Economic downturn leads to hiring freeze

By Rachel Makabi
Daily Bruin Reporter

UCLA instituted a partial hiring freeze Thursday and is
cautioning the purchase of new equipment in response to two
executive orders made by Gov. Gray Davis because of the downturn in
the California economy.

University of California President Richard Atkinson told
chancellors at all nine UCs to comply with the executive orders
““ which will be in effect through June 2003 ““ but is
also allowing each chancellor to make provisions for
exceptions.

At UCLA, the hiring freeze will affect career positions,
including students hired with general funds, all UCLA Health
Systems positions and consultants, according to a letter issued by
Chancellor Albert Carnesale.

“The governor wants us to cooperate, but at the same time,
he wants us to continue to meet our academic mission,” said
Max Benavidez, assistant vice chancellor of communication, who
later added that non-academic positions will probably be more
affected by the partial hiring freeze.

Benavidez said departments can request waivers in order to hire
new people if the position is needed to maintain academic quality
or if it is needed to support other critical university
services.

Carnesale’s letter lists positions that are exempt from
the hiring freeze, including teaching positions, academic
administration positions, positions critical to patient care in the
hospitals and clinics, positions paid with work-study funds and
positions needed that will aid professors with their research.

The letter said positions may only be filled if they are in
exempt categories, if a waiver has been requested, or if an offer
was extended prior to the date of the freeze.

Benavidez said while the chancellor has not put a freeze on
spending, he has asked officials to use caution when making new
purchases.

“Different departments have different needs, and each
department will have to be judged according to its own
needs,” Benavidez said. “Everyone is probably working
right now on developing new guidelines and criteria.”

Patricia Eastman, executive director of the Associated Students
of UCLA, said because the association is a campus auxiliary, it
will not be directly affected by the freeze, but it will also
exercise caution.

“We have to be careful and judicious about any position we
hire,” Eastman said.

She added that because there are fewer staff members on campus,
ASUCLA may experience fewer sales in stores and restaurants this
year.

With reports from Dexter Gauntlett, Daily Bruin Reporter.