To: Academic Senate Faculty
Dear Colleagues,
Universities are under attack in ways that target the heart of the academic mission. In the face of existential threats, it is all too easy for siege mentality to set in and for administrative decision makers to treat shared governance as a luxury, only to be enjoyed in easy times. This is short sighted. Shared governance is more necessary than ever in times of crisis, times when extraordinary challenges demand disciplined focus on the academic mission.
The University of California leads the world in the effectiveness of our shared governance institutions and norms. The Academic Senate’s authority over curriculum and admission and its advisory duties regarding budgets are established in Regents Bylaw 40.1. Our long tradition of shared governance solidifies UCLA’s commitment to the academic mission. Shared governance has preserved UCLA’s excellence as we weathered past challenges.
Effective shared governance requires the administration to engage in meaningful Senate consultation, beginning in the earliest stages of decision processes. Input from Senate faculty on the front lines of research and teaching is necessary to avoid decisions that, however well-intended, waste resources or fail to further the academic mission. The Senate has recently written to Chancellor Frenk and EVCP Hunt about the importance of strong shared governance, and about the primacy of maintaining funding for graduate education. In keeping with Senate values of transparency, both letters are posted on the Senate website. The letter on graduate funding is here (along with the administration’s response.) The letter on shared governance is here.
In the face of extraordinary threats, the Senate remains committed to provide timely, meaningful, solution-oriented advice and to work with the administration in maintaining the primacy of our academic mission of research and teaching.
See the news items below for information about upcoming events, recent reports on graduate education and the common calendar, new guidance from CAP and the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Personnel about documenting the impact of external disruptions on research, teaching and service in merit and promotion cases, and more.
The commitment of Senate faculty to creating and transmitting knowledge is the heart of UCLA’s excellence. I am grateful to all of you for all the hard work you do, and I wish you peace and strength through these hard times.
Sincerely,
Kathy Bawn
Chair, UCLA Academic Senate
Academic Senate Updates
March 2025
In this issue:
- Save the Date: Chancellor Listening Exercise with Senate Faculty
- Upcoming Assembly of the UC Senate Meetings
- Managing the Impact of Disruption on Merit and Promotion
- Report on the Future of Doctoral Programs at UC
- Input on Systemwide Academic Calendar Workgroup Draft Report
- Reminder about the Role of Faculty Executive Committees (FECs)
- Reminder about Judicial Processes
- Your Academic Senate
Save the Date: Chancellor Listening Exercise with Senate Faculty
Chancellor Julio Frenk will hold a listening exercise with Senate Faculty on Friday, April 18, from 10am to 11am via Zoom. Senate Chair Kathy Bawn will facilitate the conversation. A separate BruinPost will provide a registration link.
Upcoming Assembly of the UC Senate Meetings
There will be a Special Meeting of Assembly of the UC Senate on Tuesday, March 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. held via Zoom. The Systemwide Senate has a general registration link here for Senate members who wish to attend. This Special Meeting will address the following items:
- “Deliberate on the good faith of the consultation process and decision-making regarding the ‘common semester calendar’ when a higher administrator in one of the eight campuses on a quarter system has told multiple faculty members that it is a ‘fait accompli as it lowers cost.’”
- “Vote on a motion to allow each Division to vote and decide whether to adopt the ‘common semester calendar’ for their specific campus or remain on a quarter system.”
- “The Academic Senate recommends that all University of California administrators at the Dean level and above receive salary range adjustments at the same time as the regular faculty.”
Subsequent regular systemwide Assembly meetings are scheduled for April 23 and June 12, 2025.
Managing the Impact of Disruption on Merit and Promotion
External disruptions—such as industry strikes, changes in funding priorities, and natural disasters—may impact faculty teaching, research, or service. If you have encountered such challenges, the Council on Academic Personnel (CAP) and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Personnel encourage you to include an impact statement in your dossier self-statement to contextualize these disruptions while highlighting your adaptive strategies, alternative contributions, and overall academic impact. Read the full guidance here.
Report on the Future of Doctoral Programs at UC
The systemwide Academic Planning Council (APC) Workgroup on the Future of Doctoral Programs at UC issued a final report, which analyzed the state of graduate education and provided recommendations for faculty and campus leadership to consider. Read the full report here.
Input on Systemwide Academic Calendar Workgroup Draft Report
The systemwide body and divisions of the Academic Senate will provide advice on the draft report on the academic calendar. Individual faculty may complete this survey to offer feedback by May 30, 2025.
Reminder about the Role of Faculty Executive Committees (FECs)
Per Divisional Bylaw 50, each Faculty is authorized to organize, to select its officers and committees, and to adopt procedural rules and regulations. The government and supervision of each college and school at Los Angeles is vested in the Faculty. The Chair and members of the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) are elected by Senate Faculty. FEC elections are conducted in accordance with Divisional Bylaw 150. The FECs are part of the Academic Senate. If you are not familiar with your FEC, find out more and consider getting involved in the shared governance of your school or college.
Reminder about Judicial Processes
What is the difference between a charge and a grievance?
Charges are filed to hold Senate faculty accountable for their conduct and may result in discipline or other correction. The Faculty Code of Conduct (APM-015) lists examples of “types of unacceptable faculty behavior which are subject to University discipline.” Any faculty member can be charged with conduct “not justified by the Ethical Principles” and that “significantly impairs the University’s central functions.” At UCLA, allegations of violations go to the Charges Committee for assessment of probable cause. See the Senate Web page on the Charges Process. Charges are not meant to bring a remedy to the individual bringing the charge.
A Grievance, as outlined in Systemwide Bylaw 335 allows faculty seek early resolution on matters that allege a violation of faculty rights by filing a grievance with the Committee on Privilege & Tenure. See the Senate Web page on the Grievance Process. In personnel reviews, a grievance must allege use of impermissible criteria (anything outside the proper content of the dossier) or improper procedures. See Academic Personnel Grievances. A grievance seeks to find a resolution that restores rights.
What are faculty rights?
The Faculty Code of Conduct is also a “Code of Professional Rights.” Examples of faculty rights are listed in Part I of the Code. Other rights are enumerated in various sections of Academic Personnel Policy.
Still not sure about your options?
Members of the Grievance Advisory Committee (GAC) are available to discuss your options confidentially. See Bylaw 335.B.1. Email: governance@senate.ucla.edu
Your Academic Senate
The Academic Senate is only as strong as its engaged faculty. We uphold the principle of faculty governance in higher education only when faculty exercise their governing authority. 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 PDF here.
