Links for Sptember 30

Links for Sptember 30

Sorry for the lack of links the past couple of days--it has been a very busy week.  Anyway, we have a bunch for you below the fold. And don't forget Stan Glantz's post on UC privatization immediately below...

The Problem is Privatization, and it Can be Reversed

The Problem is Privatization, and it Can be Reversed

by Stanton A. Glantz, Professor of Medicine, UCSF     UC (and CSU’s) ongoing financial problems are not a result of the fact that alumni are not generous, they are the result of the failed policy of privatization that UC has been following since shortly after Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor.  Schwarzenegger pursued an aggressive policy of privatization...

Links for Sptember 27

Links for Sptember 27

English Academics respond to the Government's plans.  They have done so by offering an alternative vision of higher ed. In a bold bid for the future, Texas may eliminate 1/2 of its undergraduate physics programs. The recession has made income inequality in California even greater than it was before. Faculty group releases proposal to change undergrad education at Berkeley. Protest...

Links for September 26

Links for September 26

More on the Irvine 11 case. Bob Samuels Reports from Washington. Bob also comments on the President's "jobs bill." Brown considering second part of California's Dream Act.  There is a lot of pressure over the question of financial aid. It looks like David Crane's time on the Board of Regents is coming to an end. But Crane is still continuing his fight to bust Public...

Links for September 23

Links for September 23

Important developments in the Irvine 11 case and Berkeley protests, Jerry signs the amazon bill, UC Davis is expanding, and nostalgia for shared governance.  That and other news and analysis below the fold....

Links for September 22

Links for September 22

Lots of Links today so I have put them below the fold to save front page space.  Don't forget Chris' recent post on the Regents immediately below this one....

Regents Budget Strategy: Stuck Between Stations

Regents Budget Strategy: Stuck Between Stations

At the session of their Finance Committee on September 15, the UC Regents had their most intense and serious discussion of UC's budgetary crisis in recent memory.  The immediate cause was the Office of the President's first multi-year budget framework, and the reason it stirred so much debate is because it pulls a tuition trigger if state funding comes up short.  I'll...

Links for September 20

Links for September 20

John Judis offers a very thoughtful overview of the ways that the present economic crisis repeats that of the 1930s.  There are some differences though including the changed nature of the world economy.  And given the ongoing policy mistakes of international economic and political leaders those changes mean that things might end up worse than the 30s.  Contrary...

Links for September 19

Links for September 19

To distract yourself from the California meltdown, read UK Universities Minister David Willetts take to the Guardian defend the multi-year elimination of nearly all direct public funding, among his other measures.  See Willetts sophistically claim that government investment has not been cut because student loans are really the same as grants. This weekend the New York Times...

Links for September 16

Links for September 16

Even the Regents don't seem to buy UCOP's Magic Tuition Machine   But they are happy to raise executive salaries. Regent David Crane thinks UC should become more like a private university. Berkeley Public Education Coalition responds to Tuition increases. Regents discuss Graduate Funding. And the LAO is skeptical that UC needs so much money. (h/t Dan Mitchell) Is...

Links for September 15

Links for September 15

The LAT has more info on UCOP's Magic Never-Ending Tuition Machine. CA Republicans have filed suit to block the redistricting plan because it didn't turn out the way they hoped. The Trial of the Irvine 11 continues. Nearly 1/4 of California's Children are living in Poverty.  It is a problem for the future as well as the present. But apparently Texas (home of the "miracle")...

Links for September 14

Links for September 14

Bob Samuels is taking the fight to Washington. SFGate provides more detail on UC's plan for consistently raising tuition. The Economist takes the time to remind everyone of a fundamental reality: California's semi-privatization of higher ed is bad for both the state and its economy. The California Budget Project has the latest analysis on the long-term increase in spending...

Links for September 13

Links for September 13

So the Regents start their September meeting today with their usual agenda.  Of course you should take a look through it yourself but among the highlights are the presentation of  a budget plan that would most likely raise tuition between 60 and 80% over the next 4 years, discussion of the funding of UC Graduate Students, an update on the much vaunted attempt to introduce...

Links for September 12. 2011

Links for September 12. 2011

The latest on UC's online project:  UCOP is looking for students overseas.  Its participants are sure the offerings will be fabulous. Larry Pitts announces his retirement as of February. Regents to Discuss Plan to Raise Fees Dramatically over the next 4 years if state funding is not increased. The University of Illinois is trying to set up new email rules to more...

Epic Fail: Why The Meritocracy is Not Good For Economic Democracy

Epic Fail: Why The Meritocracy is Not Good For Economic Democracy

By Catherine Liu While UC Chancellors have their annual chortle over rising SAT scores and UC elitism, UC professors and lecturers on the ground have found, like blog commenter TB, that a larger and larger proportion of UC freshmen arrive on campus requiring remedial education in basic academic skills. How is it possible that incoming freshmen are getting higher than ever scores...