The University of California and the state government claim they
have a partnership ““ a relationship that should, by
definition, benefit both parties. But both need to take a closer
look at what each promised to give, and what they can provide: the
UC has yet to see the budget increase the state promised, and a
state audit reveals the UC has grown faster in management, rather
than academic staff.
The state agreed to increase UC funding by 4 percent annually in
1999, provided the university accept all of the state’s
eligible applicants. The UC has upheld its end of the bargain so
far, but the state has proposed only a 1.5 percent increase in the
upcoming fiscal year’s budget.
Moreover, the overcrowding brought on by higher admittance rates
has not been met with increased academic spending. The audit
reveals a 43 percent increase in management hires but only a 10
percent increase in faculty between fiscal years 1999 and 2001.
Over the same time, 56 percent of salary increases were directed
toward non-academic staff. This means the UC is falling short of
meeting the academic needs of its growing student population since
the state is not making enough funds for faculty expansion and
overcrowding relief available.
The audit has done little to actually identify problems in
various areas of the partnership or spur reform. Many of the goals
set for the UC are difficult to measure in terms of progress
because they are not quantifiable. And no one is even sure about
how much money there is to work with since the state budget itself
is a month overdue. With such a mess it is no wonder even the
auditors cannot tell where many of the problems lie ““ their
most valuable conclusion was to set more easily quantifiable
criteria the next time the state and UC reach such an
agreement.
And therein lies the real problem: the vague partnership between
the state and UC needs to be reorganized with realistic
expectations both sides must meet. It is an odd partnership indeed
when one party fails to give the other promised funds, and then
subjects it to an audit.