By Marjorie Hernandez
Daily Bruin Reporter
The UC-wide Commission on the Growth and Support of Graduate
Education formally presented its report during Wednesday’s UC
Regents meeting, predicting an additional $215 million needed to
support 11,000 incoming graduate students by 2010.
Assembled last January by UC President Richard Atkinson and
Regent Chair S. Sue Johnson, the commission outlined graduate
concerns and provided recommendations on funding, housing and
improving campus environment.
“Graduate students are our partners,” said
commission co-chair Judson King, who is also provost and senior
vice president of Academic Affairs. “Their key work in the
university … are important for the innovation and prosperity of
California’s future.”
According to a booklet titled “Innovation and Prosperity
at Risk,” which came with the report, graduate enrollment has
only increased 7 percent in the past 30 years, compared to the 100
percent undergraduate growth rate.
But with enrollment rates expected to soar 50 percent by 2010,
the commission points to competitive financial support in order to
attract top-notch students.
Funding for $150 million of the projected $215 million needed
for enrollment growth will stem from traditional funds, such as
monies from research and teaching assistantships provided by state
grants, as well as fellowships and grants derived from enrollment
growth.
But an additional $65 million will still be needed to finance
remaining costs, requiring the UCs to seek aid from the federal and
state governments, foundations and private donors.
King outlined several resolutions, such as increasing federal
research support, creating state programs for repayable fellowships
for students who teach in California once they graduate and
providing more funding to non-resident students.
The commission included a survey of 5,000 UC graduate students
admitted last spring, asking them what it takes to successfully
recruit and retain graduate students.
Among the major concerns were the availability of affordable
housing, especially for first-year graduate students. The
commission recommends expanding family student housing and placing
first-year students as a priority.
The report also addressed funding for non-resident students.
According to the findings, the UC’s out-of-state and
international student pool fall below other research universities.
Currently, about 20 percent are international students, with 50
percent of entering students coming from out of state.
Though no funding strategy was clearly outlined in the report,
the commission recommends the University collect more data
concerning the importance of non-resident student support.
Also included in the report is the plan to provide the “10
best campus environments in the nation” by closely following
the academic progress of its students, promoting more open
communication with their departments and mentors, and providing
community space where students can gather.
The regents made no action on the findings, but a planned
progress report is scheduled for next January.
“It appeared that the regents were very receptive and very
interested,” said UCLA Graduate Students Association
President Charles Harless.