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  • Joined: July 7, 2013
  • Articles: 134

* OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE ABOUT SB 520

March 15, 2013 - Academic senate leaders sent out this statement from the statewide senate officials. Senate Bill 520 raises grave concerns. We were not consulted in the writing of this legislation, which purports to address course access problems experienced by students in public higher education. Next week, we plan to meet with Senator Steinberg’s staff in order to discuss this bill.

* SCFA Request for Information concerning UCSC/Coursera/Faculty Contracts 3/5/2013

March 5, 2013 - The SCFA learned last week that the University signed a contract with Coursera without including them in the discussion. The SCFA, as the bargaining agent for UCSC faculty, should be consulted whenever there is the potential for a change in the relationship between the University and faculty, that could therefore be subject to collective bargaining. The SCFA is not taking a position at this point on the desirability or undesirability of working with Coursera. Their concern, at this stage, is the maximal protection of faculty rights and authority, whether faculty participate or not in Coursera-hosted on-line courses. A Request for Information has been made to the university.

* University of California must disclose more information about its investment

Interesting article that ties in with our concern that the Regents are top heavy in investment bankers which makes the possibility of deals such a problem. "An Alameda County Superior Court judge has ruled that the University of California must disclose how its investments in two of Silicon Valley's top venture capital firms have performed."