Revising Discipline

Currently under systemwide Senate review - with comments due by May 19* - are UC procedures for student discipline. Excerpt from cover letter:

...In the spring of 2025, former President Drake requested a review of the student conduct and discipline governance, process, and procedures as defined in systemwide and campus policies and related guidance. Key features of this review included:

• A description of the student conduct and discipline governance, process, and procedures in effect at each UC campus, including average timelines for each stage in the process relative to any policy-required timelines, and any notable or significant procedural differences across campuses.

• In partnership with UC Legal, a review of campus disciplinary investigations and an assessment of consistency.

• An assessment of and recommendations related to systemwide standards regarding student conduct procedures, outcomes, and timely resolution...

One guesses that Drake was motivated by the events of 2024 in calling for the review, although there is no reference to those events in the cover letter. In any case, if the intent was to change the procedures and penalties in response, not much was done. Much of the revision involves compliance with state legislation dealing with misbehavior related to drug or alcohol abuse and creates alternative treatment options. Most of the misbehavior cited involves actions unrelated to the events of 2024: things such as cheating, sexual harassment, etc. There is some reference to obstructing academic activities, but it appears that no changes were made to related rules or processes. There is some added language which allows reasonable, but limited, procedural delay caused by unavailability of an advisor to the student accused of misbehavior.

You can find the cover letter and documentation under review at:

https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/_files/underreview/systemwide-senate-review-pacaos-100.pdf.

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*The Senate wants comments by May 19. The cover letter refers to June 11.

New Case

From the LA Times: The Department of Justice said Tuesday that UCLA violated the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli students who reported harassment and intimidation during a spring 2024 pro-Palestinian campus encampment, heightening the political tensions between the University of California and the Trump administration. In a letter addressed to UC President Michael V. Drake, DOJ officials said, “Jewish and Israeli students at UCLA were subjected to severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive harassment that created a hostile environment by members of the encampment.”

The letter faulted UCLA for not taking down the encampment until after it was attacked by a pro-Israel group. In addition, the department found UCLA was “inadequate” in its response to complaints from Jewish and Israeli students last spring, violating the Equal Protection Clause and Title VI. A DOJ statement that said UCLA acted with “deliberate indifference” toward Jewish students and Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said the Trump administration will make UCLA pay a “heavy price.” ...

Full story at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-07-29/ucla-settles-lawsuit-jewish-students.

News release from DOJ at:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-university-california-los-angeles-violation-federal-civil-rights.

The full letter from DOJ to UC President Drake is at:

https://ia600402.us.archive.org/9/items/2-final-hjaa-report.-the-soil-beneath-the-encampments/UCLA%20DOJ%20Letter%20to%20UCLA%20on%20Notice%20of%20Findings%207-29-2025.pdf.

Watch the Regents Morning Meeting of July 16, 2025

Usually, morning meetings of the Regents on the "middle" day of a three-day session will include a full Board initial meeting and then some committee meetings. However, on July 16th, there was just the full board. The meeting began with public comments covering complaints about the UC ban on student government anti-Israel BDS, concerns about possible increases in tuition and decreases in financial aid, requests to rehire laid-off lecturers, professional school tuition, pay for hospital residents, nurse bargaining, student-parents, antisemitism, cuts in student assistance programs, library layoffs, DEI rollbacks, immigrant safety and FAFSA, staff layoffs in health care, health insurance and pay for staff, complaints about a construction contractor at UC-Santa Cruz, and complaints about the requirement at the Regents that any masks be transparent.

After public comments, Chair Reilly thanked the legislature and governor for the recently-enacted budget but noted concerns about the federal bill signed by President Trump on July 4th and adverse effects on UC. 

Faculty representative Cheung - who was attending his final meeting as representative - cautioned about a planned online undergraduate degree, noted problems arising with international students visas and suggested a need for online programs to allow international students to finish their programs, voiced concern about cuts in federal research support, and referred to a decline in public perceptions of higher education.

Normally, UC President Drake would have made remarks but his term ends on July 31st and he was on vacation.

Finally, the new student Regent-elect, Miguel Craven, was introduced.

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As always, we preserve recordings of Regents meetings since the Regents have no policy on duration of retention. You can see the morning meeting at:

https://ia800501.us.archive.org/6/items/regents-7-16-2025/1-Board.mp4.

Preliminary Regents Agenda: July 15-17, 2025

July 15-17, 2025 Luskin Conference Center, UCLA

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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

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12:30 pm Investments Committee (open session - includes public comment session) 

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 13, 2025

I1 Action: Amendment of Regents Policies on Investment Policy Statements

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2:00 pm Health Services Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 13, 2025

H1(X) Discussion: Administrative Stipend for Chief Nursing Executive and Vice President of Patient Care Services, UCSF Health, San Francisco Campus

H2(X) Discussion: Appointment of and Compensation for Senior Vice President and President – Adult Services, UCSF Health, San Francisco Campus

H3(X) Discussion: UC San Diego Health Letter of Intent

H4(X) Discussion: UC Health Litigation Update

--

Upon end of closed session:

Health Services Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 13, 2025

H1 Action: Approval of Administrative Stipend for Chief Nursing Executive and Vice President of Patient Care Services, UCSF Health, San Francisco Campus as Discussed in Closed Session

H2 Action: Approval of Appointment of and Compensation for Senior Vice President and President – Adult Services, UCSF Health, San Francisco Campus as Discussed in Closed Session

H5 Action: Establishment of a New Level Two Senior Management Group Position of Associate Vice President – Strategic Partnerships, UC Health, Office of the President, and the Market Reference Zone for the Position

H6 Discussion: UC Medical Center Pharmacy at the Crossroads of Innovation and Rising Cost

H7 Discussion: Medical School Curriculum: Accreditation Requirements, University of California Academic Senate Oversight, and Attainment of Competency

H8 Discussion: UC Health Policy Update

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Wednesday, July 16, 2025

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8:30 am Board (open session - includes public comment session) 

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Remarks of the Chair of the Board

Remarks of the Chair of the Academic Senate

NOTE: Usually, the UC president would make remarks in this session. However, with President Drake stepping down, it may be that he is not planning to attend.

Committee Report: Special Committee to Select a Student Regent: Appointment of 2026–27 Student Regent

B1 Discussion: Introducing Catharine Baker and the UC Student and Policy Center

NOTE: The Center was created in 2023: "The new center will allow UC to go even deeper by facilitating more effective collaborations between the university and state leaders. It will also foster greater civic engagement throughout the region by serving as a place for public dialogue, speaker series and other community events. And perhaps most importantly, it will provide life-changing experiences for UC students." Source:

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/uc-student-and-policy-center-opens-its-doors-usher-new-era-collaboration-and-partnership-state.

"Baker, a former California State Assemblymember who represented the 16th Assembly District from 2014 through 2018, established a strong bipartisan record of service while passing significant legislation focused on transportation, the environment, and government accountability. As vice chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, she advocated for educational quality, affordability, and accessibility and worked with state leaders to promote more funding for and admissions opportunities at UC. She has served as a commissioner with the California Fair Political Practices Commission since 2020, following her appointment by then-State Controller Betty Yee." Source:

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/catharine-baker-named-director-uc-student-and-policy-center-sacramento.

