UC Davis representatives urge subcommittee to restore budget cuts and hiring freeze

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance convened on April 22, 2025, to address critical funding issues affecting the University of California (UC) system. The meeting featured public comments from several UC Davis representatives who urged the subcommittee to restore recent budget cuts and end a system-wide hiring freeze.

Amy Fletcher, a staff research associate at UC Davis, highlighted the detrimental effects of the hiring freeze on education and research within the Department of Food Science. She emphasized that the ongoing staffing crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, threatens the quality of education and research that UC prides itself on. Fletcher called on the committee to advocate for the restoration of funding and the lifting of the hiring freeze.

Nico Vincent, a clinical research coordinator, echoed these concerns, stressing that the hiring freeze could jeopardize critical clinical research efforts that provide hope to patients facing serious health challenges. He urged the subcommittee to restore the 8% budget cut to UC, emphasizing the importance of adequate staffing for effective research.

Mary Champany, a pediatric dietitian, shared her experiences working with vulnerable patients and the negative impact that staffing shortages have on patient care. She also called for the restoration of funding to ensure that children receive the necessary nutrition during crucial developmental stages.

Dr. Kendan Kurzer, a lecturer at UC Davis and adjunct professor at other institutions, reinforced the need for funding restoration, arguing that cuts would hinder support for hundreds of thousands of students across California. He stressed that maintaining financial support is essential for the future viability of California's higher education system.

The subcommittee acknowledged the public comments and indicated that further discussions would continue regarding the budget and its implications for the UC system. The meeting underscored the urgent need for financial support to address staffing shortages and maintain the quality of education and research in California's public universities.