UCSD Young Alumni Take Action

09/25/2013

Hi South Bay and Peninsula UCSD alumni... see you tonight at 6-9pm at Rock Bottom in Campbell!

http://alumni.ucsd.edu/s/1170/index.aspx?sid=1170&gid=1&sitebuilder=1&pgid=4284&cid=9521&ecid=9521&crid=0&calpgid=13&calcid=664

09/10/2013

Come out to the next Silicon Valley Chapter Happy Hour on 9/25 from 6-9pm @ Rock Bottom, Campbell. http://alumni.ucsd.edu/s/1170/index.aspx?sid=1170&gid=1&pgid=4284&cid=9521&ecid=9521&crid=0&calpgid=13&calcid=664

UCSD Alumni mission -- to foster a lifelong, mutually beneficial relationship of alumni and students with UC San Diego

07/14/2013

University of California Regent Sherry Lansing, chair of the Special Committee to Consider the Selection of a President, made the following statement today (July 12) about the nomination of Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano for president of the University of California:

“I am pleased to announce that the Special Committee has nominated Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to serve as the 20th president of the University of California. The search for a new leader for UC was extensive, with more than 300 potential nominees reviewed. Secretary Napolitano rose to the top and received a unanimous vote of recommendation from the Special Committee.

“Secretary Napolitano is a distinguished and dedicated public servant who has earned trust at the highest, most critical levels of our country’s government. She has proven herself to be a dynamic, hard-working and transformative leader. As Governor of Arizona, she was an effective advocate for public education, and a champion for the life-changing opportunities that education provides. As Secretary of Homeland Security, she has been an ardent advocate for the federal Dream Act and the architect of a policy that protects from deportation young undocumented immigrants who are pursuing a college education.

“Her personal story is compelling. As a student at Santa Clara University in California, she became the university’s first female valedictorian, and a Truman Scholar. After earning her law degree at the University of Virginia, she was selected to clerk for Judge Mary M. Schroeder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Her father was dean of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. It is no coincidence that those who know her best say that a passion for education is in her DNA.

“While some may consider her to be an unconventional choice, Secretary Napolitano is without a doubt the right person at the right time to lead this incredible University. She will bring fresh eyes and a new sensibility – not only to UC, but to all of California. She will stand as a vigorous advocate for faculty, students and staff at a time when great changes in our state, and across the globe, are presenting as many opportunities as challenges. A final decision on Secretary Napolitano’s appointment rests with the full Board of Regents. I can say with great confidence that the Special Committee has put forward a remarkably gifted candidate.”

06/30/2013

If any of you have been meaning to donate to UCSD student scholarships or any other UCSD cause, today is the last day to last day to have your donation counted in this school year.

Any amount helps!

Donate today and make a difference to students (and UCSD's rankings if that motivates you) today:

https://www-er.ucsd.edu/givetoucsd/secure/paymenttran/onlinegiving.asp?sk=3&txtFundName=UC%20San%20Diego%20Undergraduate%20Scholarship%20Fund%20(2222)&txtFundNo=2222&txtSolicCode=GAODI3&pk=

06/28/2013

Dear Advocate,

Finally there is good news to share about the University of California's state funding—thanks to public higher education advocates like you.

On June 27th, Governor Jerry Brown signed the 2013-14 California budget, which includes a 5 percent funding increase to UC's base budget, making it possible for the University to avoid a tuition hike in the 2013-14 fiscal year.

My sincere appreciation goes out to all of you whose UC budget advocacy educated the Governor and Legislature through visits to Sacramento, emails, letters and even public testimony over the last six months. Those efforts reminded our elected officials of UC's critical importance to the state of California and helped secure a promising budget outcome.

Here are some of the highlights:

• The state's UC allocation totals $2.8 billion, representing a $142 million increase over last year's base operating budget.

• Of that $142 million, $10 million will be dedicated to online technology, $15 million to the UC Riverside School of Medicine and a small portion to construction of a new classroom and academic office building at UC Merced.

• UC now has the authority to refinance existing debt that the state previously issued on the University's behalf; $67.2 million of the overall savings will fund the employer share of the UC Retirement Plan. There is also potential for additional savings to address other essential University programs.

Like other state-supported entities, UC did not receive everything it asked for in this budget, but the funding increase certainly puts the University on a sound financial trajectory.
UC will continue to cut administrative costs and to make progress on performance measures the Governor and the Legislature have identified, such as increasing graduation rates and shortening the time it takes to earn a degree.

Thank you again for supporting UC's budget advocacy efforts and for everything you do for the University of California and its students, faculty and staff.

Sincerely,

Patrick Lenz
Vice President of Budget and Capital Resources

05/16/2013

Dear UC Advocate,

Governor Brown introduced a revised 2013-14 state budget on May 14, and we deeply appreciate the funding he is proposing for the University of California.

We need your help to contact your legislators today to ask that they support the increases proposed for UC in the Governor’s budget and to fund the University's additional high priority needs.

Take 1 minute now and make a difference: http://www.capwiz.com/ucsd/issues/alert/?alertid=62669511&type=ST

After years of state disinvestment in public higher education, UC has critical funding needs that affect the University's ability to serve its students and the people of California.

We are requesting that the Legislature include the following in the final state budget:

• Support of performance outcome measures consistent with additional state funding and comparable to public universities serving similar student populations

• Authority for UC to save $80 million annually by restructuring existing debt

• Funding for critical capital facilities, particularly the UC Merced Classroom and Academic Building needed to accommodate growing student enrollment

• Investment of $15 million for the UC Riverside School of Medicine, which will help deliver medical services consistent with the Governor’s proposal for California health care reform

• One-time funding of $100 million for the employer share of UC's retirement program, an allocation consistent with state funding for employer costs for CSU's retirement plan

UC needs these additional funds to meet performance outcome measures targeted toward improving student access, graduation rates, time to degree or other criteria the state may require.

Please send your legislators an email now asking that they support UC's pressing financial needs in the 2013-14 budget.

Your voice can make a big difference when it comes time for your elected officials to vote on the budget. Let them know that a quality, accessible and affordable UC is the best investment they can make in California's future.

Take action on UC's budget priorities

11/04/2009

Pi**ed of about the 30% fee hike for UC students? Do something about it. Hop on a bus to the Regents meeting at UCLA and stop it from happening.

CLICK ON LINK TO RESERVE SPACE NOW! Nov 18-19

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=riU_2fY_2fwxry5LldJgrCRWaw_3d_3d

10/27/2009

UCSA October Week of Action: Tell Ducheny to Save the Cal Grant NOW! October 26, 2009 – This week, students across the whole UC system will be holding a Week of Action to tell legislators to Save the Cal Grant! TAKE ACTION NOW! UCSD: Press Conference Wednesday, 10/28, 12:00 pm at Library Walk

10/20/2009

Good reading to learn about how we can use this terrible situation to galvanize and rally around higher education in California. Read "California in a Teachable Crisis."

This is a really excellent piece from The Chronicle of Higher Education on the real value of PUBLIC education and how the reward system of the university overlooked the essential component of public support for education. ...

10/20/2009

This is the official group page for the UCSD Young Alumni Take Action. This is your place to learn about upcoming events and actions, post and organize other motivated alumns, and share your passion for protecting UCSD. Introduce yourself to the group on our wall and let us know what you are going to do to TAKE ACTION.

10/20/2009

Check out the official UCSD Advocacy Website for full details on what you can do to help. You can also find contact information for your representatives and let them know how important it is for them to fully fund education!

the University of California and public higher education in the remaining few weeks before the Legislature's fall recess.