There May Be Some Fireworks

As blog readers will know, the Assembly of the systemwide Academic Senate held a special meeting on March 25th to discuss two motions. One, dealing with the issue of having UC-wide single academic calendar, never to a vote and was thus put on the agenda of the next regularly-scheduled Assembly meeting of April 23rd. The other, dealing with the gap in timing between general pay adjustments of faculty vs. administrators, was put to a vote and failed. This item, however, was largely symbolic of concerns about excessive administrative salaries. As a result, a more direct motion has been put on the agenda by petition concerning such excesses.* At least over the second proposal, there may be some fireworks.

Both proposals are up for votes on April 23rd. Below is the language of each:

1. Motion on a Divisional Vote Regarding a UC Systemwide Academic Calendar

Background: The motion was discussed at the March 25, 2025 Assembly special meeting. However, the meeting lost quorum before a vote could be taken on the amended motion. The language of the motion is as follows:

The Representative Assembly of the Academic Senate recommends that each UC campus vote (according to any method authorized by the Division's bylaws) to decide whether the faculty wishes to adopt a “common calendar” for its specific campus or remain on its current calendar system.

Discussion format: Assembly members and other Senate attendees will have the opportunity to engage in Q&A, provide input, and share their perspectives. Assembly members will vote on the motion.

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2. Motion to Adopt Resolution Regarding Senior Administrator Compensation

Background: A motion calling for all University of California administrators at the dean level and above to receive salary range adjustments at the same time as the regular faculty was discussed at the March 25, 2025 special Assembly meeting. However, the motion failed. Senate petitioners have requested discussion and action on a new motion:

Whereas there is significant concern among faculty regarding the disproportionate compensation of senior administrators, with increases far exceeding those granted to faculty 

And whereas this situation raises fundamental questions about fairness, principles of equity, financial responsibility, and institutional priorities.

Be it, therefore, resolved that the Academic Senate urges the University of California to explore measures to cap, reduce, or restructure excessive administrative salaries, especially considering financial austerity and the need to effectively allocate resources to support faculty, students, and academic programs.

Discussion format: Assembly members and other Senate attendees will have the opportunity to engage in Q&A, provide input, and share their perspectives. Assembly members will vote on the motion.

Source: https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/_files/assembly/assembly-agenda-4-23-25.pdf (Item VIII).

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*A complete list of signatories can be found at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeu_sIeedVWf-8PEPkrNHRGrlSS0XPwE8BqmDpmgPLsthganA/viewform.

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Note: As we have noted in the past, the position of officialdom is that there is no proposal to force all campuses to adopt a common calendar. But it appears that topic is at least simmering somewhere. Senate Chair Cheung made it clear that he did not like the original proposal about the gap in timing of pay increases between faculty and administrators. It is likely that he is even less happy with the more direct proposal.