SAN FRANCISCO — The University of California Board of Regents, in a far-ranging discussion about how to best create the long-term financial stability that the university needs to preserve quality, agreed to explore a variety of options for raising new revenue and elevating public awareness about the importance of higher education.

The University of California Board of Regents today (July 14) approved a plan to close a $1 billion budget shortfall through a combination of higher student tuition, cost-cutting measures and operational efficiencies.

Regents, on a 14-4 vote, reluctantly approved a 9.6 percent tuition increase, effective this fall for all UC students, after agreeing with administrators that it was the only course left that would not erode the quality of the university.

More than 200 university alumni and friends converged in Sacramento today (March 1) for UC Day, an effort to advocate for a long-term funding solution to maintain the quality of the University of California.

UC faces a proposed $500 million cut in the state's 2011-12 budget as California struggles to recover from a $25 billion deficit.

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a balanced, deficit-closing 2011-12 state budget Monday (Jan. 10) that relies on painful cuts in state services including a $500 million reduction in support for the University of California.