070a–21 et seq.).

6440-001-0945—For support of University of California, payable from the California Breast Cancer Research Fund ........................178,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................178,000           

6440-001-1017—For support of University of California, payable from the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program Fund ........................2,500,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................2,500,000        

6440-001-3054—For support of University of California, payable from the Health Care Benefits Fund ........................2,200,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................2,200,000        

6440-001-3290—For support of University of California, payable from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account, State Transportation Fund ........................5,000,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................5,000,000        

6440-001-8054—For support of University of California, payable from the California Cancer Research Fund ........................425,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................425,000           

6440-001-8103—For support of University of California, payable from the Type 1 Diabetes Research Fund ........................250,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................250,000           

6440-005-0001—For support of University of California ........................121,408,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5440-Support ........................121,408,000    

Provisions:

1.          

The funds appropriated in this item shall be for the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. These funds shall be used to supplement and not supplant other existing funds provided to the division by the University of California.

2.          

Of the funds appropriated in this item, $2,000,000 shall be available on a one-time basis to support University of California Fire Advisors. Notwithstanding any other law, these funds may be encumbered until June 30, 2027 and shall be liquidated no later than June 30, 2029. No more than 5 percent of this amount may be used for administrative costs.

3.           Of the funds appropriated in this item, $1,300,000 shall be available on a one-time basis to support the University of California Nutrition Policy Institute in the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources for School Meals for All Research. Furthermore, it is the intent of the Legislature that $2,400,000 and $1,300,000 shall be available in 2024-25 and 2025-26, respectively, for this purpose. 

6440-490—Reappropriation, University of California. The balances of the appropriations provided in the following citations are reappropriated for the purposes provided for in those appropriations and shall be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2024:

0007—​Breast Cancer Research Account, Breast Cancer Fund

(1)         

Item 6440-001-0007, Budget Act of 2021 (Chs. 21, 69, and 240, Stats. 2021)

0234—​Research Account, Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund

(1)         

Item 6440-001-0234, Budget Act of 2021 (Chs. 21, 69, and 240, Stats. 2021)

6440-495—Reversion, University of California. As of June 30, 2023, the balance specified below of the appropriations provided in the following citations shall revert to the balances in the funds from which the appropriations were made:

0001—General Fund        

(1)          $389,000,000 appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (m) of Section 17201 of the Education Code       

6445-001-1031—For support of California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, payable from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Licensing Revenues and Royalties Fund ........................2,000,000

Schedule:

(1)         

5520-California Institute for Regenerative Medicine ........................2,000,000    

Source: SB-101 Budget Act of 2023:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB101.

===

So, if you had the notion of constitutional autonomy of UC engrained in your head up to now, hopefully this peek at the budget bill has disabused you.