Bobcatflak: a new generation

The university has contributed about $1.225 billion to the state's economy since the campus began to operate in July 2000, officials reported. Of that, the institution has contributed close to $650 million to the San Joaquin Valley...Everybody, especially in this community, seems to be struggling financially," said Mary Miller, vice chancellor for administration at UC Merced. The local economy "is probably among the worst in the country, so I don't know what it would be like if UC were not here, but I do know that just the numbers that you look at in terms of contributing suggest that we are making a huge difference in the economy of the local community, and probably in the entire region." -- Merced Sun-Star, 9-15-11

Evidently, led by Dorothy Leland, the Existentialist Chancellor of UC Merced, Bobcatflak is reaching new heights of the Absurd. Perhaps Leland is actually the Da Da chancellor or the just plain Duh chancellor.
The university did not contribute "$1.225 billion to the state's economy since the campus began to operate in July 2000," as UC officials claim, because the largest part of that sum was tax revenue. All it means is that that money went to UC Merced rather than to somewhere it might have been more wisely invested.
As for Ms. Miller, vice chancellor for administration at UC Merced, let us remind her (if she has a memory), that UC Merced was the anchor tenant for the greatest housing boom in the history of the town -- stimulated by the wondrous public/private partnership for sheer disaster called UC Merced -- and now we live in the collapse of that boom, . If the UC had not arrived, the chances are great that the economic collapse would not have been as severe because real estate speculation based on "the Coming, the Arrival and the Proximity to a UC Campus" would not have been quite as insane, development would not have been quit as insane, and the aftermath would not have been as economically disastrous.
Far from enlightening the community, UC Merced drove Merced stark raving mad. There seems to be no end in sight. And still the bright gleaming lies keep emanating from the Ediface in the Cow Pasture, which we still predict will become an Indian casino someday.
Badlands Journal editorial board.
 
