UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Listening Exercise

Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise at the Luskin School of Public Affairs on March 31, 2025 spoke about the financial challenges and other pressures facing UCLA and its community. One speaker pointed out the significant amount of time and resources spent on compliance with regulations, and the negative impact of the pandemic on campus vibrancy. Another speaker highlighted the Luskin School’s financial stability but expressed worries about the broader financial challenges facing UCLA and their potential impact on the school’s growth plans. Another speaker inquired about the role of faculty governance in the chancellor’s decision-making process in addressing these challenges.

Other speakers emphasized the importance of defending UCLA’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the face of external pressures; one speaker mentioned Columbia University’s concessions to the federal administration on EDI issues. Concerns were expressed about the impact of attacks on inclusive excellence and its core principles.

Finally, speakers highlighted the challenges faced by staff, particularly in light of hiring freezes and increasing workloads.

Themes

• Federal Funding: UCLA’s financial stability was discussed, with a focus on federal policy changes, budget cuts, and hiring freezes. A speaker noted that the pressing financial challenges are also causing stress and workload increases for staff and faculty.
• Support for Students: A strong emphasis was placed on the need to support all students, particularly those from marginalized communities. This commitment to inclusive excellence was a recurring theme throughout the discussions.
• EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion): The importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) was highlighted, with concerns about the potential impact of external pressures on these values.
• Immigration: The importance of defending our international and immigrant students, including undocumented students, was a key point of discussion.  
• Academic Freedom: Discussions took place about protecting academic freedom and free speech on campus, particularly in the face of challenges from external forces.
• Global Outreach and Visibility: A speaker noted the importance of enhancing UCLA’s global profile and visibility through initiatives to expand international programs and partnerships.
• Faculty Governance: The role of faculty governance in decision-making processes was discussed.
• Compliance Costs: Concerns were raised about the high costs of compliance with various regulations, which are seen as diverting resources from core academic activities. The speaker also addressed the allocation of time, real estate, and financial assets and the importance of maximizing them in the near future.  
• Post-COVID Era: There was a sense that COVID-related issues were still lingering, affecting the campus atmosphere and causing financial challenges. 
• Real Estate: Discussions took place about maximizing the use of campus real estate to generate revenue and support academic programs.
• Financial Challenges: There was a desire to grow and expand existing programs, but concerns were raised about the sustainability of these efforts in light of financial constraints.