EduBubble

Guess how much of that huge California tax hike will be going to undergraduate education? Bob Samuels, my favorite source for U Cal news, informs that the answer may be considered to be zero. Of course no one really knows for sure with university budgeting, but I think he bases his statement on the fact that there will be NO raises for U Cal professors next year. It’s been a long time since they got any raises because of the crisis. Now that the crisis is supposedly sort of over, you might think that the U Cal administration would be spending some of that tax money on the people who talk directly to undergraduates. Not a chance.

Here’s a choice quote from the letter sent from the top of U Cal:

 “It is my hope that the passage of Proposition 30 last fall, and the proposed reinvestment in UC in the Governor’s budget proposal last month, mark a turning point for our university. After several difficult years, UC appears to be headed on the path to financial stability. Unfortunately, we still have a way to go before the University stands upon a firm financial foundation. As you know, since 2008, UC has been forced to absorb nearly $1 billion in State funding cuts. Re-balancing the University in the wake of those cuts is still a work in progress, and one that requires many of the ongoing measures that helped UC survive the last few budget cycles. As a result, I very much regret that we will not be able to implement systemwide salary increases for UC staff during the current 2012-13 fiscal year. This includes Chancellors and senior leadership.”

He points out that even though there have been budget cuts, the parents have been forced to cough up much higher tuition to make up the gap.

Alas, I think everyone was naive to think that anything but this would happen. Where are the professors going to go? There’s a huge surplus of PhDs and everyone is pretty much replaceable. Those that get huge grants already get fatter salaries.

Where’s the money going? Samuels suggests a big chunk is going to keep the pensions afloat. And who gets the big pensions? Doctors, administrators and some coaches. While he forgets that coaches do interact with undergraduates, he’s largely right that much of this big fat tax increase won’t be going near the classroom.