9-15-11
Merced Sun-Star
UC Merced fills 'gaping hole' in regional economy
Expansion benefits seen across many sectors…YESENIA AMARO
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/09/15/v-print/2043568/college-fills-ga...
UC Merced continues to be an economic engine in the state and region, officials said Wednesday.
The university has contributed about $1.225 billion to the state's economy since the campus began to operate in July 2000, officials reported. Of that, the institution has contributed close to $650 million to the San Joaquin Valley. The statewide and regional total contributions reflect university expenditures through June 30, which marked the closing of the 2010-11 fiscal year for the institution.
"Everybody, especially in this community, seems to be struggling financially," said Mary Miller, vice chancellor for administration at UC Merced. The local economy "is probably among the worst in the country, so I don't know what it would be like if UC were not here, but I do know that just the numbers that you look at in terms of contributing suggest that we are making a huge difference in the economy of the local community, and probably in the entire region."
UC Merced has paid more than $417 million in local wages and compensation, $109 million in construction contracts to local businesses and bought $122 million worth of goods and services from local suppliers since July 2000, according to the campus' Business and Financial Service unit.
Fresno and Merced counties continue to see the largest share of the contributions that UC Merced is making to the Valley, with total receipts to date of about $100 million and $60 million, respectively, officials said.
Businesses and the construction industry are seeing most of the benefits of those contributions in the area. "We are building," Miller said. "We are in our seventh year now, and you can see the number of buildings that we have on our campus. It's been a pretty aggressive building program over the last 10 or so years, and the amount of building that will go on for the next 10 years, we think, will still be pretty significant."
A couple of buildings that officials believe will be fundedlikely will translate into more economic development. Some of those buildings include the $85 million Science and Engineering 2 Building, a Student Services Building and a new housing phase, among others, Miller said.
Earlier this week, the UC Board of Regents Committee on Grounds and Building approved $840,000 in funding to cover preliminary plans for a Students Services Building. The total project cost is estimated at $19.8 million. UC Merced officials called it a "growth-driven project" that would provide new space primarily for students, including space for tutoring, informal seminars, student gatherings and study groups, student organizations and open areas that can be used for offices, including space for graduate students. The project would be built quickly to address the shortage of space for student needs. Officials estimate reaching occupancy in fall 2013.
The university has also added more employees on campus to be able to accommodate the growth in student enrollment, Miller said. "Last year, we added a significant number of staff and faculty because of the increase in students and because our campus has been protected somewhat from some of the cuts that have been coming to the UC from the state," she said. "So as other campuses haven't been able to necessarily add faculty and staff to accommodate students, we have been able."
The university's employment is now at 1,176, up from 1,103 a year ago, officials said. The employment number includes faculty and administrative staff and doesn't include student employees. About 82 percent of those employees live in Merced County, Miller said. The monthly payroll for the university's employees amounts to more than $12 million, officials said.
And the number of employees on campus will likely continue to grow as the university expands, Miller said.
UC Merced also expects a record high enrollment for this academic year with more than 5,000 estimated students this fall, officials said. The official enrollment numbers won't be available until the census is completed later this month. "We'll have to add faculty and staff to keep up with that growth," she said.
In addition, the university spent about $16.4 million in research-related expenses during the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Jeff Michael, an economist and director of the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, said the university's contributions seem realistic given its size. "As initial impression, that seems reasonable," he said.
In fact, the total contributions might be higher. "It goes beyond the spending of the university itself," he said.
That's the multiplier effect, Miller said. UC Merced's overall economic impact with its ripple effect was at $230 million during the 2009-10 fiscal year.
The university puts money into the pockets of its employees, and they go out into the community and spend it, she explained.
Michael said that the visitors the campus attracts and out-of-town students spending money locally are among other indirect contributions. "UC Merced is clearly filling a gaping hole in the Valley's economy," he said.
UC tuition could nearly double under budget plan...The Associated Press
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/09/15/v-print/2043617/uc-tuition-could...
SAN FRANCISCO Undergraduate tuition at the University of California could nearly double over the next five years under a budget plan set to be considered Thursday by school officials.
Administrators plan to propose the multiyear budget plan at the Board of Regents meeting in San Francisco. The regents could vote on the proposal at its November meeting.
Under the plan, UC would raise tuition by as much as 16 percent each year if the state doesn't boost funding to the 10-campus system.
The size of the tuition hike would depend on how much the state contributes. For example, if the state boosts funding by 8 percent, the university would increase tuition by 8 percent. A 4-percent increase in state funding would lead to a 12-percent tuition hike.
If state funding remains flat for the next five years, basic tuition for California residents would top $22,000 by the 2015-2016 academic year.
Undergraduates currently pay $12,192 in annual tuition, which doesn't include room, board or campus fees. That's more than three times what they paid a decade ago.
Officials for the university system say the increased revenue is needed to address a looming $2.5 billion shortfall driven by growing enrollment and employee expenses.
UC administrators say they hope the budget plan will help them negotiate an agreement with the governor and state Legislature to fund the university over the next five years. It could also bring predictability to the university's finances and help families figure out how they will pay their children's college bills.
Over the past three years, the UC system has seen dramatic swings in government funding as the state struggle to close massive budget shortfalls caused by the economic downturn.
This year for the first time, the University of California will receive more money from student tuition and fees than it receives from the state.
Our View: UC Merced has made an impact
University helps access to higher education for Valley students and has pumped millions into economy.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/09/14/v-print/2043443/our-view-uc-merc...
UC Merced has begun a new academic year with 5,000 students and big construction plans.
In addition to providing a UC education in the San Joaquin Valley, the campus is its own economic stimulus package, providing academic jobs, construction jobs and purchasing goods and services from Valley businesses.
A university study shows that UC Merced has contributed approximately $650 million to the Valley's economy since the campus began initial operations in July 2000. The campus opened to students in 2005, and 875 students began taking classes in that pioneer year.
The UC study also shows that the cumulative economic contribution of UC Merced to the state totaled $1.23 billion through June 30.
In a region with double-digit unemployment, the UC Merced campus has helped bolster a struggling economy.
While the entire Valley has benefited, Fresno County has done well in campus-generated economic activity. UC Merced has awarded more than $56 million in construction contracts to businesses based in Fresno County and purchased nearly $44 million in goods and services in the county since July 2000.
"Despite an extremely difficult economic environment in California, UC Merced's development as the 10th campus in the University of California system remains solidly on track," Chancellor Dorothy Leland said in a statement. "We are very pleased by the progress to date and more determined than ever to increase our economic, educational, research and cultural contributions to the Valley, the state and the world for years to come."
UC Merced students go to class and their campus activities amid a continuing construction boom. The $47.7 million Social Sciences and Management Building has just opened and the $88.8 million Science and Engineering Building 2 is ready to go to bid. The Student Services Building, an almost $20 million project, is going through the UC approval process.
It was a long political battle to get UC Merced approved, but it has already proved its worth, both in increasing access to UC for Valley students and its economic impact on the region.