UCnetwork: October 2026

$7.3 billion to community benefit and uncompensated care

UC Health provided a record $7.3 billion in community benefit and uncompensated care in fiscal year 2024–25, supporting access to healthcare throughout California. The latest community engagement report highlights these efforts, ranging from free health screenings and care for people experiencing homelessness to programs that prepare future healthcare professionals. These investments help UC’s health centers meet local needs and serve patients from more than 99% of the state’s ZIP codes, continuing a longstanding commitment to Californians’ health and well-being.

Congratulations to all of our UC Health colleagues who have helped make this incredible impact possible!

UC-sponsored research bond heads to March 2028 ballot

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 895, the California Science and Health Research Bond Act, on Sept. 30, sending the UC-sponsored measure to the March 2028 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would provide $7.5 billion for scientific research to help tackle some of California’s most pressing health, environmental and technological challenges.

Tell Congress to protect merit-based research. The White House has proposed changes that would give political appointees control over which research receives funding — allowing grants to be canceled whenever political priorities change. Lawmakers can stop these changes. Let your representatives know that research funding should be based on merit, not politics.

Open Enrollment is coming soon!

Open Enrollment, the annual period to review and change your benefits, runs from 8 a.m. (PT) on Thursday, Oct. 29, to 5 p.m. (PT) on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026. Although you’ll have the same medical, dental and vision plans to choose from, with no changes to carriers or plan administrators, some premiums and plan costs will change in 2027. (Lee el resumen en español.)

Attend the CUCSA Open Enrollment Town Hall. On Oct. 26 at 11:30 a.m. (PT), join the Council of UC Staff Assemblies for a virtual systemwide town hall about 2027 Open Enrollment, featuring several members of the UC Systemwide Human Resources Benefits Programs and Strategy Team. Learn more about the town hall and register here.

Register to vote by Oct. 19

Election Day is just a few weeks away, and the UC community is gearing up to make our voices heard at the polls. With so many important questions on the ballot in November — like deciding who you want to represent you in local, state and national governments — you don’t want to miss out!

A staff perspective: Kate Caldwell, director of research and policy at the Collective for Racial & Disability Justice at the UCLA School of Law, shares why voting is so important to her.

UC Spotlight: October staff wins

Join us in celebrating UC staff who are making a difference for our university and California communities — whether working on the front lines or behind the scenes! Meet colleagues and teams who are making an impact.

UC is the country’s top university

UC Berkeley and UCLA tied as the nation’s No. 1 public university in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report rankings, with all nine undergraduate campuses in the top 50. Other recent rankings highlight UC’s strengths in research, entrepreneurship and helping students improve their economic prospects.

These accolades are possible because of the work UC employees do every day to help students succeed — from keeping them healthy, safe and comfortable to one-on-one support. Thank you for your part in the UC experience!

ICYMI, a new accessibility resource: UC recently launched an elective e-course, “Providing Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities,” to help faculty, academic appointees and related staff better understand their role, support student access and navigate accommodation requests, referrals, implementation and related questions or concerns.

Video: President Milliken featured at The Atlantic Festival

In September, President Milliken participated in The Atlantic Festival — a prestigious event that brings together thought leaders from politics, culture, technology, art and a range of other areas to share their perspectives and engage in friendly debate.

In a session titled “The Case for College,” President Milliken discussed the higher-ed landscape, from AI to new educational pathways, with the presidents of Columbia University and Mount Holyoke College.

More updates from President Milliken: See the latest President’s Leadership Conversation featuring UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood; read the president’s update from the September Regents meeting; check out his latest virtual postcards from Lawrence Livermore National Lab and UC Berkeley; and watch his short video on why a college degree is worth the investment.

UC’s Nobel connections

UC has plenty to celebrate this Nobel season! This year’s honors highlight the university’s connections to remarkable achievements in literature, economics and physics — and the teamwork that makes big ideas possible.

More good news: Five scholars with UC ties have received MacArthur fellowships, aka “genius grants,” supporting the next generation of big ideas! With 104 UC faculty honored to date, UC is among the country’s leading recipients. This year’s fellows bring fresh thinking to art, history, medicine and more.

Also in faculty honors: The inaugural UC Regents Innovation Awards recognized 23 exceptional faculty whose work is turning groundbreaking research into practical solutions.

UC People

UC People: Idriss Njike, community builder and mentor

Throughout his UCLA career, Idriss has made the people around him feel not just welcome, but that they belong.