Associate Vice President Kathleen Fullerton briefed Regents on the state budget outcomes and UC’s advocacy strategy, saying a multi‑pronged campaign helped reverse an initially proposed 8% cut to the UC budget.
Fullerton said UC began the year facing an 8% proposed reduction (more than $270 million in 2025 and nearly $396 million in 2026). Through sustained advocacy — including a record 18,000 emails from the UC Advocacy Network (UCAN), coordinated meetings by President Michael V. Drake and Regents, coalition building with labor and civil‑rights organizations, and media outreach — the administration reduced the governor’s ask to a 3% cut at the May revise and ultimately secured a final budget that avoids an immediate cut but defers some funding into fiscal year 2026–27.
Fullerton said that outcome means UC will receive the deferred 3% in the following fiscal year, but the administration and Regents must continue advocacy to secure payment. She highlighted coalition partners (student and labor groups, alumni, civil‑rights organizations and business partners) and said UC used targeted communications, campus visits and legislative meetings to make the case about the operational impacts of cuts: larger classes, fewer course offerings and reduced student services.
Fullerton also summarized sponsored legislation and budget bills of interest, including AB 681 (graduate student access to Dream Loans) and potential inclusion of UC priorities in affordable housing bond bills (AB 736 and AB 48). She thanked Regents and partners for their participation in advocacy days and said the system will continue to press for compact funding and repayment of deferred appropriations.
No formal vote by the Regents was recorded on the budget item during the meeting; the briefing was informational and intended to update Regents on outreach and next steps.