- survey adapted from:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/committees/council/acsconl/labsurvey_sample.pdf

- survey results adapted from:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/committees/council/acsconl/acsconlfinal0704.pdf

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University of California Academic Senate Survey on the National Laboratories on the National Laboratories

• In the next few months the Regents of the University of California will decide whether to bid to retain management of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
• So that the Academic Senate can provide timely advice from the faculty’s perspective, we request your responses to the items on a survey.

 

"White papers" containing pertinent background information, prepared by the Academic Council’s Special Committee on the National Laboratories, can be accessed at: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/committees/council/acsconl/reports.html.

• White Paper I: Overview of the National Laboratories and UC: History and Current Operations (03/04)
• White Paper II: What Are Some Rationales For and Against UC Managing the National Laboratories? (03/04)
• White Paper III: What are Some Benefits to UC Students and Faculty from UC’s Management of the Laboratories? (03/04)
• White Paper IV: What is Required to Prepare to Bid for a Contract for Any or All of the DOE National Laboratories? (03/04)
• White Paper V: DOE National Lab Employees and UC Benefits (03/04)
• White Paper VI: Should a UC Bid to Continue Management Los Alamos and/or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories Include Partnerships with One or More Private Sector Firms? (03/04)
• White Paper VII: Can There Be Anything Equivalent to Academic Freedom, an Attribute that UC Management Supposedly Brings to the National Laboratories, in the Context of Classified Research? (03/04)
• White Paper VIII: What is the Role of the Faculty in the Management of the National Laboratories? (04/04)
• White Paper IX: What are the Respective Roles and Authority of UC and DOE in the Management of the National Laboratories? (04/04)
• White Paper X: How Does UC Oversee the Quality of Science and Technology at the National Laboratories? (04/04)
• White Paper XI: Does Recent Adverse Publicity Concerning Incidents at Los Alamos and Livermore Call into Question Both into Question Both UC’s Ability to Manage the National Laboratories and the Public Perception of UC as a Manager? (04/04)
• UCORP Subcommittee Report on the Relationship between UC and DOE (2/03)

 

The results of this survey will be aggregated (individual responses will not be identifiable) and presented to the Administration and Regents before UC must make its decision regarding whether to bid.

Because Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is a science lab that conducts no classified research and has been an integral part of the Berkeley campus for decades, there is widespread agreement that UC should bid to retain management of the Berkeley lab.

Therefore, the items that follow apply only to the potential future of UC’s relationship with the Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.

PART I

Regarding your overall preference for UC to bid or not for continued management of the national laboratories, please read items 1, 2, and 3 below and then select the one position that comes closest to your own views by clicking on the items associated with that statement that are relevant to your position.

Position 1

I SUPPORT bidding by the University of California for the contracts to continue management of the national laboratories because (click all that apply):

Responses from those IN FAVOR of bidding	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Management of the nuclear weapons laboratories is an historic obligation of public service that UC should uphold.	1,385	64%
The importance of national security and the condition of the U.S. nuclear stockpile requires the best scientific underpinning possible, which is a capability of UC management.	1,375	64%
The benefits to the nation of the nonclassified research conducted at the laboratories are worthy of UC leadership.	1,738	80%
The benefits to UC faculty and students in regard to opportunities for research collaboration are highly valuable.	1,742	81%
Separation of laboratory personnel from the UC retirement system could weaken benefits to UC faculty.	469	22%
The UC name enhances the laboratories' efforts to recruit the best scientists and other employees.	1,253	58%

 

Position 2

I OPPOSE bidding by University of California for the contracts to continue management of the national laboratories because (click all that apply):

Responses from those OPPOSED to bidding	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
The missions of the laboratories are fundamentally incompatible with the mission of UC.	539	81%
The complexity of the management arrangements among UC, the federal government, and the laboratories are such that successful, relatively trouble-free management will always be unattainable.	251	38%
Given the 60-year history of UC's management of the laboratories as a public service to the nation, UC should not be required to bid to maintain the management contracts.	76	11%
Collaborations between UC faculty and students and the laboratories can occur without UC being the laboratories' manager.	313	47%
Management of the laboratories requires inordinate attention from the Office of the President that should be directed toward management of the campuses.	290	44%
The UC name and reputation are devalued by their association with the nuclear weapons laboratories.	344	52%

 

Position 3

I DO NOT WISH TO TAKE A POSITION regarding whether the University of California should bid for the contracts to continue management of the national laboratories because (click all that apply):

