A. Lab-Campus Synergies
Rulon Linford, the Office of the President's Associate Vice Provost for Research, met with the APC to present an
overview of existing collaborations between the UC national labs and UC campuses, and to explore ways that such
collaborations might be enhanced. He shared examples of current collaborations, noting website addresses specifically
created for providing direction for initiating further collaborations:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: http://ep.llnl.gov:80/urp/
Los Alamos National Laboratory: http://STB.lanl.gov/UC/UC.html
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: http://lbl.gov
Linford pointed out that among the unique features of such joint research is the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary
team arrangement to address some of the major problems facing society. Research with the laboratories can provide
a scale of focus and activity that the more individually-oriented campus research activities cannot. One example
of such collaboration is a group organized to study water resource issues in California and the Southwest, pulling
together several projects looking at rainfall, the ocean, runoff, and so on. Another example involves a joint effort
between the Los Alamos National Laboratory and UC Riverside to look at issues related to the Salton Sea, a topic
that requires a broad and comprehensive review, not small individually-focused projects.
During the discussion, many topics were raised by APC members, including ways to expand the funds available for
collaborations, and topics for possible increased emphasis (including DANR programs and the Health Sciences). Linford
agreed that these are important issues that need attention and invited continued suggestions for improvement. He
also pointed out that internal funds in UC and the laboratories available for these purposes were quite limited.
Collaborations within specific disciplines were already flourishing through collegial interactions without assistance
from OP, etc. The coordination effort and limited resources ought to be focused to encourage cross-disciplinary
interactions, particularly those that address issues important to California and the nation.
The APC recommended that in addition to continuing the efforts of bringing this subject before the Council of Chancellors
and various Senate groups, the Universitywide Council on Research (COR) might be in the best position to produce
results. The APC asked Linford and Vice Provost Shelton to prepare a draft charge to the COR. Their focus should
be on providing advice on strategic planning for collaborative research and to propose mechanisms for facilitating
collaborations.
B. Enrollment
Assistant Vice President Sandra Smith and Vice President Larry Hershman updated the APC on the status of enrollment
planning, and how it fits into this spring's budgetary hearings in Sacramento. For example, the Legislative Analyst's
Office has produced a report that indicates there may be no "Tidal Wave" of enrollments for any of the
public segments of higher education. While the report does not appear to be receiving wide support in the Legislature,
its findings for UC are not very different from the conservative enrollment estimates we have been making in recent
years. There is, however, a difference of opinion between us about the degree to which UC is enrolling ineligible
students, with the LAO and the Department of Finance asserting that we are taking students from a pool that includes
both eligible and potentially eligible students (approximately 20.5 percent of California's public high school
graduates). The APC discussed some of the current analyses and attention being given to the academic criteria that
high school graduate must meet to be eligible for the University.
With respect to graduate enrollment planning which is the centerpiece of the overall enrollment planning activities
currently in progress, Hershman noted that there is hope for increases in enrollments. He cautioned, however, that
increases must be considered, not only in the aggregate, but also in each major discipline, and that there must
be compelling arguments for growth.
Provost King reported that the Citizens' Commission's report on higher education enrollments is due soon. Their
intent was to provide substantial recommendations for the gubernatorial candidates to use in their campaigns. It
appears that many of the recommendations will apply to the Community Colleges.
C. Academic Proposal Review
Michael Hanneman reported on behalf of the APC subcommittee that is reviewing the Academic Program Review Compendium,
which is making good progress towards recommendations for ways of improving the review process.
D. Areas of Focus for the APC
With two meetings left this year, the APC discussed agenda items it would like to be sure to cover. These include
a substantial review of the enrollment planning draft and a review of responses to the 10th campus academic plan.
There may also be presentations about the Health Sciences Committee's work and by the Division of Agriculture and
Natural Resources.