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November 2025, UCLA Academic Senate Updates

Royce Hall

To: Academic Senate Faculty

Dear Colleagues,

It’s been a tumultuous ride in higher education in the last year, and many things have been happening at UCLA that are noteworthy. Please read on for a quick summary of some recent events and actions.

With respect to shared governance, the Senate continues to have ongoing discussions with Administration leaders regarding how to re-engage in meaningful Senate consultation, particularly where the Senate has an advisory role.

We are expecting progress on meaningful consultation on budgetary matters: the Council on Planning and Budget (CPB) has been invited to participate in unit-level budget meetings in the new year, and budget information from last year is forthcoming. We continue to request provision of budgetary planning information about central funds to CPB both to inform their advice at unit-level meetings and for their deliberations on the 2026-27 budget. I am participating in the Executive Budget Action Group that Chancellor Frenk recently formed, where I will continue to advocate for protecting the academic mission, making budget decisions only after meaningful consultation with the Senate, and communicating transparently with campus stakeholders, especially Senate Faculty. At the Nov. 13 Legislative Assembly meeting, members approved a resolution almost unanimously on budget transparency that we will convey officially after the end of the notification of action period in early December.

The Senate recently transmitted feedback on the OneIT initiative to EVCP Hunt (see the OneIT Request for Senate Consultation). The advice emphasized the primary purpose and goal of OneIT should be to better serve the academic mission; the heterogeneity of computing needs, particularly for research; proactive and extensive consultation with the Academic Senate and Senate Faculty; transparent and clear communication; and critical analysis about whether and where consolidation is cost efficient. At the Nov 13 Legislative Assembly meeting, members also approved a resolution almost unanimously on information technology transparency (see the Legislative Assembly Nov. 13 Agenda). At the end of the notification of action period in early December, this resolution will also be officially conveyed.

Also at the Legislative Assembly meeting on November 13, the body reaffirmed its endorsement of the Defense of the University statement (see the Nov. 13 Agenda, which reads in part:

We thus call on the Regents, President, and Chancellors of the University of California to expend every effort, commit necessary resources, and use all legal measures to defend our ability to conduct consequential, transformative research and provide high-quality teaching and mentoring. We call on our leaders to ensure the safety and privacy of students, faculty, and staff. And we further call on our leaders to protect academic freedom and faculty control of the curriculum—proactively and publicly.

This reaffirmation is more important than ever with the assaults we have faced at UCLA and in higher education.

I’d like to thank all of you who have participated in the Legislative Assembly meetings, town halls and the recent survey, as well as the challenging and on-going work of Senate committee and council members.

There are two more opportunities for engagement:

  • An in-person town hall on December 4 with Chancellor Frenk. Please see below for further details. I am looking forward to substantive and informative discussions with Chancellor Frenk.
  • From the senate faculty survey we conducted at the end of September, the top issue that faculty identified as the “worst” thing about UCLA and the thing they would like to change the most was “red tape” (i.e., bureaucracy). We have crafted an anonymous follow-up survey to identify the specific challenges from which we can identify actionable items. Please take a few moments to complete this short (three questions) survey. In addition, note that in a recent BruinPost EVCP Hunt and AVC Beck announced a Bruin Process Flow Submission Portal to receive suggestions about improving campus processes.

In other news, the Academic Senate is pleased to announce additional 2025-26 Research Grants for Senate Faculty. Eligible Faculty are invited to apply to receive up to $5000 in research funds. See the full announcement below.

In case you missed it, letters and statements have been issued on important topics:

A reminder: UCLA's religious creed policy covers requests for alternate exam dates on an individual basis: Alternate Examination Policies | Registrar’s Office. I encourage instructors to be flexible in making adjustments for students who observe religious
holidays.

I wish you a peaceful and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.

Megan McEvoy
Chair, UCLA Academic Senate
 

Academic Senate Updates
November 2025

In this issue: 

→ Senate Faculty Town Hall With Chancellor Frenk on December 4, 2025
→ Additional Cycle of Research Grant Funds for Senate Faculty
→ New UCLA Senate Faculty Mini Survey
→ UCAD and UCAD Plus
→ UCLA Academic Senate Task Force on UCLA Adaptation to Disruptions (UCLAAD)
→ Your Academic Senate

Senate Faculty Town Hall With Chancellor Frenk on December 4, 2025

We invite UCLA Senate faculty to attend an in-person town hall on Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 11 a.m. to noon, at the California NanoSystems Institute (CSNI) Auditorium (Location: Google Maps, UCLA Interactive Map). Senate Faculty will have an opportunity to be in dialogue with Chancellor Julio Frenk. It is required to register in advance to attend this meeting. Please RSVP by noon on Wednesday, December 3. Space is limited.

Additional Cycle of Research Grant Funds for Senate Faculty

The UCLA Academic Senate’s Council on Research (COR) will open an additional cycle of applications for the Research Allowance Program (RAP) beginning November 19, 2025 , and invites eligible Senate faculty who have not been awarded a 2025-26 RAP grant to apply for up to $5,000 in research funds. For the most current information visit the RAP page.

New UCLA Senate Faculty Mini Survey

As mentioned in the Senate Chair remarks above, in the survey of Senate Faculty from September 2025, respondents identified “red tape” (i.e., bureaucracy) as the “worst” thing about UCLA and the thing they would like to change the most. Please take a few moments to complete this short (three questions) anonymous follow-up survey from which the Senate can identify actionable items.

UCAD and UCAD Plus

The Academic Senate Task Force on UC Adaptation to Disruptions Interim Report (UCAD report) received extensive feedback from faculty across all ten campuses. Thanks to all UCLA faculty who contributed their comments! UCAD continues to meet regularly, both as a Senate body (UCAD-S) and as part of the joint Administration-Senate UCAD Plus Task Force. These groups will incorporate faculty feedback and further develop recommendations from the interim report. A systemwide review of an updated report is planned for early 2026. 

UCLA Academic Senate Task Force on UCLA Adaptation to Disruptions (UCLAAD)

UCLA must strive to prioritize the academic mission and retain its deeply embedded institutional values. Using the interim UCAD Report as a model, the UCLA Academic Senate Task Force on UCLA Adaptation to Disruptions (UCLAAD) will proactively identify risks and systematically derive response strategies that are appropriate for the local environment. UCLAAD will develop response strategies that aim to uphold the academic mission at UCLA, with a primary focus on research and instruction, in the context of disruptions, uncertainties, and evolving shifts in the higher education landscape. Please visit UCLAAD to learn more about the charge, membership, and deliverables.

Your Academic Senate

The Academic Senate is only as strong as its engaged faculty. We welcome you to volunteer, contact your Legislative Assembly representatives, reach out to your Faculty Executive Committee Chairs who serve on the Council of Faculty Chairs, visit the Academic Senate website, and follow us on X at @UCLASenate or on Bluesky @uclasenate.bsky.social.

Download this BruinPost here.