Mark Yudof

Mark G. Yudof
21st President of the University of California
Term	16 June 2008 – present
Predecessor	Robert C. Dynes
9th Chancellor of the University of Texas System
Term	2002 – 2008
Predecessor	R. D. Burck
Successor	Francisco G. Cigarroa
President of the University of Minnesota
Term	1997 – 2002
Predecessor	Nils Hasselmo
Successor	Robert Bruininks
Born	30 October 1944 (1944-10-30) (age 67)
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania
Institutions	University of Texas School of Law University of Minnesota University of Texas System University of California
Profession	University administrator, law professor
Spouse	Judy Yudof
Website	President Mark G. Yudof

Mark G. Yudof (born 30 October 1944) is an American law professor and academic administrator. He is president of the University of California (since 2008), former chancellor of the University of Texas System (2002–2008), and former president of the University of Minnesota (1997–2002).

In addition to his position as Chancellor at The University of Texas, Yudof held the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law. Previously, he was a faculty member and administrator at The University of Texas at Austin for 26 years, serving as dean of the School of Law from 1984 to 1994 and as the University’s executive vice president and provost from 1994 to 1997.

Yudof joined the faculty of The University of Texas School of Law in 1971, and is a recognized expert in the fields of constitutional law, freedom of expression, and education law. He earned his B.A. (1965) and law degree (1968) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Yudof is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Law Institute. In 1993, he and his wife, Judy, were the co-recipients of the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award. Judy Yudof served as the first female international president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in 2002.^[1] In February 2010, Regents of the University of Texas System established the Mark G. and Judy G. Yudof Chair for the benefit of the University of Texas School of Law.^[2]

President of the University of California

In March 2008, Yudof was selected as the next president of UC, to succeed Robert C. Dynes.^[3] He began his term on 16 June 2008.

In November 2009, TIME Magazine recognized Mark Yudof as one of the "10 Best College Presidents", citing his efforts to provide opportunity and access to a quality education for California residents with financial need whose family income is less than $60,000.^[4]

California budget crisis

The California budget crisis resulted in massive cuts to higher education by the California State Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.^[5] Struggling to grapple with the ensuing crisis, California legislative leaders cut more than 20 percent from the UC budget in one year - the largest budgetary reduction in the history of the UC. In a July 9 "Open Letter to UC alumni and friends," Richard Blum, the Regents' most recent former chair; Russell Gould, the current chair; Sherry Lansing, the vice chair; and UC president Yudof wrote,

"The UC model — providing universal access to a top-notch, low-cost education and research of the highest caliber — continues to be studied around the globe among those who would emulate its success. And yet, this model has been increasingly abandoned at home by a state government responsible for its core funding."^[6]

As state budgetary support declined dramatically, Yudof kicked off an online grassroots advocacy effort in order to make the case for the University of California. In 2008, Yudof became the first president of a major research university to organize advocacy efforts using email, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media components. Yudof called on all students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to unite behind an aggressive push to make funding UC a state priority.

In 2009, Yudof further bolstered this effort through a campaign seeking to let legislators and the governor know how critical their support is in preserving the university's commitment to quality and student access.^[7]

Also in 2009, Yudof came under criticism for an interview that he gave to Deborah Solomon of the New York Times, Big Man on Campus, in which he joked about taking a pay cut from his salary of over $800,000 to $400,000 in exchange for the White House and Air Force One.

Despite his opposition to increasing pension benefits to other UC executives, Yudof himself is likely to get the highest-ever pension in UC history, with $350,000 per year for the rest of his life if he stays at UC until 2015.^[8]

Selected papers

Citing increasingly unreliable funding provided to universities by state government, President Yudof called for the federal government to bolster its financial commitments to the nation’s universities and colleges in his paper titled Exploring a New Role for Federal Government in Higher Education. In announcing the proposal, Yudof remarked: ^[9]

We must find creative ways to expand the federal commitment to research and access into a new category: The nuts-and-bolts core funding that is vital to a robust university, allowing it to hire quality professors, equip laboratories and expand the physical plant.

New York Times columnist Bob Herbert visited the UC Berkeley campus and had this to say:

The problems at Berkeley are particularly acute because of the state’s drastic reduction of support. But colleges and universities across the country — public and private — are struggling because of the prolonged economic crisis and the pressure on state budgets. It will say a great deal about what kind of nation we’ve become if we let these most valuable assets slip into a period of decline.

His op-ed piece, "Cracks in the Future," ran in the New York Times citing UC Berkeley as evidence of the cracks appearing in America’s cornerstone of civilization - higher education.^[10]

Publications

Books:

Gender Justice (with David L. Kirp and Marlene Franks), Chicago Press, 1986; Paperback, 1987).

