In the first APC meeting of 1997-98 Provost King welcomed new members: Richard
Attiyeh, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Dean (UCSD); Eli Silver, faculty member at large (UCSC); Carol
Wall, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (UCD); and David Warren, Executive Vice Chancellor (UCR).
1. Graduate Education Planning
The APC members discussed several topics related to graduate education planning efforts that are underway throughout
the University. Assistant Vice President Sandra Smith described the activities that will culminate in advocacy
documents for a variety of public audiences, including The Regents, the Department of Finance, the California Postsecondary
Education Commission (CPEC), and others who may be helpful in speaking out on behalf of the role and importance
of graduate education. She also described the process for enrollment planning she has been discussing with campus
colleagues. Cathryn Nation, Director of Academic Health Sciences (UCOP) noted the relationship of planning being
done in the Health Sciences, and Vice Provost Carol Tomlinson-Keasey brought the APC up to date on President Atkinson's
proposed "Master of Advanced Study."
The members explored how graduate education is changing and how it is staying the same. On the one hand, members
agreed there continues to be a need for the strong foundation a graduate degree provides--particularly the doctoral
degree. On the other hand, there is also a need for graduate education to be responsive to a rapidly changing marketplace.
Members agreed that the advocacy documents should emphasize both the needs of business and industry for graduate
degree holders, and the continuing need for traditional scholarship.
It was suggested that insufficient emphasis has been given in past documents to the demand for graduate education,
both on the part of prospective students (part-time, self-supporting and full-time, residential) who desire the
education we offer, as well as demand on the part of business and industry for well-educated--and recently educated--employees.
Another important factor that the APC thought should be emphasized is the impact on and contributions of our graduate
programs to society.
Members also noted the importance of funding for graduate students, particularly when graduate students face much
higher opportunity costs in terms of lost and deferred income than students pursuing a baccalaureate. They advised
that funding support should allow for more breadth in graduate education by freeing students from having to narrow
their focus too quickly.
The APC discussed whether there really is, or only appears to be, duplication of programs across campuses. There
was interest in finding ways to have more insight into the nature of apparently similar programs across the system,
without having to create centralized or formalized review mechanisms.
Discussion of the President's proposed "Master's of Advanced Study" centered around the question of whether
the proposed degree differs from traditional master's degrees in ways other than just scheduling and fees. As currently
conceived, departments will develop degree proposals which will be approved through existing mechanisms, thereby
ensuring quality of content and admissions standards. However, these degrees are expected to be more applied and
less research-oriented than traditional residential master's degrees. Vice Provost Tomlinson-Keasey announced that
the President will be sending out his draft proposal in the coming weeks, along with answers to many questions
regarding compensation, revenue issues and other topics raised during recent rounds of consultation.
2. Review of the Program Review Compendium
Upon the creation of the APC, one of its first projects was to study and streamline systemwide procedures related
to the review of proposals for new programs and for major changes such as transfer, consolidation, discontinuation
or disestablishment. The result was a Program Review Compendium which has been in effect for three years, and is
now due for review. The goal will be to find further opportunities for streamlining and to correct problematic
procedures, should any be identified. The APC approved a proposed structure, set of tasks and timeline, and advised
that the review should include ORU and MRU procedures as well.
3. Updates
Vice Provost Tomlinson-Keasey briefly updated the APC on several initiatives which have been of special interest:
A draft report covering the budgetary and technical issues related to a recent University-wide effort to create
a planning framework for technology will be sent to the Council of Vice Chancellors. The University will also report
to the Legislature about uses of current and proposed State funding for UC's instructional technology infrastructure.
It is evident from the campus consultation that technology will require a long-term investment, and that there
are no guarantees that instructional costs will be reduced.
The California Virtual University (CVU) is scheduled to "go live" in May 1998. The three segments of
public higher education are requesting $3 million annually over the next three years to be divided equally among
the segments to cover one-time start-up costs. The segments will concurrently embark on a longer review of issues
such as the basis on which they would receive State funding for student FTEs enrolled through the CVU. Such funding
would not be available to the University for Extension courses it provides through the CVU.
Vice Provost Tomlinson-Keasey also announced the appointment of Richard Lucier as University Librarian for the
newly created California Digital Library. APC members wanted to understand some of the budgetary assumptions, with
an interest in making sure the Library Initiative would consider print materials in addition to electronic materials,
in order to continue to meet the needs of humanities scholars. There was also interest expressed in opening up
the issue of scholarly publishing, an area of endeavor which is being profoundly affected by the existence of electronic
publishing opportunities.
• Cathryn Nation advised the APC of the work of the Health Sciences Committee, which is a subcommittee of the APC.
Among its tasks are a review of the recently completed Report of the Commission on the Future of Medical Education,
participation as necessary in the graduate planning efforts, and a review of the needs for additional veterinary
education in the state of California.
The next APC meeting is scheduled for December 17, 1997.