March 22, 1995 -- Dean Stephen Ryan sent a letter to faculty of the School of Medicine informing them of an $11 million deficit in the annual budget and stressing the need to make major changes by July 1. He announced that committees, to be chaired by Dr. Joseph Van Der Meulen, would be formed to consider solutions.

March 30, 1995 -- A letter was sent to faculty from Provost Armstrong and Dean Ryan informing them of possible cuts in salary or loss of their faculty positions effective July 1.

May 8, 1995 -- Dean Ryan wrote to the faculty stating that he had received the report of the Budget Deficit Committee.

June 7, 1995 -- Dean Ryan wrote to the faculty stating that "the Provost determined that the Committee's plan was not workable and clearly stated that it is now up to me to reduce the budget ... by June 14." In his letter Dean Ryan also stated that "the real solution, I firmly believe, lies in our adoption of productivity standards, a means for linking compensation to the quality and quantity of job performance."

June 16, 1995 -- An open "town meeting" of all Medical School personnel was held to explain the Dean's budget reduction plan. Key elements, as listed in a letter dated June 14, 1995, inlcuded:

• Cuts in School infrastructure, including administration and support units
• Cuts in budgets of the Clinical Departments, largest in the Dept. of Medicine
• Cuts in budgets of the Basic Science Departments, including the reduction from a 12-month to a 9-month year for the faculty, with the option to use research grant funds to make up the corresponding 25% reduction in guaranteed salary
• Conversion of the Department of Medical Education to a Division within the Department of Pediatrics

June 28, 1995 -- Dean Ryan wrote to Basic Science faculty (tenured and tenure-track) officially informing them of the change in their employment status and stating that: "Meanwhile, you should understand that the only employment the University can offer you beyond July 1, 1995 is as described herein. This letter, followed by your 1995/96 faculty contract, will supersede any other agreements between you and the University."

June 29, 1995 -- Dean Ryan distributed to the faculty copies of a report describing a plan for "Performance Based Productivity Compensation" that was developed by a committee chaired by Dr. Ronald Kaufman. Dean Ryan requested that all departments develop productivity standards to be implemented Jan. 1, 1996 in Clinical Departments and July1, 1996 in Basic Science Departments.

August 4, 1995 -- Dean Ryan wrote the faculty informing them of budget cuts to be imposed on the LAC+USC Medical Center by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in efforts to balance the County budget.

August 1995 -- Dr. Ryan went on medical leave and Dr. Van Der Meulen became the Interim Dean.

December 1995 -- President Clinton made Federal funds available that reduced the financial problems of the County of Los Angeles and lessened the financial cuts in the LAC+USC Medical Center.

January 1996 -- Dr. Ryan resumed his duties as Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and was charged with directing his efforts toward restructuring the School of Medicine. He would also serve as Executive Dean of the School while Dr. Van Der Meulen continued the role of Interim Dean and managed the day-to-day operation of the School. He began a series of meetings with individual departments in the School of Medicine.

April 12-14, 1996 -- A School of Medicine Leadership Conference was held in Pasadena to discuss possible ways to restructure the School. The conference was attended by department chairs, other members of the administration, and three representatives of the Medical Faculty Assembly. Tenure was one of the topics discussed, particularly as it relates to the guarantee of economic security.

April 1996 -- An Economic Security Task Force was appointed by the Interim Dean to consider the relationship of tenure to economic security. The task force was headed by Dr. Dale Garell, Chair of Pediatrics, and included members of the faculty and administration.

May 3-4, 1996 -- A Faculty Leadership Meeting was held in Pasadena and was attended by over 100 members of the faculty plus members of the administration, including many who had attended the April 12-14 meeting. Among other topics, the attendees considered, revised, and approved a report from the Economic Security Task Force. This report as revised called on the School to "reaffirm the basic rights of tenure as described in the Faculty Handbook" and recommended "a three-part salary system: a guaranteed base salary, supplemental earnings and bonus/merit."