Educational Policy and the Law (with David L. Kirp, Betsy Levin, and Rachel Moran) (West Publishing Co., 2001) (four editions).

Legal Deskbook for Administrators of Independent Colleges and Universities (ed. of rev. eds. 1984 and 1988).

When Government Speaks: Politics, Law, and Government Expression in America, (The University of California Press, 1983).

Selected Briefs and Cases:

Serrano v. Priest, 5 Cal. 3d 584 (1971), Brief Amicus Curiae in the Supreme Court of California, 1971 (with David L. Kirp, Paul Dimond).

Wood v. Strickland, 420 U.S. 308 (1975), Brief Amicus Curiae in the Supreme Court of the United States (with Raymond Marks, Robert Mnookin, and Laurence Tribe).

Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974), Brief Amicus Curiae in the United States Supreme Court (with Stephen D. Sugarman, F. Raymond Marks, David L. Kirp, and Robert H. Mnookin).

San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 1 (1973), Brief in Chief in the United States Supreme Court (with Arthur Gochman and Warren Weir).

Texaco v. Pennzoil Co., 729 S.W. 2d 768 (Tex. Ct. App.--Houston 1987) (of counsel).

City of Austin v. Houston Lighting and Power (of counsel).

The Advertising and Policy Committee of The Avis Rent A Car System, et al. v. Avis Rent A Car System, Inc., et al. (of counsel to defendant).

The Prudential Insurance Company of America v. Jefferson Associates Ltd. (of counsel).

Courses and Seminars taught

Selected Topics in Higher Education Law (freshman seminar 2005)

Students and the Constitution (freshman seminar, 2002; 2003, 2004)

Race, Equality and Public Education (freshman seminar, 2001)

Students and the Constitution (freshman seminar, 1998, 1999, 2000)

The Constitution on Campus (freshman seminar, 1995, 1996)

Educational Policy and the Law

Contracts

Commercial Transactions

Consumer Credit Seminar

Local Government Law

Children and the Law

State Constitutional Revision Seminar

Constitutional Law

Higher Education Law Seminar

Awards

Time Magazine, 10 Best College Presidents (2010)

Higher Education Advocate of the Year, Counselors to Higher Education (2010)

The James Wilson Award, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2004

The Association of Academic Health Centers John R. Hogness Award, 2003

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Minneapolis, Odyssey Award, 2001

University of Pennsylvania Law Alumni Award of Merit, 1999

Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award, Co-Recipient with Judy Yudof, 1993

Austin Region, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Inc., Humanitarian Award (1988)

American Bar Association, Certificate of Merit for When Government Speaks (1984)

Scribes, The American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects, Most Meritorious Book Award (1983)

Student Bar Association Teaching Excellence Award, 1974–1975

Other activities and honors

Member, Board of Directors, Lumina Foundation (2009- )

Member, Board of Directors, American Council on Education (2009- )

Member, Business-Higher Education Forum (2007 - )

Chair, Texas Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors (2007–2008)

Member, President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation (2006–2009)(appointed by President Bush)

Board Member, HealthTronics, Inc. (2005–2009 )

Senior Fellow, Salzburg Seminar, Changing Concepts of International Educational Exchange and Mobility, July 24–29, 2004

Member, Council of Presidents, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, (2004 - )

Advisory Board, National Institute for Literacy (2002–2005)(appointed by President Bush; confirmed by Senate)

Member, Executive Committee, National Association of System Heads Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2001- )

Member, Board of Directors, Education Testing Service, (2000–2002)

Member, Committee on Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness, American Council on Education, (2000)

Member, Advisory Board, Juran Institute, (2000–2004)

Member, Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Board, elected Vice Chairman (1995–1996)

Member, Board of Trustees, Austin Diagnostic Medical Center (1995–1997)

Member, Advisory Board of American Journal of Education (1991)

Honorary Fellow, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, England (1990 - )

Vice-chair, Governor's Task Force on Public Education (1989)

Member, Board of Trustees, Freedom to Read Foundation (1989–1991)

Chair, Board of Contributors, The Texas Lawyer (1988–94)

Member, National Board of Contributors, American Lawyer Newspapers Group, Inc. (1988–94)

Member, Executive Committee of the Association of American Law Schools (1988–1991)

Fellow, American Bar Foundation and Texas Bar Foundation Member, Governor's Select Committee on Education (1988)

Member, Research Advisory Committee, Center for Policy Research in Education (Rutgers University, The Rand Corporation, University of Wisconsin-Madison) (1985)

Finley Carpenter Lecture, School of Education, University of Michigan (February 9, 1984)

