Dean Sharon V. Salinger. Photo © Daniel C. Tsang 2009
On the 14 September 2009 Subversity Show, we aired our exclusive interview with Sharon V. Salinger, Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of California. The interview was taped the previous Thursday.
Under fire for closing an important unit on campus, SAAS (Student Academic Advancement Services), which served first-generation, low-income and disabled students, Salinger says it was budget cuts that led to the closure and layoffs of five staff members, including the SAAS director. The U.S. Department of Education recently renewed funding to UCI for the same services provided to SAAS, which closed August 31, 2009. A faculty member, with two academic advisors, will constitute the new team. The new federal grant provides more student financial aid as well as additional funding for student advisors. Salinger is hoping former SAAS student peer advisors will continue to work in the new restructured unit. Salinger is interviewed by show host Daniel C. Tsang.
In addition, we aired audio from the students' Save SAAS at UCI video (posted on YouTube) and part of UCI Chancellor Michael V. Drake's pep talk at a recent townhall, where he called on UCI employees to work more with less pay.
SAAS supporters, meanwhile, have organized a "SAAS Love" sit-in slated for Monday 21 September 2009 and the next day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside the old SAAS offices. Salinger says she may bring pizza. A Facebook event page has been set up: SAAS Love. The original Save SAAS at UCI Now! Facebook page continues. A video from SAAS supporters is posted here: video. OC Weekly recently covered the SAAS closure: Navel Gazing blog
To listen to the show, click here: 
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“On the 14 September 2009 Subversity Show, at 9 am on KUCI, 88.9 fm and simulcast via http://kuci.org, we air our exclusive interview with Sharon V. Salinger, Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of California. Under fire for closing an important unit on campus, SAAS (Student Academic Advancement Services), which served first-generation, low-income and disabled students, Salinger says it was budget cuts that led to the closure and layoffs of five staff members, including the SAAS director.”
ReplyDeleteThe state budget crisis is just the same, tired excuse.
Were there other reasons? Did Chancellor Drake really approve shutting down the most diverse office (staff and students) on campus and risk losing all that money? What does UCOP say about this?
As a federally funded program, most of the staff were paid from the grant and thus, did not affect the campus or DUE budget—there was no salary savings with firing the professional staff that had excellent credentials, were well respected on campus and were already in place.
“The U.S. Department of Education recently renewed funding to UCI for the same services provided to SAAS, which closed August 31, 2009.”
DOE did not “renew” funding—the grant had one year of eligibility left, so this money was already slated to be sent to the university. If the services are going to be the same, why fire the staff? Is this legal to do?
“A faculty member, with two academic advisors, will constitute the new team. The new federal grant provides more student financial aid as well as additional funding for student advisors.”
Again, this is NOT a new grant, but the final year of the old one.
There were two Counselors already on staff with over 40 years of professional counseling experience (not advising) between them that almost all the students had already met and spent time with them this past summer, they trusted and were already comfortable with--so why fire them to hire advisors who are strangers and don't know who these students are? Has the DOE given permission to change the grant or the staff?
The extra money was already expected, however, the grant already stipulates its purpose is for LARC tutoring, etc. (not financial aid). Moreover, Peer advising was ALWAYS part of the grant and has been a part of the program for years—nothing new. The current Peers were all fired when she closed the office, and have no guarantee they will be rehired.
The students will not see any of that additional money. The Dean just wants the money to fund pet projects that are not allowed in the current grant as written without prior approval.
No thanks Dean Salinger we don't need pizza thats taxpayer money needed for programs like SAAS.