May 19, 2025

Dear Members of Our Campus Community,

In my campus message of March 31, I discussed the budget challenges facing the university and our campus’s strategic planning for financial stability.

I am writing today to provide an update on the May Revision of the state budget proposal for FY26.

In January, Governor Newsom proposed a 7.95% reduction in support for the UC and a deferral for at least a year of the planned 5% increase associated with the five-year Compact, with an overall $396.6 million reduction in funding to the University of California system, including UCOP and all ten campuses.

On May 14, Governor Newsom issued his “May Revise.” This new budget proposal reduces the original 7.95% cut to an ongoing 3% cut to the University, with a reduction in funding of $129.7 million to the UC system as a whole. 

In his statement of May 14, President Drake said, “Even in this difficult moment, the Governor has reduced the University’s cut from 8 percent to 3 percent, demonstrating his strong commitment to California’s students.”

We join in appreciation for the Governor’s ongoing commitment to the University, especially in light of the increased costs and significant budget challenges facing the state. We are grateful as well for the dedicated advocacy and support of President Drake, our legislators, and our campus and community members and friends. 

The State Legislature expects to finalize its budget in June. At that time, the UC Office of the President will send us information about our allocation and the President’s decision on salary increases, so that we can make decisions about our campus budget for FY26. 

In the meantime, our planning and stewardship efforts continue. Like the other UC campuses, we still face serious budget challenges ahead. We appreciate the dedicated efforts of our Academic Senate, the Chancellor’s Coordinating Committee on Budget Strategy, and all of our colleagues as we work together to meet these challenges, grow the eminence and stature of our campus, and uphold our mission of teaching, research, and public service.

Sincerely,

Henry T. Yang
Chancellor