Megan McEvoy
Chair, UCLA Academic Senate
Dear Chair McEvoy,
Thank you for forwarding the Undergraduate Council’s thoughtful letter regarding funding concerns for undergraduate education and for the Executive Board’s endorsement of its recommendations. We deeply appreciate the Senate’s commitment to preserving the excellence, accessibility, and integrity of UCLA’s undergraduate experience during this challenging fiscal period.
We recognize the significant pressures that current budget constraints place on our instructional mission, particularly in relation to graduate student support and teaching assistant resources that are vital to undergraduate learning. We share the Council’s concern about protecting course availability, maintaining time-to-degree, and sustaining the quality that defines a UCLA education.
As we develop our budget for AY 2026–27 and beyond, our goal is to ensure transparency, Senate consultation, and a shared understanding of priorities. We are working closely with the Office of Academic Planning and Budget to assess options that both uphold the University’s educational mission and meet our state and systemwide commitments. As part of this process, we have invited members of the Council on Planning and Budget, along with relevant FEC chairs, to participate in the unit-level budget meetings to strengthen the Academic Senate’s engagement and advisory role in budgetary planning.
We also affirm the Senate’s role in guiding decisions around curriculum, pedagogy, and instructional modes. Any consideration of expanded online or hybrid offerings will continue to respect Senate policies and the principle that UCLA’s residential, in-person education is central to the student experience.
We look forward to continued collaboration with the Academic Senate and the Undergraduate Council as we address these issues together. Thank you for your leadership and partnership as we navigate these shared challenges in support of UCLA’s core academic mission.
Sincerely,
Julio Frenk
Chancellor
Darnell Hunt
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost