UC Defunds Regent Parties After Report Exposes Extravagance

UC Defunds Regent Parties After Report Exposes Extravagance

A recent report about expensive parties for regents didn’t sit well with the administration.

The Daily Californian reports:

University defunds regents’ parties, dinners, reversing former policy

The UC Board of Regents will no longer use university funds to pay for board member dinners and parties, as first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Since 2012, the University of California Office of the President has reimbursed the regents more than $225,000 for private dinner parties, according to the Chronicle.

“The Office of the President already has begun reviewing its policies governing entertainment and travel expenses,” said regents chair Monica Lozano and UC President Janet Napolitano in a joint email statement. “To avoid any question over use of university or university-associated funds, regents will absorb their costs for board dinners from this point forward.”

In January 2016, the regents held a retirement party — billed at $13,600 — that was later reimbursed by UCOP, as reported by the Chronicle. A year later, in January 2017, the UC Board of Regents approved its first systemwide tuition increase since 2011 for the 2017-18 academic year.

“I have to say that (the Chronicle’s report) is very disheartening and disappointing,” said California State Assemblywoman Catharine Baker. “I’m glad (the regents) made a change to the policy. (The issue) is definitely an indication of many budget problems (and) weak budget controls.”

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