UC Board of Regents to discuss budget, proposed tuition hike

The University of California Board of Regents will discuss a range of topics at its bimonthly meeting held at the Mission Bay campus of UC San Francisco from Nov. 18-20 including private donations and next year’s annual budget. Most notably, the board will vote on the adoption of a tuition plan proposed by UC President Janet Napolitano, which would see tuition and student fees increase by 5 percent every year for the next five years.

Tuesday

• Regents are expected to approve the 2014-2024 Capital Financial Plan, which is an annual update of the University’s long-term strategy for capital projects, such as building improvements and acquisitions at the UC. Projects at UCLA outlined in the plan include seismic improvements for existing university structures and the purchase of off-campus apartment buildings for student housing.

• The board is expected to discuss a number of annual reports, including a report on internal audit activities that found little to no issues on a number of formerly controversial areas, including laboratory safety and academic dean and executive travel expenses.

Wednesday

• Regents are scheduled to discuss the nearly $1.8 billion received by the UC last year through private support and donations. According to a University report, UCLA received $427 million in cash gifts for the 2013-2014 academic year.

• In the wake of a 2010 California Supreme Court decision that upheld a state statute allowing certain undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, the board is expected to vote on a change that would codify the University’s financial aid policy for these students.

• The regents are scheduled to vote on a plan that would increase tuition for all undergraduate, graduate academic and graduate professional students up to 5 percent annually for the next five years unless the state provides funding equivalent to the revenue gained from the tuition increases. This proposal conflicts with Gov. Jerry Brown’s funding plan, which would increase state funding for the University by 4 percent for the next two years contingent on a tuition freeze.

• The regents are scheduled to vote on a 20 percent increase in Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition for nursing graduate programs, including the one at UCLA. The vote would also institute the supplemental tuition in five other graduate professional degree programs at UC Berkeley, Riverside and Santa Barbara.

• Regents are being asked to approve next year’s University budget.

Thursday

• Regents are expected to discuss University medical centers’ preparation to treat Ebola cases. The five UC health centers, including Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, were identified as priority hospitals for treatment of the disease in California.