UC Regents recap – Sept. 26

The governing board of the University of California met for the second day of its September meeting at UCLA on Wednesday. The Board of Regents discussed the UC Center Sacramento, relations with the Native American community and recent audits.

Board of Regents

• During the public comment session, a representative for the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians urged the Regents to vote for the return of Native Americans’ remains used for study by the UC under The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

• During the public comment session, dispatch workers from Teamsters Local 2010 discussed the ways in which dispatch centers are understaffed, leading to dispatch workers being overworked and underpaid.

• At the end of the public comment session, demonstrators from AFSCME 3299 began a protest. This lasted 10 minutes, during which the Regents vacated the room. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom remained behind but eventually left and did not return when the meeting was resumed.

• Regent and Chair George Kieffer welcomed new regents Laphonza Butler, Michael Cohen, Cecilia Estolano and Richard Leib to the board, noting they were confirmed with record speed.

• Kieffer added the Regents are tentatively working on a plan which would limit the UC to 10 percent out-of-state students by 2029. Such a plan would only be put in place if the state government agreed to fully fund the lost revenue caused by this scenario.

Compliance and Audit Committee

• Matt Hicks, the systemwide deputy audit officer for the UC, gave details on the external quality assessment review which is mandated to occur every five years.

• He added the external QAR is performed by an independent team, which in this case comprised staff from the internal audit departments of the University of Tennessee and the University of Washington, which have similar facilities to those of the UC. The QAR was administered with their help, as well as that of accounting firm Baker Tilly. Raina Rose Tagle, a representative for Baker Tilly, confirmed the results of the external QAR, and that the University had accomplished the goals set at the end of the previous external QAR.

• Robert May, chair of the Academic Senate, discussed changes to the timing of action taken by the Academic Senate for holding hearings in the case of sexual assault charges. Hearings must begin within 60 days of the Chancellor bringing the charges, and the Academic Senate must come to their conclusion within 30 days after that.

Public Engagement and Development Committee

• The Regents discussed the 2019 Sacramento Advocacy plan, which will be a partnership between the UC and the next state government’s administration to advocate for affordability and quality of education for all undergraduate bodies.

• The UC Center Sacramento will offer degree planning options as well as multiyear enrollment planning.

• The UC Center Sacramento will continue to focus on inclusivity through better public outreach, said Kieran Flaherty, the associate vice president and director at UC Office of State Governmental Relations. Flaherty said activities like social and information events undertaken by students will be fully coordinated with faculty and employees.

• The Regents discussed the SAFE program, which allows student athletes to gain guidance and connections when it comes to education. SAFE enables athletes to be more involved with school students through engagement in educational programs and teaching activities.

• The committee said a survey recently revealed California residents believe the UC is neglecting California and favoring international students.

Academic and Student Affairs Committee

• The committee discussed policy and practices regarding treatment of Native American remains and artifacts. Funerary items and ritualistic practices must be preserved and treated with respect. Native American people will need help securing artifacts in an error-free manner. The final goal should be repatriation of these artifacts.

• The Regents said that many charter schools supported by the UC have provided assistance to thousands of K-12 students through University-Assisted Community Schools Network.

• Chancellor Pradeep Khosla of UC San Diego said that UCSD ranked first for advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in its faculty. Faculty diversity is an issue that has received increased attention by school deans. Khosla said that UCSD has had a faculty equity program since 2012 that conducts symposiums on how inclusion affects education