What is CUCEA?
PURPOSE
The Council of University of California Emeriti Associations (CUCEA) fosters close, mutually supportive relations among campus-based emeriti associations and with all levels of the University's governance. Acting statewide on behalf of UC emeriti, it advocates for the protection, improvement and extension of benefits and privileges important to emeriti, including accessible, affordable, and quality health care options, appropriate cost-of-living adjustments, and enhanced academic privileges.
The Council of University of California Emeriti Associations (CUCEA) fosters close, mutually supportive relations among campus-based emeriti associations and with all levels of the University's governance. Acting statewide on behalf of UC emeriti, it advocates for the protection, improvement and extension of benefits and privileges important to emeriti, including accessible, affordable, and quality health care options, appropriate cost-of-living adjustments, and enhanced academic privileges.
MEMBERS
CUCEA is a consortium of the Emeriti Associations of nine University of California campuses: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. CUCEA also works with UC Merced, the tenth campus, as its emeriti community grows toward the formation of a campus emeriti association.
CUCEA is a consortium of the Emeriti Associations of nine University of California campuses: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. CUCEA also works with UC Merced, the tenth campus, as its emeriti community grows toward the formation of a campus emeriti association.
The Council of University of California Emeriti Associations (CUCEA) fosters close, mutually supportive relations among campus-based emeriti associations and with all levels of the University's governance. Acting statewide on behalf of UC emeriti, it advocates for the protection, improvement and extension of benefits and privileges important to emeriti, including accessible, affordable, and quality health care options, appropriate cost-of-living adjustments, and enhanced academic privileges.
LEADERSHIP & MEETINGS
CUCEA operates on an academic year basis and meets twice a year, in October and April, in conjunction with the Council of University of California Retiree Associations (CUCRA). The meetings include joint CUCEA/CUCRA sessions on matters of shared interest, as well as a separate session for each organization and its members. UCOP leaders also attend the joint meetings to provide updates, data, and analyses on topics such as health care plans, Open Enrollment, retirement trends, and other issues of interest to emeriti and retirees. Meeting locations generally alternate between northern and southern campuses and rotate among the UC campuses. Members of campus Emeriti Associations are welcome to attend. Since 2023, meetings have been offered at several campuses in a hybrid format, combining in-person and remote participation.
CUCEA is composed of each campus Emeriti Association president, a CUCEA Representative, and an Alternate selected by each campus-based emeriti association. CUCEA’s executive leadership oversees operations and governance and includes elected and appointed officers: Chair, Chair-Elect, Immediate Past Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Information Officer, and Webmaster.
CUCEA operates on an academic year basis and meets twice a year, in October and April, in conjunction with the Council of University of California Retiree Associations (CUCRA). The meetings include joint CUCEA/CUCRA sessions on matters of shared interest, as well as a separate session for each organization and its members. UCOP leaders also attend the joint meetings to provide updates, data, and analyses on topics such as health care plans, Open Enrollment, retirement trends, and other issues of interest to emeriti and retirees. Meeting locations generally alternate between northern and southern campuses and rotate among the UC campuses. Members of campus Emeriti Associations are welcome to attend. Since 2023, meetings have been offered at several campuses in a hybrid format, combining in-person and remote participation.
CUCEA is composed of each campus Emeriti Association president, a CUCEA Representative, and an Alternate selected by each campus-based emeriti association. CUCEA’s executive leadership oversees operations and governance and includes elected and appointed officers: Chair, Chair-Elect, Immediate Past Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Information Officer, and Webmaster.
UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE & COMMITTEES
CUCEA works closely with systemwide University committees, the Academic Senate, and University administration to help ensure that the perspectives and concerns of UC emeriti are represented in discussions and decisions affecting faculty and retiree welfare.
The CUCEA Chair serves as an ex officio member of one Academic Senate committee and two of its task forces:
CUCEA collaborates with the Joint Benefits Committee (JBC) on matters of shared interest to UC emeriti and retirees. The JBC was formed in 1994 to monitor and make recommendations to CUCEA and CUCRA on the University’s pension and benefit programs, policy issues related to health insurance and delivery systems, and other benefits programs. The committee includes leadership and representatives from CUCEA and CUCRA. JBC reports are available here.
Supplementing the work of JBC, the Emeriti/Retiree Advisory Committee (ERAC) advises the Vice President of Systemwide Human Resources regarding pensions and benefits for emeriti and retirees. Formed in 2023 at the request of CUCEA and CUCRA, ERAC represents the interests of both retirees and the University, and enables frequent and open dialogue and timely feedback to address issues affecting the emeriti and retiree communities. The committee includes leadership from Systemwide Human Resources, CUCEA, CUCRA, JBC, campus administration, and the Academic Senate. The ERAC Charter is available here.
CUCEA works closely with systemwide University committees, the Academic Senate, and University administration to help ensure that the perspectives and concerns of UC emeriti are represented in discussions and decisions affecting faculty and retiree welfare.
The CUCEA Chair serves as an ex officio member of one Academic Senate committee and two of its task forces:
- University Committee on Faculty Welfare (UCFW) – considers and reports on matters involving the economic welfare of faculty, including salaries, benefits, insurance, retirement, housing, and conditions of employment.
- UCFW Health Care Task Force (HCTF) – reviews and advises on health care proposals and reports on issues related to UC employee and retiree health plans.
- UCFW Task Force on Investments and Retirements (TFIR) – monitors and advises on UC investments and retirement policies and proposals.
CUCEA collaborates with the Joint Benefits Committee (JBC) on matters of shared interest to UC emeriti and retirees. The JBC was formed in 1994 to monitor and make recommendations to CUCEA and CUCRA on the University’s pension and benefit programs, policy issues related to health insurance and delivery systems, and other benefits programs. The committee includes leadership and representatives from CUCEA and CUCRA. JBC reports are available here.
Supplementing the work of JBC, the Emeriti/Retiree Advisory Committee (ERAC) advises the Vice President of Systemwide Human Resources regarding pensions and benefits for emeriti and retirees. Formed in 2023 at the request of CUCEA and CUCRA, ERAC represents the interests of both retirees and the University, and enables frequent and open dialogue and timely feedback to address issues affecting the emeriti and retiree communities. The committee includes leadership from Systemwide Human Resources, CUCEA, CUCRA, JBC, campus administration, and the Academic Senate. The ERAC Charter is available here.
HISTORY
CUCEA was officially constituted on October 27, 1987, at a meeting at UC Berkeley attended by representatives of the emeriti associations of the nine UC campuses then in existence. Over time, CUCEA has built on its original framework as a federation fostering collegial interaction among the nine campus-based emeriti associations. Its activities have expanded to encompass communication and information sharing, documentation and assessment, advocacy, and shared governance, including semiannual meetings and special forums, support for the JBC, shared governance initiatives such as ERAC, and triennial surveys documenting emeriti contributions and supporting advocacy efforts. CUCEA’s early history is available here.
CUCEA was officially constituted on October 27, 1987, at a meeting at UC Berkeley attended by representatives of the emeriti associations of the nine UC campuses then in existence. Over time, CUCEA has built on its original framework as a federation fostering collegial interaction among the nine campus-based emeriti associations. Its activities have expanded to encompass communication and information sharing, documentation and assessment, advocacy, and shared governance, including semiannual meetings and special forums, support for the JBC, shared governance initiatives such as ERAC, and triennial surveys documenting emeriti contributions and supporting advocacy efforts. CUCEA’s early history is available here.