B2 Discussion: Overview of the University of California Tuition Stability Plan

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10:30 am Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 14, 2025

Consent Agenda:

F1A Action: Consent Item: 901 Levering Student Housing, Los Angeles Campus: Preliminary Plans Funding

F1B Action: Consent Item: Berkeley Innovation Zone – North Building, Berkeley Campus: Scope and Design Following Consideration of an Addendum to the Berkeley Innovation Zone Environmental Impact Report Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act; and Acceptance of Gift of Real Property

F2 Action: Clean Energy Campus Utility Improvement Project – Phase 1, Berkeley Campus: Scope and Design Following Consideration of an Addendum to the 2021 Long Range Development Plan Environmental Impact Report Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

F3 Action: 2018 La Jolla Campus Long Range Development Plan, San Diego Campus: Amendment #1 Following Certification of a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

F4 Discussion: The Final 2025-26 State Budget and Update from the Systemwide Budget Management Workgroup

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Upon end of open session:

Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 14, 2025

F5(X) Action: Use of University Facilities, Los Angeles Campus: Business Terms

F6(X) Discussion: Member Substitution in Arts Organization, Irvine Campus: Acquisition

F7(X) Discussion: UC San Diego Health Letter of Intent

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12:45 pm Academic and Student Affairs Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 14, 2025

A1X Discussion: Update on UC Davis Faculty Discipline Matter

NOTE: Since this session is closed, there is no direct way of identifying the incident involved. However, there is this item from the LA Times in January 2025: "The University of California is aiming to speed up the faculty discipline process amid criticism that cases take too long to complete — including one involving a UC Davis professor accused of posting threats to Zionist journalists that included emojis of blood and a hatchet..." Source:

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-23/uc-davis-antisemitism-faculty-discipline.

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Upon end of closed session:

Academic and Student Affairs Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 14, 2025

A2 Action: Approval of Delegation of Authority for Limited Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition Multi-Year Plans

A3 Discussion: Alumni Outcomes—Top Employers Across UC Campuses

A4 Discussion: Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz: How the Seymour Marine Discovery Center Powers Community-Driven Climate Resilience Through Research

A5 Discussion: Campus Climate Resources and Incident Reporting

NOTE: "Climate" in A5 likely refers to events such as occurred in Spring 2024.

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2:30 pm National Laboratories Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of January 22, 2025

N1 Action: Allocation of LLC Fee Income to Be Expended in Fiscal Year 2025–26

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Concurrent Meetings

2:45 pm Compliance and Audit Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 14, 2025

C1 Action: Compliance Plan for 2025-26 and Internal Audit Plan for 2025-26

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Upon end of open session:

Compliance and Audit Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 15, 2025

C2(X) Discussion: Digital Risk – Cybersecurity Investment Plan Update

C3(X) Action: Recommended Settlements for Board Action 

C4(X) Discussion: Appellate, Trial Court Developments and Updates 

NOTE: Included is litigation resulting from the UCLA/Heaps medical malpractice cases, the UCLA/Gordon Klein trial currently underway involving the aftermath of the 2020 George Floyd events, and a case accusing UC of violating the Supreme Court's anti-affirmative action decision and Prop 209 with regard to admissions:

https://aflegal.org/press-release/america-first-legal-sues-university-of-california-for-illegal-race-based-discrimination-against-white-and-asian-applicants-in-student-admissions/.

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2:45 pm Public Engagement and Development Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 19, 2025

P1 Discussion: Update from the Senior Vice President of External Relations and Communications

P2 Discussion: The Student Regents’ Voice at the Table: Advocacy in Action

P3 Discussion: State Governmental Relations Update

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4:20 pm Special Committee on Nominations (closed session) 

S1(X) Action: Appointment of a Regent to Standing Committees and Resignation from the Public Engagement and Development Committee for 2025-26, and Appointment of Regents-designate, Faculty Representatives, and a Chancellor as Advisory Members to Standing Committees for 2025-26

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4:30 pm Governance Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of May 2 and May 14-15, 2025

G1(X) Discussion: Collective Bargaining Matters

G2(X) Discussion: Appointment of and Compensation for Vice Chancellor for University Development and Alumni Relations, Berkeley Campus

G3(X) Discussion: Appointment of and Compensation for Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences, Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Dean of the School of Marine Sciences, San Diego Campus

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Upon end of closed session:

Governance Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 14-15, 2025

G2 Action: Approval of Appointment of and Compensation for Vice Chancellor for University Development and Alumni Relations, Berkeley Campus as Discussed in Closed Session

G3 Action: Approval of Appointment of and Compensation for Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences, Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Dean of the School of Marine Sciences, San Diego Campus as Discussed in Closed Session

G4 Action: Establishment of a New Level Two Senior Management Group Position of Associate Vice President – Strategic Partnerships, UC Health, Office of the President, and the Market Reference Zone for the Position

G5 Action: Amendment of Bylaw 40.3 and Standing Orders 105.1 and 105.2

G6 Action: Amendment of Regents Policy 4105: Policy on Settlement of Litigation, Claims and Separation Agreements

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Thursday, July 17, 2025

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8:30 am Board (open session - includes public comment session) 

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of May 2, 14, 15, and 28, 2025

Remarks from Student Associations

B3 Discussion: UC Inspires: UC Grad Slam: Making University of California Research Accessible to All - Annual Council of University of California Staff Assemblies Report

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

-Investments Committee

-National Laboratories Committee

-Public Engagements and Development Committee

Special Committee on Nominations

Resolutions

Officers’ and President’s Reports:

-Report of Interim, Concurrence, and Committee Actions

-Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings

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10:40 am Board (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of May 14-15 and May 28 and the Meeting of the Special Committee on Selection of a President of May 2, 2025

Committee Reports Including Approval of Recommendations from Committees:

-Academic and Student Affairs Committee

-Compliance and Audit Committee

-Finance and Capital Strategies Committee

-Governance Committee

Health Services Committee

B4(X) Discussion: Research and Programs Funding Legal Issues

Officers’ and President’s Reports:

Personnel Matters

Report of Interim, Concurrence, and Committee Actions

Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings

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Source: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/agendas/july25.html.

Robert Dynes

From UC-San Diego:

In Memoriam: University of California President Emeritus and Former University of California San Diego Chancellor Robert C. Dynes

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of University of California President Emeritus and Former University of California San Diego Chancellor Robert C. (Bob) Dynes, on June 30, 2025. He was 82.

A first-generation college graduate and globally renowned physicist, Dynes served as the 18th president of the University of California system between 2003 and 2007, and sixth chancellor of UC San Diego from 1996 to 2003. He was passionate in his commitment to service and scientific discovery, and distinguished himself as a champion for educational opportunity for students from all backgrounds. An active research physicist until his death, Dynes’ long and prolific career within the University of California system was notable for advancing the university’s reputation for innovative, impactful research aimed at solving society’s biggest challenges; expanding connections between science and industry; and nurturing a culture of institutional accountability.

Dynes joined UC San Diego as a Professor of Physics in 1991 after a 22-year career at AT&T Bell Laboratories, where he served as department head of semiconductor and material physics research and director of chemical physics research. He served as chair of the Department of Physics and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UC San Diego before being named as Chancellor of the university in 1996.

Dynes contributed significantly to the growth of UC San Diego during his time as chancellor. He is credited with significant growth in student enrollment; establishing the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rady School of Management and Sixth College; increasing research expenditures by 36 percent; launching the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (CALIT2) in partnership with UC Irvine; increasing income from technology transfer by 76 percent and spearheading UC San Diego’s first successful $1 billion fundraising campaign. 

He also played a key role in the establishment of The Preuss School UC San Diego, a unique charter middle and high school on the UC San Diego campus for low-income scholars who strive to become the first in their families to graduate from college. Founded in 1999, The Preuss School has consistently been recognized as one of the best high schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

“Bob Dynes touched so many lives personally and professionally. It was one of my career highlights when he appointed me to serve as chancellor of UC Irvine,” said UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D. “His bold vision and unwavering commitment to academic excellence positioned the University for national impact and future success that is still evident today. His legacy will live on through new opportunities for students to access a world-class UC education.”

