UCLA Today: The Competitiveness Task Force

The Competitiveness Task Force, led by its chair, Executive Vice Chancellor Daniel Neuman, comprises 12 faculty members, academic leaders who are decision makers with budgetary responsibilities, and the chair and vice chair of the Academic Senate.

“Virtually since its inception, UCLA’s strategy for excellence has been based on growth of faculty and new programs,” explained Chancellor Albert Carnesale in a letter to campus leaders. “Now, we must achieve our goals and maintain our leadership position through difference means. The work of the Competitiveness Task Force and the related action groups will be of great value as we move forward.”

The task force is overseeing and coordinating the work of six action groups, which have already begun to discuss a specific area of concern assigned to each. Each action group is being chaired by a task force member.

Task force members include Clifford Brunk, vice chair of the Senate, professor of organismic biology, ecology and evolution; Tony Chan, dean of physical sciences, College of Letters and Science; Aimee Dorr, dean of the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies; Geoffrey Garrett, vice provost of the International Institute; Frank Gilliam, associate vice chancellor of community partnerships; Duncan Lindsey, chair of the Senate and professor of social welfare; Claudia Mitchell-Kernan, vice chancellor of Graduate Studies/dean of the Graduate Division; Barbara Nelson, dean of the School of Public Policy and Social Research; Alan Robinson, vice provost of medical sciences/executive associate dean of the School of Medicine; Leonard Rome, senior associate dean of research, School of Medicine; Judith Smith, vice provost of undergraduate education, College of Letters and Science; and Scott Waugh, dean of social sciences, College of Letters and Science.

The six areas the action groups are focusing on are:

Graduate Student Support -- How can we achieve optimal allocation of resources to recruit the very best graduate students in high priority areas? Chaired by Chan, this group includes Kendall Houk, professor of chemistry and biochemistry; Gerald Kominski, associate dean of academic programs, public health-health services and associate director of the Center for Health Policy Research; Mitchell-Kernan; William Roy, professor of sociology; Pauline Yu, dean of humanities in the College of Letters and Science; and Victoria Sork, special assistant to the chancellor and professor of organismic biology, ecology, and evolution;
Faculty Non-Salaried Compensation – How can we achieve optimal deployment of resources to improve faculty quality of life (e.g.: housing, childcare, schooling, spousal employment)? Chaired by Nelson, this group includes Marvin Alkin, professor of education; Gilliam; Thomas Klitzner, professor of pediatrics and cardiology; Jonathan Varat, dean of the School of Law; Donna Vredevoe, vice chancellor of academic personnel; Thomas Wortham, chair of the English department; and Sork.
Deploying Existing Academic Resources – How can we more efficiently deploy our existing academic resources to enhance competitiveness and diversity (e.g., upgrading, recruitment and retention funding, tenure/non-tenure appointment proportion, special initiatives)? Members of this group, chaired by Dorr, include Rosina Becerra, associate vice chancellor of faculty diversity; Brunk; Ronald Mellor, professor of history; Steve Olsen, vice chancellor of finance and budget; Arthur Woodward, professor of psychology; and Paula Lutomirski, associate vice chancellor of institutional planning.
Space – What processes should we employ to achieve optimal utilization of space and to support space planning to enhance academic competitiveness? Smith chairs this group, which includes Peter Blackman, administrative vice chancellor; Randall Crane, director of undergraduate programs, Department of Urban Planning; Joseph Hotz, chair of the Department of Economics; Rome; Blaire Van Valkenburgh, chair of the Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evolution; and Sork.
Process for Allocation and Reallocation – What processes should we employ for information gathering, consultation and decision support that will guide allocation and reallocation decisions at the chancellorial and decanal levels? Chaired by Waugh, those focusing on this question include Eric Gans, acting chair of French and Francophone studies; Carole Goldberg, professor of law; Olsen; Robinson; Eric Sundquist, professor of English; and Lutomirski.
Generating New Resources – How can we ensure optimal use of available revenue-generating opportunities? What new revenue streams can be developed? Chaired by Garrett, this group includes Jackson Beatty, professor of psychology; Bill Broesamle, senior associate dean and administrative director of MBA programs, The Anderson School; Robert Lapiner, dean of continuing education and UCLA Extension; Lindsey; Yahya Rahmat-Samii, chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering; and Lutomirski.

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