The UC Board of Regents met at UC Santa Barbara last week, where UC President Mark Yudof announced his intent to launch a public accountability program at the university.

Under the initiative, Yudof said he would present to the board an annual accountability report that would outline how the university is faring in affordability, student performance and diversity, among other issues.

Yudof made his presentation to the regents' committee on long range planning on Wednesday, citing the need for greater transparency at the institution.

"People deserve an honest answer to the question of how you're doing, and it needs to be backed up by statistical data," Yudof said at the meeting.

The first accountability report is slated to be presented this fall, and sub-reports are also scheduled to be completed throughout the year. The report will also be made public on the Internet.

At their meeting, the regents also confirmed UC Santa Barbara graduate student Jesse Bernal as the board's student regent for 2009-10. Bernal will sit on the board as a non-voting member this year, and will succeed current Student Regent D'Artagnan Scorza.

Six UC Berkeley deans have also been approved by the board, confirming their terms, which started at the beginning of the month.

Additionally, the regents appointed Alan Hoffman, formerly the chief of staff for U.S. Senator Joseph Biden, D-Del., as the senior vice president for external relations.

Hoffman will be in charge of communications and governmental relations for the university. He will receive an annual salary of $370,000, as well as automobile allowance and certain accommodation and relocation expenses.

Hoffman's appointment will be effective on or before Aug. 11.

Tags: UC BOARD OF REGENTS