Upcoming Regents Agenda: July 14-15, 2026

Normally, the Regents' upcoming agenda wouldn't be available quite so soon. But it apparently was prepared early because of the holiday. Happy 4th of July.

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: 

Agenda: July 14-15, 2026, UC-San Francisco

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Tuesday, July 14

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

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Committee Report:

Special Committee to Select a Student Regent: Appointment of 2027–28 Student Regent

    Remarks of the Chair of the Board

    Remarks of the President of the University

    Remarks of the Chair of the Academic Senate

B1 Discussion: UC Inspires: Celebrating America’s 250th and UC's Contributions to the Nation

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1:15 pm Health Services Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 5, 2026

H1(X) Discussion: UC Irvine Health Acquisition Integration and Risk Review

H2(X) Discussion: UC Health Litigation Update

H3(X) Discussion: Appointment of and Compensation for Chief Nursing Executive, UCSF Health, San Francisco Campus

Upon end of closed session:

Health Services Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 5, 2026

H3 Action: Approval of Appointment of and Compensation for Chief Nursing Executive, UCSF Health, San Francisco Campus

H4 Discussion: Quality Dashboard Review: An Update from the University of California Health Clinical Quality Committee

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3:15 pm Compliance and Audit Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 18, 2026

C1 Action: Compliance Plan for 2026-27 and Internal Audit Plan for 2026-27

Upon end of open session:

Compliance and Audit Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 6, 2026

C2(X) Discussion: Data and Trends in Professional Liability Settlements

C3(X) Action: Recommended Settlements for Board Action:

Swinerton Contractors, Inc. Pre-Litigation Dispute – Proposed Settlement – Construction Delay – Santa Cruz

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

1. CITY OF PASADENA, et al. v. REGENTS, et al. (Rose Bowl Litigation) – Motions Denied – Breach of Contract – Los Angeles 

2. DO NO HARM, et al. v. REGENTS, et al.; STUDENTS AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION v. REGENTS, et al.; ZHONG, et al. v. REGENTS, et al. (Admissions Litigation) – Various Activity – Racial Discrimination – All Campuses

Note: These are complaints of illegal "affirmative action" in admissions

3. DOES v. REGENTS, et al. (Heaps) – Trial Date Set – Sexual Misconduct – Los Angeles Medical Center and Campus Health

4. FEDERAL FUNDING LITIGATION – Various Activity – Contracts and Grants – Systemwide

5. PALESTINE SOLIDARITY PRA COLLECTIVE v. REGENTS – Petition for Writ of Mandate Granted – Office of the President

6. PROTEST-RELATED CASES – Various Activity – Multiple Campuses

9. UNITED STATES v. REGENTS, et al. (AB 540 Litigation) – Motion to Dismiss Fully Briefed – All Campuses

Note: AB 540 is the California statute providing in-state tuition, etc., to DACA and other undocumented residents.

22. GENERAL COUNSEL’S UPDATE ON LITIGATION

Note: Missing numbers above refer to various individual employment discrimination, whistleblower, medical malpractice, and sexual harassment cases.

C5(X) Information: Settlements and Separation Agreements under Delegated Authority Reported from April 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026

==

Wednesday, July 15

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

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of May 5 and 6, 2026

   Remarks from Student Associations

   Annual Council of University of California Staff Assemblies Report

President’s Outstanding Student Awards and Regents Foster Youth Awards

B2 Discussion: Report on Retention and Graduation Rates

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10:45 am Special Committee on Nominations (closed session) 

S1(X) Action: Appointment of Regents-designate and Faculty Representatives to Standing Committees for 2026-27

--

10:50 am Board (closed session) 

B3(X) Discussion: External Funding Litigation and Legal Issues

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Concurrent meetings: 

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

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 6, 2026

A1 Discussion: UC Education Abroad Program: Global Learning for Career and World Impact

A2 Discussion: The Economic Impact of a UC Degree

A3 Discussion: The History and Role of A–G in UC Admissions

Note: There is no mention of the SAT controversy in A3.

