UC SYSTEM INVITES BERKELEY ALUMS TO JOIN ADVOCACY NETWORK

With a multi-billion-dollar state deficit projected for the coming fiscal year, the Governor and Legislature are confronting difficult funding decisions that will shape the future of California, the UC system has stated. “Year after year, the state has made a promise to invest in the UC system - a partnership that has expanded access, kept college affordable, and supported success for thousands of California students.”  

At the start of the 2025–26 budget process, the University of California faced a proposed 8% cut to its base budget . But instead of an ongoing cut, the final budget delayed rather than eliminated 3% of UC’s base budget. Costs are rising as UC has met its enrollment targets, and this year, the UC system says the state needs to continue fulfilling its promise unless there would be system-wide budget cuts. 

In his proposed 2026–27 budget, Gavin Newsom reaffirmed his commitment to higher education and to the University of California. The proposal takes an important step by providing a portion of previously deferred Compact funding, fully funding the final year of the Compact, and supporting our base budget through loan authority that ensures UC has the temporary fiscal support to continue serving a record 301,000 students. As the budget process moves forward, the UC system is urging lawmakers through its campaign to Keep the Promise, Fund the Compact. There is a signup link on the system’s web site to join the UC System Advocacy Network, for all those Cal alums who’d like to participate in that dialogue.