The campus strategic planning process was structured around four key areas – determining which issues and challenges in the world our academic enterprise is uniquely suited to address, creating a transformative student experience, identifying optimal enrollment levels, and building a strong financial model – representing, broadly, the topics of greatest concern to the campus. Each of these areas was explored in depth by a working group of 10-12 members of the Berkeley community selected for their expertise and knowledge of the campus, and representing a diversity of disciplines. Each group was co-chaired by a dean, vice chancellor, or vice provost as well as a representative of the faculty chosen from or recommended by Senate leadership.
In addition to leading their individual groups, the co-chairs of the four groups also formed the membership of a larger Strategic Planning Steering Committee, itself co-chaired by Haas School of Business Dean Rich Lyons and Academic Senate Division Chair Lisa Alvarez-Cohen. Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion Oscar Dubón served as an at-large member of the Steering Committee and an ex-officio member, along with Dean Lyons and Chair Alvarez-Cohen, of each of the four working groups. Given that the topics addressed by the four working groups necessarily overlapped and influenced one another, a critical function of the Steering Committee was to integrate the recommendations and conclusions that emerged from individual groups.
Campus input was sought continually throughout the process, by means of presentations and Q&A at open campus town halls, Academic Senate committees and Divisional meetings, Council of Deans and Chair’s Forum meetings, ASUC and Graduate Assembly meetings, and meetings with staff and alumni representatives.
Berkeley’s strategic planning exercise was governed by several guiding values and principles.
At the conclusion of the strategic planning process, the four individual groups’ input was integrated by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee into a short guiding document and steering committee report, which were submitted to the chancellor and made available to the public.