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12:45 pm Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 18, 2026

F1(X) Action: East Campus Student Apartments Phase 5 Project, Irvine Campus: Ground Lease Business Terms, Financing, and Budget

Upon end of closed session:

Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 6, 2026

Consent Agenda:

• F2A Action: Consent Item: Heathcock Hall, Berkeley Campus: Amendment of Budget and External Financing
• F2B Action: Consent Item: Hyde Hospital Behavioral Health Renovation, San Francisco Campus: Budget, Scope, and Design Following an Exemption Determination Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

F3 Action: East Campus Student Apartments Phase 5 Project, Irvine Campus: Design And Long Range Development Plan Amendment Following Action: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

F4 Action: Advanced Work Phase of the Hillcrest Medical Center Renewal Project, UC San Diego Health Campus: Working Drawings and Construction Funding, Scope, External Financing, and Design Following Consideration of an Addendum to the Hillcrest Campus 2019 Long Range Development Plan Environmental Impact Report Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

F5 Action: UCLA West Valley Medical Center Replacement Hospital and Parking Structure, UCLA Health, Los Angeles Campus: Preliminary Plans Funding and External Financing

F6 Discussion: The 2026-27 State Budget Act

F7 Information: Significant Information Technology Projects Report for the Period January 1, 2026 through April 30, 2026

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2:15 pm National Laboratories Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of January 20, 2026

N1 Action: Allocation of LLC Fee Income to Be Expended in Fiscal Year 2026–27

--

2:30 pm Governance Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 5, 2026

G1 Action: Resolution to Exclude a Regent from Access to Classified Information

--

2:35 pm Board (open session) 

B4 Action: Endorsement of Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026

Committee Reports Including Approvals of Recommendations from Committees:

   Academic and Student Affairs Committee

   Compliance and Audit Committee

   Finance and Capital Strategies Committee

   Governance Committee

   Health Services Committee

   National Laboratories Committee

Special Committee on Nominations

Resolution

Officers’ and President’s Reports: Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings

Upon end of open session:

Board (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 6, 2026

Committee Reports Including Approval of Recommendations from Committees:

   Compliance and Audit Committee

   Finance and Capital Strategies Committee

   Health Services Committee

Officers’ and President’s Reports:

Personnel Matters

Report of Interim Actions

Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings

==

Source: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/agendas/july26.html.

Donation

Jeffrey Cunard (center) with
Professor Rahim Shayega
 and Dean Alexandra Minna Stern
---

As blog readers will know, we like to take note of donations to UCLA that involve research and teaching (as opposed to bricks and mortar). From the UCLA Newsroom:

Enhancing our knowledge of ancient cultures is an essential foundation for humanistic understanding and can illuminate many of the challenges of today and the future. That vision is behind the new UCLA Jeffrey P. Cunard Center for Global Antiquity, made possible by alumnus Jeffrey Cunard’s $11 million blended gift.

Housed in the UCLA College Division of Humanities, the Cunard Center will support and expand the groundbreaking work of faculty and students on the diversity, achievements and interconnectedness of ancient cultures. The center aims to deepen interdisciplinary expertise and scholarship about the cultures of the past, both across campus and beyond.

The Cunard Center’s intertwined goals are to:

Foster deep, enthusiastic faculty scholarship, which, in turn, will inspire innovative new programs and undergraduate and graduate courses.

Provide critical funding for graduate students and awards to faculty, as well as graduate and undergraduate students.

Provide a forum where scholars across disciplines and departments can come together to discuss and further comparative knowledge as to the similarities and differences in how ancient peoples around the globe — not just in the Mediterranean — dealt with all aspects of the human condition.

Explore how the teaching and experience of ancient cultures can inform the present and the future.

Disseminate the work of all involved to other scholars and the general public via multiple formats and platforms, including a new podcast, academic publication series, enhanced research initiatives, and public and academic programming, including a new Cunard Lecture Series in Global Antiquity.

“UCLA is at the forefront of developing ancient studies as an interdisciplinary and critical field, led by diverse, world-class faculty members studying the ancient past,” said Alexandra Minna Stern, dean of the humanities division. “This gift will help ensure that UCLA remains a leader in approaching the discipline with a full and nuanced understanding of the ancient world, and we are deeply grateful to Jeffrey Cunard and inspired by the opportunities his generosity will create for humanities scholars now and in the future.” ...

Full news release at https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ancient-studies-expansion-new-center-humanities-division.

