As expected, the UC Board of Regents voted Thursday to approve $3.1 million in incentive payments to 38 senior managers of the university system's medical centers, the San Francisco Business Times reports (San Francisco Business Times, 1/21).
The bonuses range from $30,120 to $218,728 and aim to reward executives who have met performance goals such as curbing infection rates, improving patient satisfaction and lowering expenditures (Rosenhall, Sacramento Bee, 1/22).
Many union leaders criticized the regents for approving the executive payouts at a time when the UC system has imposed furloughs, layoffs, pay cuts and tuition increases (Yang Su, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/21).
However, the regents said the payments are part of a 16-year-old plan financed by medical center revenue, not California's general fund or student fees (Gordon, Los Angeles Times, 1/22).
UCSF Neuroscience Building
During Thursday's meeting, the UC regents also approved a construction plan for a $200 million neuroscience building at UC-San Francisco's Mission Bay campus. The facility will pursue research on Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and other conditions (Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/22).