This letter was sent by UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott Waugh to faculty, vice chancellors, vice provosts, chief administrative officers and directors.

Chancellor Gene Block reassured staff about the UC retirement plan, called for more state support for the university and shared his thoughts on a proposed conference center at his annual town hall meeting hosted by UCLA Staff Assembly.

After years of shrinking state support for the university, the plan presents the best opportunity to climb "out of fiscal uncertainty and move forward into a better, more prosperous future," Yudof said.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed 2012-13 budget adds $90 million in state funding to help UCLA and other campuses pay rising costs related to employer contributions to the underfunded UC Retirement Plan. On the other hand, the governor wants to make permanent the $100 million "trigger" cut that was imposed on UC when state revenues fell short of projections.

While an additional reduction of $100 million in state funds appears likely to hit UC in January 2012, UCLA is in a good position to absorb its share without asking academic or administrative departments to make additional cuts, according to UCLA’s chief financial officer.

Deep cutbacks in support mean that the state currently does not pay anything toward the education of more than 24,000 California residents attending UC.

In a letter, UC President Mark G. Yudof explains the budget predicament that led to the Board of Regents' decision to raise tuition for the 2011-12 academic year.

The UC Board of Regents on July 14 approved a 9.6 percent tuition increase that will go into effect at all UC campuses this fall. Chancellor Block issued this response.

Chancellor Block released this statement in response to the 2011-12 budget approved by the state Legislature and expected to be signed by the governor.

In response to the Legislature's budget plan, University of California President Mark Yudof and Board of Regents Chairman Russell Gould issued the following statement.