UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
ACADEMIC PLANNING COUNCIL

Bulletin #33


December 17, 1997


Vice Chair Sandra Weiss welcomed Catherine Hess of the Davis campus, the undergraduate student member of the Academic Planning Council.

A. Tenth Campus Planning

Vice Provost Carol Tomlinson-Keasey asked the APC for its comments on the draft academic plan for the 10th campus (available at (http://www.ucop.edu/acadinit/tenth/10thucplan.html), and introduced her initial thinking about the next steps in transition planning that will result in the hiring of a Chancellor and first 100 faculty, the establishment of research and instructional programs, and finally, the enrollment of students by 2005.

APC members cited lessons learned from previous experiences of establishing new campuses, including the need to start from a strong and cohesive research base, and the importance and perhaps inevitability of organizing in departments, in order to attract the best faculty who will develop programs strong enough from the start to be a magnet for outstanding graduate and undergraduate students.

Members also discussed some of the challenges they are aware confront the planning process. For example, they acknowledged the need to balance the localized interests of the Valley with the importance of being a state-wide university. And, they underscored the importance of introducing innovation appropriate both to the geographic setting and to the needs of the 21st century, without undermining more traditional academic structures that have been proven to work.

They cautioned against creating at this point an overly prescriptive plan, advising that it is the planning principles that are most important, as well as the efforts to create an overall setting and structure that will enable the desired academic values to thrive. For example, many members advised against prescribing an interdisciplinary structure, but supported the notion of developing a physical environment that would encourage interdisciplinary activities to emerge. They also stressed the importance of leaving sufficient latitude for the first faculty and Chancellor to shape the campus's direction.

The APC will serve as the primary mechanism for bringing together the comments that arise from the consultation process currently underway throughout the University.

B. Graduate Education and Enrollment Planning

Assistant Vice President Sandra Smith summarized comments her office has been receiving in response to the proposed outline for graduate education advocacy and to requests for anecdotes and other illustrative evidence of the nature and importance of graduate education. The APC, at her request, provided additional input, about the role of graduate students in research. and suggested sources that could provide specific examples of significant contributions graduate students have made to research findings.

The members also were advised that progress was being made on the Graduate Deans recommendations to increase graduate education advocacy and planning activities and to address financial support needs of graduate students. Provost King also apprised the APC of the strong desire of both industry and the Governor to increase significantly the number of Engineering students produced by the University.

C. Undergraduate Enrollment Planning

The APC turned to the undergraduate enrollment component of the enrollment planning activities currently underway, noting the continuing rise in popularity of a UC education. The members discussed some of the issues related to the recently released CPEC Eligibility Study and to proposals for changing admissions methodologies in order to ensure diversity. While other groups, notably BOARS, have specific responsibilities in resolving these issues, the APC will continue to be a forum for discussing these broad-reaching issues, bringing together ideas from the work of other groups responsible for carrying out analysis and developing policy.

D. Goals

The APC reviewed its 1996-97 goals and added to its high priorities for this year its review of the Academic Program Review Compendium, the California Virtual University, and the 10th campus.

The next APC meeting is scheduled for February 27, 1998.Vice Chair Sandra Weiss welcomed Catherine Hess of the Davis campus, the undergraduate student member of the Academic Planning Council.