Straws in the Wind - Part 391

From Inside Higher Ed: Arizona’s $18.29 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, which Gov. Katie Hobbs signed [in June], eliminates millions in education funding for public universities and slashes several one-time investments that have helped students access higher education. The budget, which [went into] effect July 1, removes $16.3 million from state universities, including $8 million from Arizona State University, $2.6 million from Northern Arizona University and $5.7 million from the University of Arizona. It also eliminates funding for several scholarships and programs for which the state’s FY2026 budget allotted money.

Program cuts include $1.5 million previously invested in dual enrollment and $16.3 million for the Arizona Promise program, which offers scholarships to low-income students. The budget also slashes $6 million in funding for the Community College Adult Education Workforce program, a four-year-old program that provides adult learners with a college education and workforce training...

Full story at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/06/24/arizonas-2027-budget-cuts-millions-college-funding.

Will Harvard Continue to Lead the Charge? - Part 176

From the Harvard Crimson: Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh urged faculty... to begin following the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ new cap on A grades this fall, a year before the policy is set to take effect... Claybaugh wrote that faculty would need to overhaul their grading procedures to reduce grade compression that could lead to “arbitrary” distinctions between students once the cap becomes mandatory — a concern she wrote students had frequently raised leading up to the policy’s passage.

...Faculty voted in May to cap all A grades in undergraduate courses at 20 percent of enrollment, with flexibility for up to four additional A grades. Though the cap will not officially go into effect until the 2027-28 academic year, College administrators have consistently urged faculty to begin abiding by it this coming year. At a March open forum, Harvard College Dean David J. Deming said administrators would encourage faculty to abide by the cap during the 2026-27 academic year... Several large introductory courses have already agreed to stay within the grade cap this upcoming year...

Full story at https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/6/30/claybaugh-grade-cap-guidance/.

You'll Just Have to Wait

You will find various articles in the newspapers analyzing the state budget for 2026-27 which is now in effect. But the fact is that the basic numbers have not been published, as can be seen above in the screenshot from the Department of Finance website. When will they be published? It just says "summer." So for a real analysis, you'll just have to wait. Sorry about that.

Ka Ching!

UCOP is promoting the economic returns of a UC degree. From a recent news release:

New data shows UC degrees deliver strong earnings and economic mobility amid rapidly changing economy

UC Office of the President, July 1, 2026

The University of California released new data today that shows a UC degree remains one of the best investments California students and families can make.* The data highlights UC’s affordability, return on investment and strong earnings for graduates. The findings come amid ongoing conversations about the value of higher education in an era defined by artificial intelligence, rising living costs and a rapidly evolving job market.

The newly released data reveals that UC graduates carry significantly less student debt than their peers, with average debt levels for an in-state student declining $11,400 over the past decade — giving UC graduates greater financial flexibility as they enter the job market. Within seven years of graduation, median earnings among UC degree-holders exceed the median for California bachelor’s degree recipients, a combination that makes a UC education one of the strongest financial investments a student can make.

“Many Americans are questioning the value of a college degree. We have a clear answer: A UC degree is not only worth it — it changes lives and entire communities for the better,” said UC President James B. Milliken. “This recent data affirms our efforts to expand affordability and accessibility to students from across California, demonstrating how a UC education is both attainable and transformative.”

A University of California analysis reveals that UC graduates recoup their educational investment in roughly six years after enrolling at the University. In addition, most Pell Grant graduates surpass their families’ earnings within three years — two years faster than reported in a 2021 analysis, reinforcing how UC drives social and economic mobility...

Full story at https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/new-data-shows-uc-degrees-deliver-strong-earnings-and-economic-mobility.

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*https://www.ucop.edu/institutional-research-academic-planning/_files/updated-evidence-on-the-economic-benefits-of-a-uc-degree.pdf. This more detailed reference refers to data published in the Washington Post, an odd source. No link to the Washington Post article is provided. Poking around on the web, yours truly found a March 31 reference:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/03/31/graduate-degree-earnings-study/.

If you missed them

In a past posting, we noted the availability of two online programs for UC retirees and survivors. If you missed them, we have preserved the recordings at the links below:

Steps to take to get your affairs in order:

https://dn800202.us.archive.org/0/items/ucla-rehab-strength-training/Getting%20Your%20Affairs%20in%20Order%20UC%2010-6-2025.mp4

Information for survivors:

https://dn800202.us.archive.org/0/items/ucla-rehab-strength-training/UC%20retiree%20survivors%20III.mp4