As a distinguished member of UC San Diego’s faculty, Dynes founded an interdisciplinary laboratory where chemists, electrical engineers and private industry researchers, joined by graduate and undergraduate students, collaborate to investigate the properties of metals, semiconductors and superconductors.

Dynes also served as vice chair of the University of California President’s Council on the National Laboratories and a member of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Oversight Board. In addition, he had longstanding association with the national laboratories as an adviser and consultant.

Dynes’ numerous scientific honors include the 1990 Fritz London Award in Low Temperature Physics. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1989. He was a fellow of the American Physical Society, the Canadian Institute of Advanced Research and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Dynes earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Western Ontario and master's and doctorate degrees in physics from McMaster University.

A Lasting Legacy

Together with his wife, Ann Parode Dynes, Dynes established the Robert C. Dynes and Ann Parode Dynes Scholarship, designated for undergraduate students conducting research in physics. He also played a key role in helping raise awareness around the need for undergraduate scholarships and encouraging others to join in supporting future generations of students.

Dynes is survived by his wife, Ann Parode Dynes, daughter Victoria and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Dynes’ honor be directed to support The Preuss School UC San Diego. A memorial tribute event will be held on the UC San Diego campus at a later date.

Pradeep K. Khosla                                                    

Chancellor

Joan and Irwin Jacobs Chancellor’s Endowed Chair

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Source: https://adminrecords.ucsd.edu/Notices/2025/2025-6-30-4.html.

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From the San Diego Union-Tribune: ...[Dynes] achievements didn’t go unnoticed by the UC Board of Regents, which chose him to succeed Atkinson as the system’s president in 2003. It was a difficult moment in the UC’s history. The state was facing a huge budget deficit that led lawmakers to slash the university system’s funding to help stabilize the state’s finances. It was also facing political turmoil. In a recall effort, voters removed Gov. Gray Davis from office and replaced him with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, with whom Dynes had a deep friendship. That friendship helped Dynes, along with others, to negotiate a compact with Schwarzenegger that stabilized and eventually increased funding for the UC and California State University systems — but that also faced criticism from students and families for ushering in significant fee hikes.

Dynes also prevented the UC from losing the right to manage and operate two national laboratories that were being scrutinized for safety and security problems. And in 2005 he oversaw the opening of UC Merced, the first new UC campus in a generation. That same year he made another move that proved consequential — appointing Michael Drake chancellor of UC Irvine. Drake would later become the first Black president of the University of California system.

...But Dynes’ tenure leading the university system also was marked by controversy, notably a scandal over executive compensation that surfaced in 2006. A state audit revealed that the UC’s system for paying top managers and professors was filled with irregularities, including the awarding of pay or perks without proper approval. Dynes introduced changes in an effort to fix the problems. But his handling of the matter cost him the support of some members of the Board of Regents and the state Legislature. In August 2007, he announced that he would step down the following year. He didn’t attribute the decision to the scandal...

Full obituary at https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/02/robert-dynes-who-built-a-research-power-at-uc-san-diego-and-led-uc-system-dies-at-82/.

Drake Letter

Letter from UC President Drake:*

July 2, 2025

 
CHANCELLORS

 
Dear Colleagues:

 
Upholding the values of freedom of speech and inquiry are core commitments of the University of California. Members of the University community have the right to express their views on matters of public importance. In addition, University policies provide mechanisms for groups such as academic campus units and student governments to take public positions on issues (Regents Policy 4408 https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/4408.html; PACAOS 63.00 https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/2710526/PACAOS-60).

 
University policies also require that financial and business decisions be grounded in sound business practices including competitive bidding (BFB-BUS-43 Purchases of Goods and Services https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/3220485/BFB-BUS-43; Supply Chain Management). This principle also applies to student governments, where University policy provides that “any financial and business activity under the control of student governments is operated in accordance with sound business practices and is consistent with legal requirements and University policies and procedures” (PACAOS 67.00). Actions by University entities to implement boycotts of companies based on their association with a particular country would not align with these sound business practices.

 
The right of individuals and groups to express their views on public matters is distinct from the responsibility of University entities to conduct their financial affairs in a manner consistent with University policy and applicable law.[i] 

This letter reaffirms both: the rights of students, faculty, and staff to express their views, and the University’s obligation to ensure that its units do not engage in financial boycotts of companies associated with a particular country.

Sincerely,
Michael V. Drake, MD
President

 
cc: Division Leaders
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[i]https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/university-california-statement-divestment; UC Chancellors Statement on Israeli Academic Boycott (Dec. 2018): 

https://amchainitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/UC-Chancellors-statement-on-Israeli-academic-boycott-Dec-2018.pdf. 

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*https://ia600402.us.archive.org/9/items/2-final-hjaa-report.-the-soil-beneath-the-encampments/UC-Drake%20letter%20banning%20student%20govt%20boycotts%207-2-2025.pdf.

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From the Bruin: UC President Michael Drake announced in a Wednesday letter that student governments at all UC campuses are banned from boycotting companies associated with Israel. The letter followed directives from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health that promise to deny grants to organizations with anti-Israel boycotts and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The University has previously expressed opposition to boycotts and divestment from Israel, including in an April 2024 statement released the day after the Palestine solidarity encampment at UCLA – the organizers of which called on the UC to divest from companies with ties to the Israeli military – began...

Kira Stein, the chair of the UCLA Jewish Faculty Resilience Group, said in a statement over text message that official student government boycotts against specific countries are “discriminatory and divisive” and do not promote peace. She added that the University’s decision promotes inclusivity and respectful discourse in an academic setting. “Since UC student governments are funded by student fees and operate with university recognition, it is both reasonable and necessary that they represent all students and refrain from discriminatory practices,” Stein said.

USAC passed a resolution in February 2024 endorsing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. The resolution alleged that Israel is engaged in “apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and genocide,” as well as called on the UC Board of Regents to divest from companies associated with Israeli weapons manufacturing. The council also previously amended its bylaws to freeze the transfer of funds into its endowment until the University divests from companies participating “in the violation of human rights. Both the resolution and the bylaw change were proposed by then-USAC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Alicia Verdugo, who resigned in February amid allegations that their office deliberately avoided hiring Jewish staffers.

USAC President Diego Emilio Bollo declined to comment on Drake’s directive...

Full story at https://dailybruin.com/2025/07/03/student-governments-across-uc-campuses-banned-from-anti-israel-boycotts.

UC Investigation

From the Sacramento Bee: The University of California will be investigated for possible civil rights violations in its hiring practices, the Trump administration said Thursday, the latest in the federal government’s efforts to unwind diversity programs it says discriminate against people who are white and male. 

The investigation will focus on a 2022 report called “The UC 2030 Capacity Plan,” a blueprint for expanding undergraduate and graduate programs across the system’s 10 campuses which included a section on diversity in hiring, a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice to UC President Michael Drake said...

The UC investigation comes on the heels of efforts by the administration to question admissions practices at 45 universities that had participated in a program aimed at increasing diversity among Ph.D. recipients. UC Berkeley, Cal Poly Humboldt and California State University, San Bernardino, were named in March among the campuses under investigation. The administration has also picked high-profile fights with elite private universities including Harvard and Columbia, accusing them of antisemitism related to protests against Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The 2030 plan, the letter alleged, led to illegal hiring practices. The 2030 report was issued before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions in 2023, a ruling that also had implications for hiring...

