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Davis

Davis, California

Friday, March 29, 2024

Ask Katehi

Given Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal, we are likely to face more cuts in the future. Do you expect that more academic programs will be discontinued or merged?

Like many of you, I feel the frustration about the financial uncertainty we are facing today on our campus. In response to budget cuts over the past few years, we have been forced to reevaluate many of the programs we offer here at UC Davis.

In the coming months, our campus will face many difficult decisions to address what is estimated to be a $107 million budget shortfall, including $73 million in cuts and $34 million in fixed costs, for the coming 2011-2012 academic year. With a continued lack of funding, we are looking carefully at the quality of the programs we offer in order to decide which programs we can afford to continue to invest in for the future.

For example, most recently – and after much consideration – the avian science undergraduate major was discontinued. However, a student who wishes to study the biology and management of birds has the option to pursue a number of other majors that offer courses in avian science within the department of animal science.

But I want to assure you that it has and always will be a top priority of this university to continue to offer the necessary courses, when a student is enrolled in a major, for that student to complete his or her degree. I have made that commitment and I have also made a commitment to minimize the impact on your learning here at UC Davis, regardless of the financial challenges we may face, in order to provide you with the best education possible.

There’s a great deal of pride in UC Davis being among the nation’s most comprehensive universities, with more than 100 undergraduate majors, 86 graduate programs and six professional schools. But it is a characteristic of the tough financial times we are living in that we must consider new approaches for some of the programs we offer.

Got a question for the chancellor? Send it campus@theaggie.org.

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