News & Announcements
September 2026 Edition
Dear colleagues,
Welcome to the inaugural Provost Perspective newsletter. Every quarter, I’ll share reflections about higher education, keep you informed of the priorities shaping our university, and highlight leaders across our community.
I invite you to begin by reading the remarks I delivered at the recent Deans and Chairs retreat. They offer my thoughts on the most consequential opportunities before us, and I share them here in the spirit of transparency and open dialogue.
Thank you for all that you do in service of this institution and the students, scholars, and ideas that advance our mission.
Regards,
Benjamin E. Hermalin
Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost
Strategic Updates
Advancing First Things First priorities
A central ‘First Things First’ (FTF) hub is now available to increase transparency, monitor milestones, and serve as the go-to place for understanding work across four operational priorities: student accommodations, physical infrastructure, senate faculty review process, and research administration. As key initiatives progress, the hub will provide campus community members with clear insight into collective achievements and forthcoming milestones.
FTF Progress: Senate Faculty Review Process
The Vice Provost for Faculty, Victoria Plaut and her team have taken important steps to streamline and clarify the faculty review process while maintaining its high standards of rigor and equity. Progress includes:
- Exceeded Target Review Timelines: Achieved record efficiency in 2026 by completing 82% of on-time cases by June 30—even with high case volumes and increased faculty hiring. In this time frame, the number of completed on-time tagged cases was 52% greater than the average of previous years.
- Updated On-Time Tag Eligibility: Revised criteria for the July 1, 2027 cycle so administrative updates made before the dean's office submission will no longer disqualify a case from receiving an on-time tag.
- Increased Process Transparency: Launched new review cycle progress charts on the BMAP website, featuring quarterly status updates alongside existing APBears tracking to provide further insight into the review pipeline.
Learn more in the recent CalMessage.
Academic Leader Q&A
Meet the person supporting Berkeley's climate health communities
Rachel Morello-Frosch, the new Associate Provost for Energy, Climate and Environment, has a mission to advance Berkeley's role as a global leader on climate solutions. Here's what she has to say about her vision for the office and the work ahead.
Faculty Development
Campus launches faculty equity mentorship program
The Thriving in Teaching mentorship program seeks to build a supportive community focused on racial equity in teaching. Enrollment is limited to 15 Senate faculty members. Applications are due by 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Resources and support for academic units
Mentoring Reimagined is a faculty-led campus initiative that helps faculty at all ranks, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars build sustainable mentoring practices throughout their academic careers. The initiative encourages a shift in campus culture by emphasizing that mentorship is not simply an innate ability, but an evidence-based skill set that can be developed and refined. Departments, programs and units interested in utilizing Mentoring Reimagined may contact ofew@berkeley.edu.
Ask the Provost
We have launched a direct channel for faculty and academic staff to share what’s on their minds with EVCP Ben Hermalin. Use this submission form to submit your questions and look out for answers to selected topics in our upcoming November issue and quarterly updates moving forward. Note that urgent or time-sensitive matters should not be submitted via this form. Please reach out directly by emailing: evcp@berkeley.edu.