When Robert C. Dynes officially took office as the University of California’s new president on Oct. 2, he faced a multitude of difficult questions, some of which he already began to address in initial conferences with UC officials and the media, with more to come throughout his inaugural tour of the UC system in coming months.
Facing a dire budget situation, Dynes has made it clear that he will fight against estimated 20 percent cuts from the state legislature, although he has not yet outlined a plan for dealing with the budget.
“”I am not willing to accept the 20 percent budget cut at this point,”” Dynes said. “”Although we’ve been asked to go through that exercise, a 20 percent budget cut is a devastating budget cut for the University of California. I can’t imagine reducing the budgets by that amount.””
Dynes added that this is equivalent to reducing the system by two or three campuses, which was “”unthinkable.””
“”I won’t accept that and I will make as persuasive arguments as I can that the University has already taken such difficult cuts and that it’s inappropriate for us to take any more,”” he said.
There are, however, “”vigorous”” exercises in place on all campuses to figure out where money can be saved, according to Dynes.
Upon leaving office, former president Richard C. Atkinson suggested to the UC Board of Regents to accept more out-of-state students and hike up their tuition as a means to offset the budget cuts. Dynes, however, disagreed with this solution.
“”That’s not my favorite response,”” Dynes said. “”I surely do not want to displace in-state students.””
Dynes also said that the University of California might need to rethink its partnership agreement with the state.
“”It is time for us to sit down with the governor and the state legislature and recraft an agreement or recraft an understanding of the University of California’s support and where we’re going,”” he said. “”I think that hanging on to that agreement might not be as fruitful as just deciding that we’re going to redefine it.””
Dynes has also announced that the search for a vice president of lab management is almost complete, and that the University of California will seek to retain management of Los Alamos National Laboratory, which will be going up for bid due to mismanagement problems in the past year.
His inaugural tour of the UC system will include visits of each campus, beginning with UC Riverside on Nov. 20 and Nov. 21, as well as to New Mexico, home of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Dynes will also be holding informal Web chats open to the public through the UC Web site. The chat held on Oct. 8 at 4:30 p.m. will focus on alumni issues; on Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. it will focus on staff and faculty issues; and on Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. it will focus on student issues.
Marsha A. Chandler officially took the helm as UCSD’s acting chancellor, succeeding Dynes on Oct. 2.
“”This fall is exceptional because of UCSD’s leadership transition,”” Chandler stated in her welcome message. “”During this time, we will be working hard to ensure that it is a smooth one, and we are determined, throughout this period, to keep building UCSD’s momentum and to sustain our excellence.””
The search for a new permanent chancellor has begun. Throughout October, the advisory committee as well as faculty subcommittees will meet to review nominations and applications for the post before narrowing the pool of candidates to number between six and eight in December. In January, the advisory committee will meet and interview the candidates and Dynes will then recommend the chancellor finalist to the UC Regents during a closed session. The new UCSD chancellor will then be named sometime during winter or spring quarter.
Applications and resumes are due by Oct. 15.
