Dear UCSF Community,
In cities across the country the rhythm of daily life as we knew it only a few months ago is slowly beginning to return. In California, from the state capitol to city hall to UCSF, the focus on frontline response is broadening to include recovery efforts, even as we continue to watch for a resurgence.
As we address the financial damage created by COVID-19, we will face tough decisions. The economic uncertainty before UC and UCSF raises questions about budgets, staffing levels, and compensation, adding to the toll the pandemic has taken on everyone’s lives, especially the most vulnerable among us. These are important issues, and I want you to know that I will address them in a straightforward manner as more information becomes available.
Budgets
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a revised state budget that included a reduction for UC funding. Though we do not yet know the specific impact on UCSF, we must start preparing for potential budget cuts for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Continuing shortfalls on the campus and at UCSF Health only underscore the challenge before us. In response, I am instructing UCSF’s control points to start scenario-planning potential budget reductions of 5-10% in the allocation from the Office of the Chancellor. Additional updates will follow as this work develops.
Staffing and Compensation
At a time of uncertainty, I realize you have questions about potential changes to staffing and compensation. I have instructed the teams facilitating our recovery and resilience strategy to look for creative solutions to reduce costs on supplies and realize savings through the hiring freeze. This work is a shared...
Dear UCSF Community,
After several challenging months, there may be reason for guarded and measured optimism. The rate of increase in local COVID-19 infections is moderating.
But this welcome progress has come with significant cost. The pandemic and the public health orders meant to slow it have taken a heavy toll on many in our community. It can be overwhelming to think about loved ones who have been separated or lost, and the livelihoods that have been devastated by a severely constrained economy.
Compared to other regions, however, the Bay Area has been fortunate. Encouraged by what they see, local and state officials are taking steps to begin relaxing the various shelter-in-place orders.
In the coming weeks, UCSF also will begin a gradual process to resume some of our suspended operations. This includes a careful return to some activities on campus and increasing the number of non-COVID-19 patients at UCSF Health. Given the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, we will move deliberately and dial up or down our activities as needed, in close partnership with public health officials. The work ahead will require us to coordinate in new ways across the campus and UCSF Health, and I am hopeful we can continue building on the efforts already under way.
Our focus remains on the well-being of our UCSF community and patients, and our actions will be guided by our own timetable, in alignment with local and state orders. For the foreseeable future, many of our current policies will remain in place. As an example, those performing their duties remotely will continue to do so, in order to help facilitate physical distancing for those who must be on-site. Those who can no...