UC Irvine's Great Idea

"My plan to get us out of the red is simple, boss. We cut the workers' salaries and give everything away free."





California's budget mess has also affected the university system. The University of Calfornia system, the state college system and the community colleges are all facing drastic shortfalls. As a result all are trying to decide where the ax must fall.

In the case of the University of California (I am a part-time teacher at UC-Irvine), President Mark Yudof has put out a video to UC employees explaining the problems, as well as proposed measures and cuts that are being planned. At this point, it appears that all full-time faculty will be faced with a 4-10% salary cut depending on their current salary. Also proposed is a certain number of furlough days. It goes without saying that many of the fellow teachers with whom I work are not happy about this development. (Apparently, it won't affect me since I am a quarterly hire, paid by the hour with no benefits.)

But if teachers at UCI were not already upset, now comes this revelation: UCI's new law school, set to open in the fall of 2009 under newly-hired Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, is giving out free, full-tuition scholarships, which happen to be worth about $100,000 apiece, to its entire inaugural class, which will consist of 60 students.



This news appears in the ABA Journal in an article by Debra Cassens Weiss.

http://abajournal.com/news/law_school_free_to_uc_irvines_entering_2009_class

Apparently, the school is seeking donations to cover the estimated 6
million dollar cost, and, to this point, has reportedly collected about 1/3 of what is needed.

What a great idea! What better way to make up a budget shortfall than have your law school give the whole law school class full scholarships while cutting the salaries of all your teachers! Why didn't I think of that?

What do you think, Mr Welk?



"Ah wunnerful, ah wunnerful, ah!"