Full story at https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article309501740.html.

New UC-Riverside Chancellor

University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., announced... the selection of Dr. S. Jack Hu, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, as UC Riverside’s next chancellor. The UC Board of Regents approved the appointment during a special meeting held at the UC Student & Policy Center in Sacramento.

In Dr. Hu, UC Riverside welcomes a leader with nearly 40 years of experience in higher education. He joined the University of Georgia as provost in 2019, following an illustrious tenure at the University of Michigan, where he began his academic journey as a graduate student in 1985, ultimately rising to serve as the university’s vice president for research. Dr. Hu will begin serving as UC Riverside’s chancellor on July 15.

“Over his distinguished career at leading public research institutions, Dr. Hu has championed innovation and academic initiatives that have increased opportunities for students and faculty and have positively impacted their lives and the communities they serve,” said President Drake. “UC Riverside has established itself as a global leader in providing world-class scholarship. Dr. Hu has the academic acumen and collaborative mindset to move the campus forward with integrity and purpose.”

Dr. Hu has served as the University of Georgia’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost since July 2019. In this role, he leads the academic enterprise by overseeing instruction, research, public service and outreach, information technology, and the 19 schools and colleges at the university. Since Dr. Hu began serving as provost, the University of Georgia has invested in multiple rounds of interdisciplinary faculty hires and increased its research and development expenditures year-over-year, exceeding $620 million in 2024. This significant investment in research has helped the University of Georgia maintain its status as a top U.S. university for research-to-market products every year over the previous decade, ranking first in 2024. Dr. Hu also serves as a UGA Foundation Distinguished Professor at the College of Engineering. 

“I am honored to join this outstanding University whose mission is to transform lives through discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge,” said Chancellor-designate Hu. “As a nationally recognized institution for academic excellence and social mobility and an engine for innovation and economic opportunity in the state, nation, and world, UC Riverside has immense potential ahead that I believe will put the campus at the forefront of shaping the future of higher education. Leading the campus into its next chapter of preeminence and realizing its ambitions is an exciting opportunity for which I am deeply grateful.”

As vice president for research at the University of Michigan, Dr. Hu oversaw a $1.5 billion research enterprise across the university’s campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint. In 2015, the university launched “MCity” as a public-private partnership to support innovation and testing of connected and automated vehicles. He also led the development of several international initiatives to support education and research. At the University of Georgia, Dr. Hu made strategic investments in electric mobility-related research projects a priority, working with several automobile companies with manufacturing facilities in the state and hosting regular summits that convened leaders of government, academia and industry. Faculty hiring initiatives in precision agriculture, Parkinson’s research, data science and artificial intelligence led to research centers and institutes in these areas to support and sustain interdisciplinary collaborations. In addition, Dr. Hu created the Humanities Council to support faculty research, scholarship and collaboration. The provost office also sponsors the annual Spotlight on the Arts festival in partnership with the UGA Arts Council as an annual celebration of the literary, visual and performing arts.

“On behalf of the UC Board of Regents, we are proud to welcome Dr. Hu as UC Riverside’s next chancellor,” said Janet Reilly, UC Board of Regents Chair and member of the search advisory committee. “Dr. Hu’s reputation as a results-oriented team player makes him the ideal partner to bolster UC Riverside’s impact on students and the region through robust research, economic development, and community engagement.”

Dr. Hu has dedicated his career to strengthening undergraduate and graduate education and promoting student success. While at the University of Georgia, he worked to expand experiential and engaged learning opportunities through research, internships and study abroad. Notably, his tenure concludes with the University of Georgia being one of only nine public universities in the U.S. with a six-year graduation rate of at least 90 percent. Graduate enrollment has also increased by more than 20 percent since 2019.

An area of focus for Dr. Hu has been increasing collaboration between the University of Georgia and rural communities in the state. Dr. Hu helped create the Rural Engagement Workshop for Academic Faculty as a means of expanding faculty understanding of rural needs to better develop research-focused partnerships. Since the program launched in 2021, workshop alumni have secured nearly $12.5 million in funding as a direct result of the projects they started in the program. The program also won the National Award of Excellence in the Innovation category from the University Economic Development Association.

“In Provost Hu we have found an energetic leader with an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, student achievement, and community engagement,” said Steven W. Cheung, M.D., chair of the Faculty Academic Senate. “His extensive experience supporting the interests of students and faculty for the betterment of universities and communities across the country gives me great confidence that he will advance UC Riverside to its next great chapter of impact and growth.”

Dr. Hu is renowned for his engineering research, with much of his work focused on the quality and productivity of manufacturing systems. As a researcher, he has secured $46 million in external funding from federal agencies and industry to support research conducted by students, faculty and staff in his laboratory. In 2011, he joined then-President Barack Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, a national initiative by the president to unite industry, universities and the federal government to strengthen American manufacturing. Dr. Hu is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and an elected fellow of four professional societies. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the William T. Ennor Manufacturing Technology Award and the DeVor/Kapoor Manufacturing Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Gold Medal from Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and several best paper awards.

Dr. Hu will become UC Riverside’s 10th chancellor, following the retirement of Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox. Appointed in 2013, Chancellor Wilcox has overseen tremendous growth at UC Riverside. Under his leadership the campus has added schools of medicine and public policy, increased overall enrollment more than 25 percent, and raised the campus’s four-year graduation rate by 18 percent. In 2023, UC Riverside was invited to join the Association of American Universities (AAU), a 10-year goal of Chancellor Wilcox, establishing the school as one of America’s leading research universities. Chancellor Wilcox will remain in his role as chancellor through July 14 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

“I’m overjoyed that the selection committee has chosen Dr. Hu, one of our nation’s foremost academic researchers and leaders, to take the helm at UC Riverside,” said Chancellor Wilcox. “Dr. Hu has proven himself to be a thoughtful and collaborative leader who cares deeply about the faculty and students he leads and the communities he serves. With decades of academic leadership, his ability to translate vision into action positions the University for a promising future.”

Born in Hunan Province, China, Dr. Hu earned his bachelor’s degree from Tianjin University. Following his undergraduate studies, he moved to Michigan, where he earned both master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering.

Off campus, Dr. Hu’s interests include Chinese literature and Chinese calligraphy, which he practiced regularly during winters in Ann Arbor. His wife, Jun Du, is a pianist with a degree from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

The UC Board of Regents approved Dr. Hu’s annual salary at $824,000.

===

Full news release at https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/university-california-president-michael-v-drake-md-names-new-uc-riverside-chancellor.

Watch the Regents Meeting of May 15, 2025

The third day of the Regents meetings of May - at least the public portion - was largely devoted to public comments, a lengthy presentation on Lawrence Livermore National Lab, approvals of committee reports of the previous two days, and a short open session of the Governance Committee to approve a contract with a UC-San Diego basketball coach. 

Public comments included concerns about federal funding cuts for a STEM diversity training program, staff pay, undocumented student support, adverse impact on workers of UC-San Francisco's takeover of Children's Hospital-Oakland, anti-Israel remarks, union relations and negotiations for "frontline" workers, NSF grant cuts, civil liberties, anti-Hawaiian telescope (TMT), civil liberties, and needed repairs of Hilltop housing (at UC-Santa Cruz). Following the comments, there was a disruption over union issues and the Regents moved to another room.*

When the meeting resumed, Chair Reilly endorsed the expansion of UC-Riverside's medical program. As noted above, there was a presentation on the activities of Lawrence Livermore. (Yours truly - who is old and remembers the Cold War - has to note that once upon a time, the activities of what were then called the nuclear labs - because they dealt with The Bomb - was a matter of controversy. Somehow, the calls for "military" divestment nowadays don't seem to be linked to UC's role at Lawrence Livermore or Los Alamos. We seem to have, as they say, moved on.) 