Harris Lecturer, Indiana University Law School-Bloomington, Government Expression and Liberal Paradoxes: Library Book Selection and the Public Schools," (March 28, 1984)

Member, American Law Institute (1983- )

Chair, Study Group on Educational Policy for Labs and Centers, National Institute of Education (1983)

Member, State Executive Committee, University Interscholastic League (1983–1986)

Chair, Law and Education Section, Association of American Law Schools (1983–1984)

Member, Board of Directors, Jewish Children's Regional Service (1980–1986)

Member, B'nai B'rith Advisory Board (Austin) (1979–1983)

Chair, National Study Group on Legal and Governmental Studies, National Institute of Education (1978–1981)

Member, Legal Reporter Advisory Group for the Assessment and Valuation Legal Reporter, International Association of Assessing Officers (1978–1983)

Member, National Advisory Board of the Institute for Research on Educational Finance and Governance - Stanford University (1978–1983)

Member, Ford Foundation National Panel on School Desegregation Research (1977–1980)

Member, Board of Directors, Congregation Agudas Achim (1976–1977)

Participant, Symposium on Constitutional Law, Institute for International Law, Kiel University (Bonn, Germany,

Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan

In February 2009,^[11] upon President Yudof's recommendation, the University of California Board of Regents unanimously approved a new financial aid plan intended to support college access for lower-income families and students by establishing a minimum level of gift assistance for undergraduates with financial need and household incomes below the state median of $60,000 per year. Under the policy, known as the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, undergraduates who are in their first four years of attendance at UC—or two for transfer students—will receive enough scholarship and grant assistance to at least fully cover their systemwide UC fees if they have incomes below the median for California households ($60,000) and meet other basic eligibility requirements for need-based financial aid. Prompted by increases in student fees brought about by the California budget crisis, UC Regents endorsed Yudof's recommendation to expand the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan in November 2009.^[12] Students with household incomes of $70,000 and lower will have all their systemwide fees covered if they are eligible for financial aid.

Project You Can

In October 2009, seeking to help keep the University of California accessible and affordable for California students, President Yudof announced an ambitious effort that aims to raise $1 billion for student support over the next four years. Through the fundraising effort, Project You Can, all 10 UC campuses have committed to raise $1 billion in the aggregate over the next four years—doubling the amount of private support the system has raised for scholarships, fellowships and other gift aid in the previous five years.^[13] The UC Board of Regents endorsed the effort at its November 2009 meeting. Yudof made the Project You Can announcement at Sunnyside High School, which for 10 years has propelled promising students toward health careers through its Doctors Academy, a program sponsored by UCSF Fresno. Despite facing social and economic barriers — 87 percent of Sunnyside's students are eligible for free or reduced lunch — all Doctors Academy graduates have gone on to college, 43 percent of them at UC campuses.

References

1. ^ "Judy Yudof is First Woman to Head Conservative Movement". Jewish Woman (Jewish Women International). Summer 2002. http://www.jwmag.org/site/c.fhLOK0PGLsF/b.2440551/. Retrieved 2008-04-02. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ . http://endowments.giving.utexas.edu/page/yudof-mark-and-judy-chair-law/4734/. 
3. ^ "Search committee recommends Mark Yudof be appointed next UC president" (Press release). University of California. 2008-03-20. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/17517. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
4. ^ Sophia Yan, TIME Magazine http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1937938_1937933_1937940,00.html
5. ^ Kevin O'Leary, TIME Magazine, California's Crisis Hits Its Prized Universities: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1911455,00.html
6. ^ O'Leary, Kevin (18 July 2009). "California's Crisis Hits Its Prized Universities". TIME. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1911455,00.html#ixzz0YkzB0QIn. Retrieved 2010-03-22. 
7. ^ UC Newsroom http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/22360
8. ^ http://www.ucop.edu/atyourservice/administrators/docs/ucrs-ucrp-plan_2009.pdf - Appendix O, page 337
9. ^ UC Budget blog, http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/budget/?p=950
10. ^ Bob Herbert, The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/opinion/03herbert.html?_r=3&ref=opinion
11. ^ UC Announces Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/19471/
12. ^ The Daily Californian http://www.dailycal.org/article/107181/yudof_to_extend_full_tuition_coverage_to_more_stud
13. ^ UC Newsroom announcement http://youcan.universityofcalifornia.edu/scholarships.html

External links

• http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/president

Academic offices
Preceded by Nils Hasselmo	President of the University of Minnesota 1997–2002	Succeeded by Robert Bruininks
Preceded by Robert C. Dynes	President of the University of California 2008–present	Succeeded by Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Yudof, Mark G.
Alternative names
Short description	American University president
Date of birth	1944-10-30
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death