University Communications

“The case we’re making is that graduate-fellowship support is crucial to the quality of the undergraduate experience,” says Slon. Graduate students teach undergraduate classes, give lectures on their special areas of expertise and are the most promising future professors as the UC system gears up to recruit 7,000 new faculty members to teach the influx of some 64,000 additional new students projected to enroll by the end of the decade in what is being called Tidal Wave II. To date, Campaign UCLA is at 51 percent of its goal in the category of student support; nearly $138 million has been raised, including $70.7 million for graduate fellowships.

Securing the necessary resources to construct new buildings at UCLA is a shared focus of the research program and the campaign. Observes Neighbour: “A big issue for universities is the cost of facilities as the government wants to do more research of national importance. Who will create the space if the states can no longer carry that burden?” The solution again depends upon public-private partnerships, although non-science buildings, like graduate fellowships, are a tougher sell to potential donors.

Despite the challenges posed by the state and national economies, UCLA continues to enjoy strong public support, engendering widespread optimism about the campus’ future. In partnership with government, industry and individuals, UCLA undoubtedly will remain a competitive force in academe, a magnet to the best minds in the United States and beyond.

Karen Mack is an associate editor of UCLA Magazine.

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