Stipends for advisors to the Health Services Committee were approved. Regent Leib on behalf of Academic and Student Affairs noted that the proposal for speeded-up faculty discipline would be presented at the July meeting. He also added there would be a related proposal for a process for students to complain if instructors pushed political viewpoints unrelated to class content in courses. And he mentioned the BOARS admissions controversy with the legislature. Notably, Regent (and Lieutenant Governor) Kounalakis - who is officially the presiding officer of the state senate - voted "no" on the report. Regent Makarechian again abstained on the report from Finance and Capital Strategies, presumably over the pension funding issue.

Apart from the short Governance meeting mentioned above, the rest of the Board's open session was devoted to ceremonial resolutions and statements regarding departing Regents and chancellors and, of course, President Drake.

As always, we preserve Regents meetings indefinitely since the Regents have no fixed policy on recording retentions.

=====

*According to the Daily Bruin, over twenty people were arrested. See:

https://dailybruin.com/2025/05/23/over-20-labor-demonstrators-arrested-during-uc-regents-public-comment-sit-in.

Note: The Regents immediately moved to another room, suggesting that there had been some planning for the demonstration with another room available. Usually, when such protests occur, the existing room is cleared.

=====

You can see the May 15th meeting at the links below:

Full board at:

https://ia800303.us.archive.org/5/items/governance-committee-board/Board%205-15-2025.mp4

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Governance at:

https://ia800303.us.archive.org/5/items/governance-committee-board/Governance%20Committee%2C%20Board.mp4

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General link for May 15: https://archive.org/details/governance-committee-board.

Watch the Regents Meeting of May 14, 2025

On the second day of the May Regents meetings - May 14 - the session began with public comments at the full Board. Topics included union negotiations with resident physicians, support for UC-Riverside's med program, PhD student support, undocumented student support, concerns over takeover of Children's Hospital-Oakland by UC-San Francisco, opposition to the Hawaiian telescope (TMT), state budget issues, academic freedom, support for a community garden at UC-Riverside, anti-Israel divestment, food insecurity, litigation by researchers over federal cuts, DEI programs, international student safety, basic needs, poor quality of construction at UC-Santa Cruz, and nurse union negotiations.

Regent Chair Reilly referenced the state budget in her remarks and the hiring of James B. Milliken as the new UC president. President Drake had nice words about the governor and legislature with regard to the May Revise budget. He referenced federal grant cuts and visa revocations but said most of the latter had been restored. Senate Chair Cheung supported the pension funding delays (about which we have blogged previously). He supported "bridge" funding to make up for federal research grant cuts.

Much of the interesting discussions in the morning following the open session will not be known due to the closed format. But they likely covered the legal landscape and funding cuts coming out of DC as well as upcoming collective bargaining issues.

At the Governance Committee, alternative housing arrangements for chancellors at Davis and Santa Barbara were approved while their official residences were being reconstructed. There was also a discussion rather than a planned action item for a change in procedures regarding settlements of litigation on malpractice from the health sciences. The idea seemed to be involving both the Health Services Committee and Compliance and Audit in approving such settlements with an eye toward prevention. Details of the procedure are now planned for the July meeting.

Compliance and Audit approved an external audit plan for the year. Regent Makarechian raised the issue of whether the plethora of executive orders coming out of Washington might generate new liabilities and risk for UC and if the proposed cost for the external audit included such risks. It was said that if a "material change" was required in the scope of the audit, the cost would be renegotiated.

At Academic and Student Affairs, various professional tuition requests were approved. There was a lengthy presentation on Quantum Information Science. According to UCLA Chancellor Frenk, the new UCLA Research Park (old Westside Pavilion) facillity would be involved. It was noted that quantum computing could potentially cut the energy usage now being caused by conventional computers handling AI. 

There was also a discussion and preview of recommendations regarding the speeding up of faculty disciplinary procedures being assembled by a Joint administration-Academic Senate working group which will be presented at the July meeting. The proposal involves various deadlines for the various steps in the process. If a delay is caused by an inability of a campus to form a Privilege and Tenure committee to deal with charges, a systemwide standby P&T committee would apparently intervene. (As noted in an earlier post, there is a substantial audio gap in the recording of this discussion which continued into a subsequent discussion of BOARS admissions processes, processes which have created concerns and bills in the legislature.)

At Finance and Capital Strategies, additional funding for planning of the UCLA Research Park was approved. There was then discussion of the budget for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and construction of two educational structures. The budget for UC ANR is a separate line-item in the state budget. Patent revenues - mainly from new plants - flow back into that budget. The proposal was approved with Regent Elliot voting "no" without explanation.

The May Revise now cuts the UC budget by 3% instead of January's proposed 8%, so there were lots of thank-yous from President Drake to the governor and legislature. (We'll say more about this in a later post.) There will be a report in July with recommendations to improve management efficiency in July. NOTE: An awful lot of important stuff seems to have been deferred to July. UCOP's budget was approved.

The pension funding delay and deferral was approved. Two Regents abstained for the obvious reason. There was also an audio gap in this segment of the recording but it lasted only a couple of minutes.

==

As always, we preserve the recordings of Regents meetings indefinitely - even the ones with audio gaps - because the Regents have no fixed policy on storage duration.

Board meeting including public comments at:

https://ia800101.us.archive.org/14/items/3-board/3-Board.mp4

--

Governance and Compliance and Audit at:

https://ia600101.us.archive.org/14/items/3-board/4-Governance%20Committee%2C%20Compliance%20and%20Audit%20Committee.mp4

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Finance and Capital Strategies at:

https://ia800101.us.archive.org/14/items/3-board/6-Finance%20and%20Capital%20Strategies%20Committee%201.mp4

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The general website for May 14:

https://archive.org/details/3-board.

Grateful for cuts (that are smaller)

From the LA Times:

...The proposed cut to UC dropped from $397 million in January to $130 million four months later, representing a 3% year-to-year budget cut... Newsom’s revised budget “represents a significant improvement from the January budget,” said UC President Michael V. Drake, who spoke during a UC regents meeting Wednesday in San Francisco. “It means so much in this moment when the state is facing difficult budget choices.” In a statement, Drake added that the proposed budget “minimizes cuts to vital student support services and preserves critical investments like affordable student housing construction.” ...

As previously announced, the governor also said he wanted to defer the [UC's] annual 5% budget increase that [is] part of a multiyear compact with the state...

Full story at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-15/uc-csu-higher-education-newsom-california-budget.

Preliminary Regents Agenda: May 13-15, 2025

The Regents will have a 3-day meeting May 13-15, 2025 at UC-San Francisco. Below is the agenda with some notes about particular items:

May 13-15, 2025 UC-San Francisco

===

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

10:30 am Investments Committee (open session - includes public comment session)

Agenda – Open Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 18, 2025

I1 Discussion: Review of Performance for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024–25 of UC Pension, Endowment, Blue and Gold Pool, Working Capital, and Retirement Savings

I2 Discussion: Navigating Uncertainty in the Markets

NOTE: It will be interesting to see what is said about dealing with recent volatility related to the Trump tariffs and other developments.

--

1:00 pm Special Committee on Athletics (open session)

Agenda – Open Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of November 13, 2024

S1 Discussion: Student-Athlete Insights and Perspectives: UC Berkeley and UC Riverside

NOTE: Berkeley is receiving a subsidy from UCLA as a result - though a chain of events - of a gubernatorial intervention. 

