UCLA Chancellor Gene Block was recently invited to the White House to discuss the critical importance of inclusion and opportunity in higher education. The discussion followed the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions to bar race-conscious admissions. The event coincided with a new
Department of Education report which highlights strategies for increasing diversity and opportunity in higher education.
During the event, Chancellor Block discussed that UCLA has been able to maintain a commitment to diversity while complying with California’s Proposition 209. Though the campus experienced a sharp drop in students of color following passage of the proposition in 1996, innovative outreach, holistic admissions policies, investment in financial aid, and the creation of a supportive environment helped UCLA eventually return to pre-Prop 209 enrollment levels for traditionally underserved populations. Partnerships with various institutions, such as California community colleges and school districts, and a focus on transfer students have also contributed to this realization.
Supervisor Horvath meets with UCLA experts to discuss some of her legislative priorities
On October 6, L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath visited UCLA to meet with the University’s leadership and faculty to discuss key research and analysis on strengthening children and families, protecting the environment and making communities more sustainable.
The first meeting included professor of education and UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families Director Tyrone Howard, UCLA students, and several experts focused on the preventative work of the Center as it relates to foster youth, food insecurity, social justice and equity. The second discussion included Vice Chancellor Roger Wakimoto and several faculty and research experts highlighting UCLA’s work on equitable clean energy transitions; extreme heat; homelessness in transit environments; climate change and wildfire; and regional water resilience.
UCLA faculty members E. Tendayi Achiume and Park Williams received MacArthur Fellowships for groundbreaking contributions to their respective fields. Recipients are selected for their exceptional creativity, their ability to transcend traditional boundaries and their promise for important future advances. The fellowships include an $800,000, five-year stipend. Achiume was recognized for her work on race, migration, human rights, and international law, while Williams was honored for his research on climate change and its connection to terrestrial events. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block praised their transformative work, noting that they join 14 previous faculty recipients of the MacArthur Fellowship.
On September 30, 2,000 students participated in 46 volunteer projects across Los Angeles as part of UCLA Volunteer Day. This annual event has attracted more than 50,000 volunteers and 350,000 hours of service in its 15-year history. The Westwood Cleanup and the Los Angeles National Cemetery projects were among the largest events. Chancellor Gene Block, who launched the event in 2009, was recognized for his commitment to volunteerism. UCLA’s service to the LA community included neighborhood and K-12 beautification projects, serving food at shelters, donating blood, and helping the unhoused, food insecure, environment and animals. Along with the student volunteers, Los Angeles councilmembers Traci Park, Imelda Padilla, and Katy
Yaroslavsky also participated in the event by visiting project sites within their district.
Laphonza Butler, a campaign strategist and labor organizer, has been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as California's newest senator. Butler's experience in the labor, nonprofit, and private sectors have demonstrated her exceptional leadership qualities, according to Zev Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative at UCLA Luskin, who worked closely with her during her time as a Los Angeles labor leader. Yaroslavsky praised Butler's impressive qualifications, highlighting her hard work and dedication throughout her career.
UCLA professor Eric Avila is passionate about exploring the complex history of Los Angeles and its connection to the university. He delves into the city's past of political and social activism from the perspective of marginalized communities and how race and equality are intertwined with the built environment. As the Waldo W. Neikirk professor of undergraduate education innovation, he engages students in in-depth study of these topics. Avila also sees his role in mining the city's rich history as a way to further UCLA's overall mission as a public university. As he said, "It is a global name, just like L.A. is a global city. And I love that my work, as well as the work of several colleagues across campus, serves as a connection
point between UCLA and the vast urban area we call Los Angeles." Recently appointed as chair of the programming board for the Trust Building, a historic property in downtown Los Angeles and a recent UCLA acquisition, Avila will review proposals for the building's use.
The UCLA Anderson Forecast, one of the most widely watched and often-cited economic outlooks for California and the nation, recently offered some insights into what the future might hold. While there have been predictions of a possible recession, the probability of this occurring is currently estimated at 50-50. The forecast indicates that the U.S. economy may experience some weakness in 2024, but it is expected to bounce back with a return to growth rates in 2025. Fortunately, the California economy remains strong and continues to grow at a faster pace than the national economy, with no signs of a recession in the immediate future.
UCLA welcomed thousands of new students for a welcome event at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on September 24. Chancellor Gene Block highlighted the experience and struggles of incoming students and expressed excitement for the most diverse class of all time. Various students commented on the bustling atmosphere and diversity of the student body. The traditional Block Party was renamed the Gene Block Party in recognition of his over 17 years of service at UCLA.
A study led by UCLA reveals that the increasing temperatures will lead to 17% fewer days when prescribed fires can be safely lit, particularly during spring and summer in the Western U.S. However, there will be a 4% increase in the number of favorable days during winter. This implies that policies and the availability of firefighters need to be adjusted to best implement controlled burns in the West. The researchers also found regional variation in the changes. In California, for example, the changes are most pronounced in coastal and southern parts of the state, with many places losing a month of days suitable for prescribed fires each year.
On September 20, University of California President Michael Drake bestowed the UC Presidential Medal on former California Governor Gray Davis at a ceremony held at UCLA. Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and UC Board of Regents Chair Richard Leib participated in the event.
Davis was recognized for his significant contributions to public higher education in California during his time in office. His unwavering advocacy and financial support for UC Merced, the UC system's ninth undergraduate campus and the first U.S. research university of the 21st century, were particularly noted. Additionally, Davis keenly appreciated that the UC campuses are engines of economic growth for California and can bring the power of research to address the state’s challenges. He championed UC-based interdisciplinary research institutes which, over the past two decades, have been successful in those efforts.
Recent research conducted by UCLA psychologists has revealed that many white Americans believe Black Americans do not experience racism or racial inequities in health care. However, after being exposed to the well-documented history of medical-related mistreatment of Black Americans, many white participants adopted a new perspective and were more likely to support policies aimed at reducing racial disparities in health care. This study highlights the importance of educating individuals on the realities of racial inequality in order to spur support for policies aimed at equity.
The 2022 California Health Interview Survey has shed light on the ongoing health disparities in the state. Food insecurity and hate crimes are some of the factors impacting the health of Californians, especially those belonging to certain socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups. Unfortunately, some individuals are unable to receive the healthcare they require due to limited access. The study also revealed that mental health needs are on the rise, with the LGBTQ+ community experiencing the highest level of need.
According to a study conducted by UCLA, almost half of California's adult population utilized telehealth services in the year 2022. The use of telehealth in the state increased fourfold between 2018 and 2022. The majority of people who used telehealth services were white, older, had health insurance, or primarily spoke English at home. Researchers suggest that providing better access to telehealth services for all sociodemographic groups could help to reduce healthcare disparities within the state.
