1. Humanities Commission
The Academic Planning Council reviewed a draft charge for the Humanities Commission, agreeing that it should be
centered around four topics:
(a) The present state of affairs of the humanities in the University of California: to establish a multi-factored
"base line" against which changes in the humanities in UC over the next decade can be measured, separating
rumor from fact as to the actual condition of the humanities.
(b) Resources available to the Humanities: to recommend ways in which the University might help its faculty and
students access and effectively use the full array of research resources -- including libraries, public and private
archives, computers, the web – and ways to facilitate uses of technology in the humanities that will genuinely
enhance both all UC students' education.
(c) Expansion of the University: to plan for changes in curriculum and research within the context of growth, including
examining the role of the masters degree in the Humanities.
(d) Engagement: to review the role of the Humanities with respect to professional school curriculum, improvement
of K-12 education and outreach; to recommend ways of explaining the nature and value of their research and teaching
to colleagues within the University, to the larger public, and to the State's political and economic leaders.
Members agreed that the Commission would be strengthened by the addition of members from fields outside of the
humanities, including the social sciences and science or engineering. Their work should be concluded by the end
of 2000.
2. Transfer Students
Campuses have been working to meet the expectations of the MOU with the Community Colleges to increase the number
of transfer students. The APC reviewed the most recent enrollment data (preliminary, Fall 1999) which showed that
despite increases in the number of applications and admits, there was only a small gain in the number of enrollments.
Most puzzling was the large number of students who had submitted Statements of Intent to Register (along with a
$100 fee) who then failed to enroll. Associate Director Steve Handel of Student Academic Services discussed with
the APC the kinds of inquiry and analysis staff are pursuing in order to better understand this situation better.
For example, they will look at the possible roles played in students' decisions by campus distance from the student's
home and by financial aid packages. Handel also noted that the number of transfers to CSU–a much larger population
than those who enroll at UC–has also been declining. He will report findings from the studies once they are known.
The APC also reviewed data comparing the academic progress of junior transfers to "native" juniors (i.e.,
those who entered as freshmen). While the two groups are quite similar in terms of time to degree, both across
campuses as a whole and at the major level, a higher proportion of native juniors graduate than do junior transfers.
Enrollment patterns for the two groups were also very similar, although proportionately more native juniors were
majoring in life sciences and proportionately more junior transfers were in the humanities.
3. Faculty Recruitment
The APC discussed the challenge for the eight existing campuses of hiring an estimated 555 general campus faculty
per year for the next decade to keep pace with enrollment growth and to replace faculty who separate from the University.
Major issues include the availability of high-quality candidates, the pressures on departments to sustain intensive
recruitment activities over so long a period of time for so many open positions, the high costs of recruitment
and the need to add a significant amount of research and office space to keep up with growth.
APC members noted that after VERIP it became common practice to provide space for emeriti faculty, many of whom
left while their research careers were still productive. As the University enters a period of significant faculty
hiring for growth as well as replacement, the need for space will become more critical and this practice may have
to be reviewed. On the other hand, it was suggested that the University may want to find ways to encourage some
faculty either to postpone retirement or return on a recall basis in order to help with teaching. Such incentives
would help minimize or defer recruitment costs.
It was also pointed out that the coming years of hiring provide an opportunity both for improving the racial/ethnic
diversity and increasing the percentage of women. Members requested that there be in inquiry of comparison institutions
that have successfully increased their diversity in order to learn more about programs that could be effective
under the terms of Proposition 209.
4. Graduate Enrollments
The APC continued its previous scoping discussion (see APC Bulletin #43 at http://www.ucop.edu/planning/apc/ )
to identify systemwide planning issues it should address with respect to increasing graduate enrollments. They
agreed that for the short term they would focus on increasing their understanding of the potential role professional
schools and academic masters programs might play in UC's graduate growth plans.