To: Academic Senate Faculty
Dear Colleagues:
I wanted to welcome you to a new and exciting school year. As with every beginning, there are opportunities and challenges, and we look forward to working with all Senate faculty as we address those in the 2026-27 school year. In this newsletter, we will be updating you on some of the most important recent developments and upcoming events of interest to faculty.
- Shared governance updates (UCLA and systemwide)
As my predecessor Megan McEvoy indicated in her August Senate newsletter, “While challenges still exist, progress has been made in these areas that improve meaningful participation in shared governance.” Specifically, there have been notable improvements in the consultation process with the Senate in the budget process (see below), instructional modality decisions during emergencies, and prior reliance on consultation with workgroups that lacked Senate representation. As McEvoy noted in her newsletter, these positive changes were the result of pressure and action by Senate faculty and institutions, including participating in surveys, actions by Senate committees and councils, resolutions passed by the Legislative Assembly (sometimes unanimously!), and other forms of faculty input and pressure. While the process is by no means perfect — as exemplified by the absence of Senate consultation in the recent decision to remove classroom computers — it is important to note and reward positive steps when they occur.
In addition, 2025-26 Systemwide Academic Senate Chair Ahmet Palazoglu recently shared his Report on the State of Shared Governance at the University of California 2025-26. - Budget process and principles
While the budget situation facing UCLA continues to be dire, the Senate appreciates the improved openness and transparency in budgetary matters. The notable improvements include increased Senate representation on the Chancellor’s Executive Budget Action Group (EBAG), the new Budget Transparency Protocol, a day-long budget retreat with leadership from the Senate and Administration, and greater engagement with the Senate’s Council on Planning and Budget (CPB) including a joint budget Town Hall meeting later this quarter led by the CFO and CPB Chair.
In January 2026, the Executive Board and the Council on Planning and Budget endorsed the Principles to Guide Fiscal Decision-Making during the Current Period of Financial Uncertainty. These principles prioritize protecting and advancing UCLA's core academic mission through transparent, data-informed, and bold financial management - Senate leadership on academic freedom
UCLA Senate Leadership sent a letter on academic freedom to Chancellor Frenk expressing concerns about the press release he issued on September 11, 2026, titled Chancellor Julio Frenk comment regarding media coverage on Sept. 10. His statement contained several remarks that have been interpreted as criticizing a law school event “25 Years After 9/11: Reimaging Freedom, Justice, and Security” and its organizers. Chancellor Frenk then issued a reply to the Senate’s letter (updated 9/30). Senate Chair Groeling has also asked the Committee on Academic Freedom (CAF) to review the letters as well as CAF’s previous June 2025 guidelines on Instructional Use of Potentially Offensive, Disturbing or Controversial Materials and May 2025 statement In Defense of Academic Freedom and the University, particularly with regard to the issue of endorsement (or non-endorsement) of faculty-initiated activities and events. The Executive Board will review CAF’s recommendations in October. - Early Child Care at UCLA, including the 10/6 Special Legislative Assembly on the topic
Earlier this week, the Senate held a Special Legislative Assembly meeting to discuss the recently announced closure of the two remaining Early Care and Education centers on campus in June 2027. Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Darnell Hunt presented and took questions. Legislative Assembly members considered a Resolution Against Closing Early Care and Education (ECE) & University Parents Nursery School (UPNS) proposed by voting Legislative Assembly members. The results of the Assembly meeting were announced separately.
Please read below for more information and reminders.
Wishing you all the best in the academic year,
Tim Groeling
Chair, UCLA Academic Senate
Academic Senate Updates
October 2026
In this issue:
→ Instructional Continuity During the Heat Advisory
→ September Faculty Survey Results
→ Major Divisional Senate Actions 2025-26
→ Reminder: Policy on Course Syllabi
→ Systemwide Assembly Meeting is Today
→ UC Senate Recommendations on Academic Dishonesty and Unauthorized Online Posting of Copyrighted Course Materials
→ Participate in Your Academic Senate!
Instructional Continuity During the Heat Advisory
As UCLA has experienced a week of extreme heat, the Senate issued instructional guidance during building cooling restrictions and also reminded instructors of the Academic Senate’s Guidance to Departments for Authorizing Temporary Emergency Distance Instruction.
September Faculty Survey Results
Thank you to the over seven hundred Senate faculty who completed this second annual survey. The Senate will release the full results shortly after completing its analysis.
Major Divisional Senate Actions 2025-26
The UCLA Academic Senate posts final recommendations and decisions on its website after the completion of deliberations by its committees. Some major actions from the past academic year include advising on the Athletics deficit, campus real estate expenses, principles to guide fiscal decision-making, a budget transparency protocol, graduate and undergraduate education funding white papers, analysis of the campus structural deficit, resolution on financial transparency, and the OneIT proposal. We also approved new minors and degree programs, as well as amendments to regulations and bylaws.
Reminder: Policy on Course Syllabi
The Graduate and Undergraduate Councils remind instructors of the Policy on Course Syllabi effective Fall 2025 and related information to help guide courses.
Systemwide Assembly Meeting is Today
The Assembly of the Systemwide Academic Senate has its first meeting of the year on October 8. Visit the UC Senate Assembly website for more information.
UC Senate Recommendations on Academic Dishonesty and Unauthorized Online Posting of Copyrighted Course Materials
The Academic Council of the Systemwide Senate endorsed the University Committee on Educational Policy’s (UCEP) annual recommendations to faculty regarding academic dishonesty and the unauthorized online posting of copyrighted course materials. The recommendations are available on the Senate’s Reports and Recommendations page.
Participate in Your Academic Senate!
The Academic Senate is only as strong as its engaged faculty. We encourage you to volunteer for Senate service, contact your Legislative Assembly representatives, reach out to your Faculty Executive Committee Chairs, visit the Academic Senate website to learn about current issues, and follow us on X at @UCLASenate or on Bluesky @uclasenate.bsky.social.
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