Responses from those who declined to express a preference	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
I am not well enough informed to offer advice.	338	82%
The decision to bid or not has no personal or professional impact on me.	103	25%
I don't believe the Regents will respect the opinion of the UC lecturers.	39	9%
I am not interested in these issues.	15	4%

 

PART II

Separate bids will likely be required for Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. The bid for Los Alamos will come first. In your opinion, UC should (select one):

	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Submit bids to continue to manage both laboratories.	2,096	68%
Submit a bid only for Los Alamos.	30	1%
Submit a bid only for Lawrence Livermore.	273	9%
Submit no bid for either laboratory.	683	22%
Total	3,082

 

PART III

Irrespective of the preference you indicated in Parts I and II, in the nine items that follow please indicate your opinion regarding the conditions that should prevail IF UC were to continue management of the national laboratories.

In weighing criteria for judging the bids, and for subsequently judging how well the labs are managed, the Department of Energy should give highest priority to the quality of the science and technology at the laboratories.	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	102	3%
Somewhat Disagree	51	2%
Don't Know / Unsure	149	5%
Somewhat Agree	544	17%
Strongly Agree	2,303	73%
Total	3,149

 

Responsibility for security, environmental health and safety, and business practices at the laboratories should be delegated to industry business partners.	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	897	29%
Somewhat Disagree	599	19%
Don't Know / Unsure	831	26%
Somewhat Agree	546	17%
Strongly Agree	265	8%
Total	3,138

 

The Academic Senate should not have any role in UC oversight of management of the laboratories.	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	1,302	41%
Somewhat Disagree	808	26%
Don't Know / Unsure	534	17%
Somewhat Agree	265	8%
Strongly Agree	234	7%
Total	3,143

 

UC faculty should provide input to the personnel process at the laboratories concerning appointments and critical advancements.	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	170	5%
Somewhat Disagree	291	9%
Don't Know / Unsure	519	17%
Somewhat Agree	1,133	36%
Strongly Agree	1,016	33%
Total	3,129

 

Along with the longstanding responsibility of the Los Alamos National Laboratory to design nuclear weapons, the recent undertaking of manufacturing some nuclear weapons components is an appropriate activity.	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	1,211	39%
Somewhat Disagree	529	17%
Don't Know / Unsure	611	20%
Somewhat Agree	496	16%
Strongly Agree	286	9%
Total	3,133

 

Funds available for the support of mutual UC-laboratory research collaborations should be increased significantly from the present status.	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	231	7%
Somewhat Disagree	208	7%
Don't Know / Unsure	940	30%
Somewhat Agree	868	28%
Strongly Agree	876	28%
Total	3,123

 

Free and open inquiry and the independence that allows one to "speak truth to power" are not important considerations in the national labs, where much of the research is classified, and many of the research goals are mandated by the federal government.	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	1,469	47%
Somewhat Disagree	688	22%
Don't Know / Unsure	380	12%
Somewhat Agree	397	13%
Strongly Agree	195	6%
Total	3,129

 

The appropriate role of the nuclear weapons laboratories is to implement policy that has been determined by Congress, whatever that policy may be, and UC should not seek a better position from where to influence more effectively national policies related to nuclear weapons and the work at the laboratories.	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	1,138	36%
Somewhat Disagree	992	32%
Don't Know / Unsure	356	11%
Somewhat Agree	427	14%
Strongly Agree	215	7%
Total	3,128

 

UC management should continue to be offered as a matter of public service, on a "no-cost/no gain" basis (i.e., not for profit).	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Strongly Disagree	462	15%
Somewhat Disagree	485	15%
Don't Know / Unsure	559	18%
Somewhat Agree	889	28%
Strongly Agree	742	24%
Total	3,137

 

PART IV

Please check all that apply (optional):

	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Assistant Professor	500	16%
Associate Professor	476	15%
Professor	2,122	69%
Total	3,098
	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Male	647	21%
Female	2,481	79%
Total	3,128
	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
Humanities/Arts	355	11%
Social Sciences	467	15%
Science/Engineering	1,582	50%
Professional School	749	24%
Total	3,153
	Number of Responses	Response Ratio
UC Berkeley	583	16%
UC Davis	529	15%
UC Irvine	402	11%
UC Los Angeles	727	20%
UC Merced	28	1%
UC Riverside	235	7%
UC San Diego	457	13%
UC San Francisco	297	8%
UC Santa Barbara	153	4%
UC Santa Cruz	186	5%
Total	3,597