January 30, 2003

To: Campus Community

From: John B. Simpson, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Re: Budget Planning Update from Campus Provost Simpson

Two weeks ago I informed you of the steps being taken by the campus to respond to the State's fiscal crisis (message). Central to this undertaking was the Executive Budget Committee's establishment of three working committees, whose charge is to formulate action plans for responding to the budget challenge. In turn, these working committees have established Project Teams to undertake the research and analysis that will lead ultimately to recommendations for the Executive Budget Committee's consideration.

I am pleased to report that this campuswide financial and budget review process is now well under way. Last week we successfully launched three Project Teams. Each is now focused on identifying the means for addressing the current challenges presented by the State's proposed budget reductions, and the means for moving our campus closer to meeting its strategic objectives. Let me emphasize again: the work product ultimately produced from these three Project Teams will create the foundation for our future, and I greatly appreciate their commitment.

Provided below are the names of the individuals who will serve on the Project Teams.

Project Team Members

Each of these Teams will immediately commence a variety of activities designed to assess our current operations and to identify opportunities for improvement. Among their immediate objectives is to collect a wide range of thoughts, ideas, and opinions about our existing processes and policies. The Teams will be meeting with a cross section of people from all corners of our campus to collect a diverse set of views and opinions. I am strongly committed to the belief that good ideas will come from all parts of our organization, not from just a select few. It is therefore important in this endeavor to be inclusive, and we will provide several opportunities for individuals--faculty, staff, and students--to offer their ideas and suggestions.

A project web site has been established at http://planning.ucsc.edu/ebc/ where you can learn more about the Teams' efforts. Most importantly, the site contains a confidential method for submitting your suggestions. Each and every idea submitted will receive full consideration from the Team most appropriately aligned to the suggestion. I encourage you to submit your best ideas and suggestions.

Ultimately, the Chancellor and I will be required to make some very difficult decisions on behalf of the campus in order to respond to the challenges presented by the States budget crisis. It is important that our decisions are informed by the very best thinking to ensure the advance of our campus's strategic priorities. To achieve this end, we are committed to maintaining an objective evaluation of our enterprise, to discipline ourselves to consider both popular and unpopular views, and to involve the Academic Senate in appropriate consultation. Beyond looking deep within our own campus, the Teams will also look outside of our organization for the best ideas employed by others who have implemented leading solutions to critical organizational issues.

Lastly, if you are called upon by any of the Teams to participate in an interview, focus group, discussion group, etc., or if you are asked to provide any information, I ask that you do so without hesitation and provide the Team with your best thinking. We have gifted intellectual capacity in this University, and we need to make sure that we do all that we can to tap that potential as we assemble a set of recommendations for creating our future.

Respectfully,

John Simpson

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