S2 Discussion: Campus Athletics Overview: UCLA and UC Santa Cruz

NOTE: UCLA is paying a subsidy to Berkeley as a result - through a chain of events - of a gubernatorial intervention.

--

2:30 pm Health Services Committee (open session)

Agenda – Open Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 18, 2025 the Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Health Services Committee and the Governance Committee of March 19, 2025

H1 Discussion: UC Health Strategic Plan

H2 Discussion: The 340B Program at UC Health

NOTE: The 340B plan provides a federal subsidy to UC Health for low income Medicare and Medi-Cal (Medicaid) patients. Unclear it this funding is under threat.

H3 Discussion: Medi-Cal Landscape Overview

NOTE: There have been reports of planned cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) funding.

--

Upon end of open session:

Health Services Committee (closed session 

Agenda – Closed Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 18, 2025 and the Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Health Services Committee and the Finance and Capital Strategies Committee of March 20, 2025

H4(X) Discussion: UC Health Litigation Update

===

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

8:30 am Board (open session - includes public comment session) 

Agenda – Open Session

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Remarks of the Chair of the Board

Remarks of the President of the University

NOTE: Presumably, this will be the last meeting for UC president Drake.

Remarks of the Chair of the Academic Senate

--

9:30 am Board (closed session)

Agenda – Closed Session

B1(X) Discussion: Research and Programs Funding Legal Issues

B2(X) Action: UC Riverside Health Clinical Enterprise Development Plan: Phase 1 Funding, Riverside Campus

--

1:30 pm Governance Committee (closed session)

Agenda – Closed Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 19, 2025

G1(X) Discussion: Collective Bargaining Matters

NOTE: Undoubtedly, recent strikes at UC will be discussed.

--

Upon end of closed session:

Governance Committee (open session) 

Agenda – Open Session

Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 19, 2025

Alternative Housing Arrangements for Chancellor, Davis Campus

Alternative Housing Arrangements for Chancellor, Santa Barbara Campus

Amendment of the Charters of the Health Services Committee and the Compliance and Audit Committee

Amendment of Regents Policy 4105: Policy on Settlement of Litigation, Claims, and Separation Agreements

NOTE: The policy, which is revised from time to time, sets dollar amounts for delegation of approval of such agreements to the UC president and general counsel and reporting requirements to the Regents. Included are settlements under which tenured faculty are in effect terminated by a negotiated settlement. It is unclear whether a significant change in policy is being considered or whether the dollar amounts are being adjusted for inflation. 

--

3:00 pm Compliance and Audit Committee (open session) 

Agenda – Open Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of January 22, 2025

C1 Action: External Audit Plan for the Year Ending June 30, 2025

--

Concurrent Meetings

3:25 pm Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session) 

Agenda – Open Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 19, 2025

Consent Agenda:

F1A Action: Consent Item: Fiscal Year 2025-26 Bond Issuances

F1B Action: Consent Item: Adoption of Expenditure Rate for the General Endowment Pool

F1C Action: Consent Item: Adoption of Endowment Administration Cost Recovery Rate

F2 Action: UCLA Research Park East Core and Shell Improvements, Los Angeles Campus: Preliminary Plans Funding

NOTE: This item refers to UCLA's acquisition of the Westside Pavilion property from Google.

F3 Action: Facilities Renewal and Improvements, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Amendment of Budget, Scope, and External Financing

F4 Discussion: The Governor’s May Revision to the 2025-26 Budget and Update from the Systemwide Budget Management Workgroup

NOTE: As indicated, whatever the governor's May Revise has as a proposal for UC funding will be up for discussion. There was pushback from UC about the governor's January budget proposal. Whether that pushback has resulted in a change in the proposal or will produce some deviation from the proposal by the legislature remains to be seen.

F5 Action: Revision to Requirement on Undergraduate Nonresident Supplemental Tuition Return-to-Aid

F6 Action: University of California Retirement Plan – Amendment of a Previously Approved Action: Authorization to Maintain the Current University Employer Contribution Rate for 2025-26 and to No Longer Transfer $700 Million from the Short Term Investment Pool in 2025-26

NOTE: These changes appear to be negatives for UC pension funding.

F7 Action: Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget for the University of California Office of the President

F8 Information: East Campus Student Apartments Phase 5, Irvine Campus

--

Upon end of open session:

Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (closed session)

Agenda – Closed Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of November 13, 2024 and the Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Health Services Committee and the Finance and Capital Strategies Committee of March 20, 2025

F9(X) Action: Agriculture Research and Extension Facility, Davis Campus: Gift of Real Property Closed Session Statute Citation: Acquisition or disposition of property

F10(X) 2 Action: Real Property, San Francisco Campus: Acquisition and External Financing Closed Session Statute Citation: Acquisition or disposition of property

F11(X) Discussion: University of California Retirement Plan – Amendment to Allow Extra Shift Incentive Pay as Covered Compensation for Specific Period

NOTE: Unclear what this change entails. Usually, UC has avoided including irregular payments in the pension calculation to prevent pension "spiking."

--

Upon end of closed session:

Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session) (pdf)

Agenda – Open Session

F11 Action: University of California Retirement Plan – Amendment to Allow Extra Shift Incentive Pay as Covered Compensation for Specific Period

NOTE: See note for F11(X).

--

3:25 pm Academic and Student Affairs Committee (open session) (pdf)

Agenda – Open Session

Action Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 19, 2025

A1 Action: Approval of New Multi-Year Plans for Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition for Ten Graduate Professional Degree Programs

A2 Discussion: Quantum Information Science: A Key Priority for UC and the State of California

A3 Discussion: Update on Faculty Discipline and Dismissal Policies and Procedures: Joint Senate-Administration Workgroup Recommendations

NOTE: Likely to be a sensitive topic.

A4 Discussion: BOARS Update on Engagement with California K–12

NOTE: There could be mention of the recent rejection by UC of an ethnic studies requirement for high school students.

--

Upon end of open session:

Academic and Student Affairs Committee (closed session) (pdf)

Agenda – Closed Session

Action Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of May 15, 2024 and March 19, 2025

A5X Action: Appointment of Regents’ Professor, School of Law, Los Angeles Campus

A6X Action: Appointment of University Professor, Berkeley Campus

===

Thursday, May 15, 2025

8:30 am Board (open session - includes public comment session) (pdf)

Agenda – Open Session

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of March 19 and 20, 2025

Remarks from Student Associations

B3 Discussion: UC Inspires: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

--

10:40 am Board (closed session) (pdf)

Agenda – Closed Session

B4(X) Action: Dismissal of Faculty Member, Berkeley Campus 

NOTE: No, I don't know who this is.

--

Noon - Compliance and Audit Committee (closed session) (pdf)

Agenda – Closed Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 20, 2025 

C2(X) Action: Recommended Settlements for Board Action (series of medical & whistleblower cases)

C3(X) Discussion: Appellate, Trial Court Developments and Updates (Includes the UCLA Heaps sexual abuse cases, dismissal of cases related to DEI statements which are now no longer required, and cases related to last year's protests. The Gordon Klein case, which goes back to the George Floyd unrest of 2020 at UCLA, is not listed, although as far as yours truly knows, it is still in progress.)

C4(X) Information: Settlements and Separation Agreements under Delegated Authority Reported from February 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025

--

1:00 pm Board (closed session) (pdf)

Agenda – Closed Session

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 19-20, 2025

Committee Reports Including Approval of Recommendations from Committees:

-Academic and Student Affairs Committee

-Compliance and Audit Committee

-Finance Committee

-Governance Committee

-Health Services Committee

Officers’ and President’s Reports:

-Personnel Matters

-Report of Interim, Concurrence, and Committee Actions

-Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings

===

Source: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/agendas/may25.html.

