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Message from
Chancellor Robert Berdahl:
Maintaining excellence amid lean budgets
31
January 2003
To the Campus Community
Dear colleagues,
As you know, the downturn in the economy has significantly affected
public institutions across the nation and particularly in our state,
where Gov. Gray Davis has proposed nearly $373 million in state funding
cuts at the University of California systemwide as part of his 2003-04
state budget proposal.
The budget process is in its early stages, and a final budget will
not be approved until summer. However, we are anticipating significant
reductions.
First
and foremost let me assure you that during our budget process our
highest priority
will be to sustain and enhance Cal’s academic
and professional programs.
For specific recommendations on how to absorb these budget cuts, retain
our position of academic and service excellence, and ensure a fair
and reasonable process, I have established two new committees, which
are now being empanelled.
The first will be the Executive
Budget Steering Committee. It will
receive recommendations from several working groups that will develop
options for making reductions affecting particular functional areas.
I will chair this committee.
I have
also established the Budget
Advisory Committee, which will provide
advice on specific
budget reduction strategies developed by
the Executive Budget Steering Committee. The Budget Advisory Committee
will include members from the Senate faculty, staff, and the student
body – encouraging campuswide participation.
A set
of core
principles will guide the campus’s 2003-2004 budget
including our commitment to academic excellence; to seeking new sources
of revenue; and minimizing layoffs. Our process will be expeditious
and transparent. We will communicate our decisions to the university
community on and off campus in a clear, concise, and timely manner.
Ours is a dedicated and resilient community. We have faced these obstacles
before and emerged with our excellence intact. With your assistance,
we will do so again.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Berdahl
Chancellor
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