Author Archives: admin

Senator Steinberg’s proposed online classes bill

Today’s New York Times (and a number of other news sources) had an article about proposed legislation from Senator Steinberg that would require California’s public higher education systems to accept transfer credits from select online course providers for 50 of … Continue reading

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The selection of a new President of the University of California

The selection of a new President of the University of California
provides all of us an important opportunity to set the future course of
the University. The Council of UC Faculty Associations, by far the
largest voluntary membership organization representing the faculty of
the University of California, would like to offer these principles for
who we think would best serve the interests of the university community:
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SCFA Request for Information RE: Online Education Contract with Coursera

The SCFA learned that the University signed a contract with Coursera without including them in the discussion. The SCFA, as the bargaining agent for UCSC faculty, should be consulted whenever there is the potential for a change in the relationship between the University and faculty, that could therefore be subject to collective bargaining. The SCFA is not taking a position at this point on the desirability or undesirability of working with Coursera. Their concern, at this stage, is the maximal protection of faculty rights and authority, whether faculty participate or not in Coursera-hosted on-line courses. A Request for Information has been made to the university.
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Online Education in the Media – January 2013

January 2013 – There has been an explosion in the mainstream press already this year concerning online education.  Here is a s synopsis of relevant  links that represent just a few of the articles that have been published. Whose Online? … Continue reading

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“UC Irvine Professor quits midway through online Coursera class”

A UC Irvine professor has stopped teaching midway through a massive online course in microeconomics offered through the Coursera organization, saying that he had disagreements on how to conduct the free class for thousands of students around the world.
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Funding Higher Education: The Search for Possibilities

The national Campaign for the Future of Higher Educationis releasing a series of papers titled “Funding Higher Education: The Search for Possibilities.” The CFHE calls on America’s college & university faculty to join in the search for new ways to fund higher education. The Council of UC Faculty Associations contributed one of the papers in the series. CUCFA Vice President Stanton Glantz, as principal author of that paper, will be participating in the news briefing on February 12, 2013,
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University of California must disclose more information about its investments

Interesting article that ties in with our concern that the Regents are top heavy in investment bankers which makes the possibility of deals such a problem. “An Alameda County Superior Court judge has ruled that the University of California must … Continue reading

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How much will it cost to restore public higher education in 2012-13 (with updated 2013 state budget data)

Raising revenue has become such a taboo subject in California politics, but restoring quality public higher education in California can be done. For the median California tax return (individual or joint), restoring the entire system while rolling back student fees … Continue reading

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UC Management bloat – updated January 2013, by Charles Schwartz

Charles Schwartz shows the continuing outsized growth of the management cadre (defined as the employees classified in Senior Management Group and Management & Senior Professionals): their numbers grew by 252% over the 21 year period while total employee numbers grew by a mere 51%. His last presentation of data on the bloated growth of management at the University of California, covered the span of 1991-2010. (Note: click on graph to view a larger version in a new) Continue reading

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Concerns re: open access to publications policy

Chris M. Kelty Chair, University Committee on Library and Scholarly Communications January 10, 2013 Dear Professor Kelty, We write to you on behalf of the Berkeley Faculty Association to express our concern that the proposed policy to expand open access … Continue reading

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