James B. Milliken, new UC President - Part 2

As promised in our previous post on the selection of James B. Milliken as the new UC president, we have now preserved the recording of the May 2 session of the Regents where he was appointed at:

https://archive.org/details/board_202505.

The official announcement:

The University of California Board of Regents... approved the appointment of James B. Milliken as the 22nd president of UC’s world-renowned system of 10 campuses, six academic health centers, and three nationally affiliated laboratories.

A seasoned higher education leader, Milliken has been serving as the chancellor of the University of Texas (UT) system since 2018. His distinguished career also includes serving as chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY) from 2014 to 2018, president of the University of Nebraska from 2004 to 2014, and senior vice president at the University of North Carolina from 1998 to 2004.

“The University of California is universally regarded as the preeminent public research university in the world, and I am deeply honored to have an opportunity to join the many talented faculty, staff, and campus leaders in their vital work. It is more important than ever that we expand the education, research, health care, and public service for which UC is so widely admired and which has benefited so many Californians,” said Milliken.

Guided by his commitment to expanding opportunity and student success, Milliken has been a leader in expanding access to higher education for low-income students. At UT, he led a bold initiative to cover the full cost of tuition and fees for qualifying students whose families have incomes under $100,000. Milliken’s leadership at UT also includes record-setting enrollment levels, low college debt, and almost $5 billion in annual research expenditures, ranking second in the nation. The UT system’s health enterprise, with seven medical schools, is one of the largest health care providers in the nation.

“Chancellor Milliken embodies the qualities and leadership experiences the University of California community needs at this moment,” said Janet Reilly, chair of the UC Board of Regents. “He understands how critical UC’s contributions are to the state and the country, and he has decades of experience leading public institutions during times of unprecedented change in higher education. Chancellor Milliken is simply the right person for UC at just the right time.”

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/james-b-milliken-named-22nd-president-university-of-california.

---

From the NY Times:

The University of California system announced on Friday that its new president would be James B. Milliken, a longtime public university leader who currently serves at the University of Texas system and previously ran the City University of New York and the University of Nebraska. At a fraught time in higher education, Mr. Milliken, 68, is regarded as an experienced and relatively safe choice to lead the nation’s most prestigious public university system. Mr. Milliken, known as JB, will take over the system of nearly 300,000 students at a time when the Trump administration is targeting the nation’s elite universities — and has the U.C. system in its cross hairs. All 10 University of California campuses are under investigation by the administration for various reasons, including admissions practices and allegations of antisemitism.

(Milliken) was known for improving graduation rates at CUNY even as state funding cuts led to deteriorating facilities. He oversaw the opening of the CUNY School of Medicine, which focused on New York’s underserved communities. When he announced he was stepping down in 2017, he was being treated for throat cancer. He remained on the faculty at CUNY before joining the University of Texas system as chancellor in 2018.

...At U.T., Mr. Milliken was known for championing an effort to provide free tuition to students whose families’ incomes were below $100,000. He also oversaw the implementation of a state law abolishing diversity, equity and inclusion offices, testifying to the Texas Legislature that 21 offices in the system had been shut down and that 311 positions had been eliminated.

...Mr. Milliken was born in Fremont, Neb., and obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1979 and a law degree from New York University in 1983. Before joining academia, he practiced law in New York with the Legal Aid Society and, later, with the firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

His selection follows the decision by Michael V. Drake to step down from the job in July. Mr. Milliken will assume the University of California’s leadership on Aug. 1 at a salary of $1,475,000.

Full story at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/us/university-of-california-president.html.

James B. Milliken, new UC President

 

James B. Milliken, currently chancellor of the U of Texas system, has been selected as the new UC president. He was formerly chancellor of CUNY and president of the U of Nebraska and has legal background. See: https://www.utsystem.edu/chancellor/biography.

The open meeting started with public comments, mainly focused on UPTE labor relations issues such as short staffing and pay. Also mentioned were mental health services for students and innovation and tech transfer. Then Regents Chair Reilly thanked the search committee and President Drake. Milliken attended and made remarks as did President Drake and some Regents.

Milliken takes office on August 1.

The meeting can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPNyejv26Cc. We will later - as we do with all Regents meeting - preserve the recording since the Regents have no fixed policy regarding retention.

The Unveiling - New UC Prez

It appears that the new UC President, replacing President Drake, will be unveiled tomorrow afternoon, May 2, 2 pm Pacific Time. See the announcement at:

https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/agendas/may22025.html.

There have been earlier meetings of the search committee. But this one includes a live-stream and a meeting of the whole board after the search committee which suggests a candidate has been named.

Missing Persons?

The statement below was released this past week by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Lots of signatories from university and college leaders, but none from UC with the exception of Chancellor Kim Wilcox of UC-Riverside were on the original. UCLA Chancellor Frenk added his name subsequently as did the chancellors of Merced, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, and San Diego. Still later, UC President Drake and the remaining chancellors signed on.

A Call for Constructive Engagement

As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education. We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding.

America’s system of higher learning is as varied as the goals and dreams of the students it serves. It includes research universities and community colleges; comprehensive universities and liberal arts colleges; public institutions and private ones; freestanding and multi-site campuses. Some institutions are designed for all students, and others are dedicated to serving particular groups. Yet, American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom. Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.

Because of these freedoms, American institutions of higher learning are essential to American prosperity and serve as productive partners with government in promoting the common good. Colleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility, anchor institutions that contribute to economic and cultural vitality regionally and in our local communities. They foster creativity and innovation, provide human resources to meet the fast-changing demands of our dynamic workforce, and are themselves major employers. They nurture the scholarly pursuits that ensure America’s leadership in research, and many provide healthcare and other essential services. Most fundamentally, America’s colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy.

The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society. On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.

Signed, [original signatures only]

Jonathan Alger, President, American University

Barbara K. Altmann, President, Franklin & Marshall College

Suzanne Ames, President, Peninsula College

Carmen Twillie Ambar, President, Oberlin College

Denise A. Battles, President, SUNY Geneseo

Ian Baucom, Incoming President, Middlebury College

Allan Belton, President, Pacific Lutheran University

Hubert Benitez, President, Saint Peter's University

Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President, Trinity College (CT)

Michael A. Bernstein, President, The College of New Jersey

Audrey Bilger, President, Reed College

Erik J. Bitterbaum, President, SUNY Cortland

Sarah Bolton, President, Whitman College

Mary H. Bonderoff, President, SUNY Delhi

Eric Boynton, President, Beloit College

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President, Vassar College

Brian Bruess, President, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

Adam Bush, President, College Unbound

Alison Byerly, President, Carleton College

Wendy Cadge, President and Professor of Sociology, Bryn Mawr College

Nancy Cantor, President, Hunter College CUNY

Alberto Jose Cardelle, President, SUNY Oneonta

Brian W. Casey, President, Colgate University

Ana Mari Cauce, Professor and President, University of Washington

Andrea Chapdelaine, President, Connecticut College

Thom D. Chesney, President, Southwestern College (NM)

Bryan F. Coker, President, Maryville College

Ronald B. Cole, President, Allegheny College

Soraya Coley, President, Cal Poly Pomona

Jennifer Collins, President, Rhodes College

John Comerford, President, Otterbein University

Marc C. Conner, President, Skidmore College

Joy Connolly, President, American Council of Learned Societies

La Jerne Terry Cornish, President, Ithaca College

Grant Cornwell, President, Rollins College

Isiaah Crawford, President, University of Puget Sound

Gregory G. Dell'Omo, President, Rider University

Kent Devereaux, President, Goucher College

Jim Dlugos, Interim President, Landmark College

Bethami Dobkin, President, Westminster University

Harry Dumay, President, Elms College

Christopher L. Eisgruber, President, Princeton University

Michael A. Elliott, President, Amherst College

Alexander Enyedi, President, SUNY Plattsburgh

Jane Fernandes, President, Antioch College

Roland Fernandes, General Secretary, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry

Damian J. Fernandez, President, Warren Wilson College

David Fithian, President, Clark University

Lisa C. Freeman, President, Northern Illinois University

Robert Gaines, Acting President, Pomona College

James Gandre, President, Manhattan School of Music

Alan M. Garber, President, Harvard University

Jay D. Gatrell, President, Eastern Illinois University

Michael H. Gavin, President, Delta College

Mark D. Gearan, President, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Melissa Gilliam, President, Boston University

Lane A. Glenn, President, Northern Essex Community College

Jorge G. Gonzalez, President, Kalamazoo College

Jonathan D. Green, President, Susquehanna University

David A. Greene, President, Colby College

William R. Groves, Chancellor, Antioch University

Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor, University of Denver

Yoshiko Harden, President, Renton Technical College

Anne F. Harris, President, Grinnell College

James T. Harris, President, University of San Diego

Marjorie Hass, President, Council of Independent Colleges

Richard J. Helldobler, President, William Paterson University

Wendy Hensel, President, University of Hawaii

James Herbert, President, University of New England

Doug Hicks, President, Davidson College

Mary Dana Hinton, President, Hollins University

Danielle R. Holley, President, Mount Holyoke College

Jonathan Holloway, President, Rutgers University

Robin Holmes-Sullivan, President, Lewis & Clark College

Robert H. Huntington, President, Heidelberg University

Nicole Hurd, President, Lafayette College

Wolde-Ab Isaac, Chancellor, Riverside Community College District

Karim Ismaili, President, Eastern Connecticut State University

J. Larry Jameson, President, University of Pennsylvania

Garry W. Jenkins, President, Bates College

Paula A. Johnson, President, Wellesley College

John E. Jones III, President, Dickinson College

Katrina Bell Jordan, President, Northeastern Illinois University

Cristle Collins Judd, President, Sarah Lawrence College

David L. Kaufman, President, Capital University

Colleen Perry Keith, President, Goldey-Beacom College

Marisa Kelly, President, Suffolk University

Julie Johnson Kidd, President, Endeavor Foundation

Jonathan Koppell, President, Montclair State University

Sally Kornbluth, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Julie Kornfeld, President, Kenyon College

Michael I. Kotlikoff, President, Cornell University

Paula Krebs, Executive Director, Modern Language Association

Sunil Kumar, President, Tufts University

Bobbie Laur, President, Campus Compact

Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary and CEO, Phi Beta Kappa Society

Linda M. LeMura, President, Le Moyne College

Hilary L. Link, President, Drew University

Patricia A. Lynott, President, Rockford University

Heidi Macpherson, President, SUNY Brockport

John Maduko, President, Connecticut State Community College

Lynn Mahoney, President, San Francisco State University

Daniel Mahony, President, Southern Illinois University

Maud S. Mandel, President, Williams College

Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College

Amy Marcus-Newhall, President, Scripps College

Felix V. Matos-Rodriguez, Chancellor, City University of New York (CUNY)

Anne E. McCall, President, The College of Wooster

Richard L. McCormick, Interim President, Stony Brook University

Michael McDonald, President, Great Lakes Colleges Association

James McGrath, President and Dean, Cooley Law School

Patricia McGuire, President, Trinity Washington University

Maurie McInnis, President, Yale University

Elizabeth M. Meade, President, Cedar Crest College

Scott D. Miller, President, Virginia Wesleyan University

Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Robert Mohrbacher, President, Centralia College

Chris Moody, Executive Director, ACPA-College Student Educators International

Tomas Morales, President, California State University San Bernardino

Milton Moreland, President, Centre College

Kathryn Morris, President, St. Lawrence University

Ross Mugler, Board Chair and Acting President and CEO, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges

Krista L. Newkirk, President, University of Redlands

Stefanie D. Niles, President, Cottey College

Claire Oliveros, President, Riverside City College

Robyn Parker, Interim President, Saybrook University

Lynn Pasquerella, President, American Association of Colleges and Universities

Laurie L. Patton, President, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Beth Paul, President, Nazareth University

Christina Paxson, President, Brown University

Rob Pearigen, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of the South

Deidra Peaslee, President, Saint Paul College

Eduardo M. Peñalver, President, Seattle University

Ora Pescovitz, President, Oakland University

Darryll J. Pines, President, University of Maryland

Nicola Pitchford, President, Dominican University of California

Kevin Pollock, President, Central Carolina Technical College

Susan Poser, President, Hofstra University

Paul C. Pribbenow, President, Augsburg University

Vincent Price, President, Duke University

Robert Quinn, Executive Director, Scholars at Risk Network

Wendy E. Raymond, President, Haverford College

Christopher M. Reber, President, Hudson County Community College

Andrew Rehfeld, President, Hebrew Union College

Suzanne M. Rivera, President, Macalester College

Michael S. Roth, President, Wesleyan University

James Ryan, President, University of Virginia

Vincent Rougeau, President, College of the Holy Cross

Kurt L. Schmoke, President, University of Baltimore

Carol Geary Schneider, Acting Executive Director, Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition

Sean M. Scott, President and Dean, California Western School of Law

Zaldwaynaka Scott, President, Chicago State University

Philip J. Sisson, President, Middlesex Community College (MA)

Suzanne Smith, President, SUNY Potsdam

Valerie Smith, President, Swarthmore College

Paul Sniegowski, President, Earlham College

Barbara R. Snyder, President, Association of American Universities

Stephen Snyder, Interim President, Middlebury College

Rachel Solemsaas, President, North Seattle College

Weymouth Spence, President, Washington Adventist University

Terri Standish-Kuon, President and CEO, Independent Colleges of Washington

G. Gabrielle Starr, President, Pomona College

Karen A. Stout, President, Achieving the Dream

Tom Stritikus, President, Occidental College

Julie Sullivan, President, Santa Clara University

Aondover Tarhule, President, Illinois State University

Glena Temple, President, Dominican University

Steven J. Tepper. President, Hamilton College

Kellye Y. Testy, CEO, Association of American Law Schools

Tania Tetlow, President, Fordham University

Strom C. Thacker, President, Pitzer College

Scott L. Thomas, President, Sterling College

Stephen Thorsett, President, Willamette University

Joel Towers, President, The New School

Deborah Trautman, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Satish K. Tripathi, President, University at Buffalo, SUNY

James Troha, President, Juniata College

Kyaw Moe Tun, President, Parami University

Brad Tyndall, President, Central Wyoming College

LaTanya Tyson, President, Carolina Christian College

Matthew P. vandenBerg, President, Ohio Wesleyan University

James Vander Hooven, President, Mount Wachusett Community College

Laura R. Walker, President, Bennington College

Yolanda Watson Spiva, President, Complete College America

Phil Weilerstein, President, VentureWell

Michaele Whelan, President, Wheaton College

Manya C. Whitaker, Interim President, Colorado College

Julie A. Manley White, Chancellor and CEO, Pierce College

Kim A. Wilcox, Chancellor, University of California, Riverside

Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President, Smith College

Safa R. Zaki, President, Bowdoin College

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Source: https://www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-call-for-constructive-engagement.