News

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December 19, 2016

Data Science Initiative: Update & Next Steps
This letter details the next steps we will pursue in light of the Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) report and the commentary on it. We will immediately launch a search for an interim dean, to be chosen from among the current faculty to begin serving as close as possible to February 15, 2017; Vice Chancellor Paul Alivisatos will chair the search committee. An announcement and request for nominations for this position will be posted shortly.

December 8, 2016

Oakland Fire: Update and Vigil

November 29, 2016

Campus Announces Search for New Lead on Sexual Violence & Sexual Harassment

November 9, 2016

Post-election Message from Chancellor Dirks
The results of yesterday’s election came as a surprise to most of us, regardless of our political views. It will take time for us to process and understand the meaning of the vote, both because we face a period of uncertainty and transition, and because the vote followed a deeply divisive and polarizing campaign. The election season has witnessed a pervasive rhetoric of intolerance across our nation, which has been a cause of alarm and concern for many of us. As a campus community, we must use this moment to reaffirm our own values of respect and inclusion, while working together to preserve academic freedom, fearless inquiry, and diversity.
Community Support, Spaces and Resources
We know that the results of yesterday's election have sparked fear and concern among many in our community; in particular our immigrant and undocumented communities, Muslim, African American, Chicanx/Latinx, LGBTQ+, Asian and Pacific Islander communities, survivors of sexual assault, people with disabilities, women, and many others. We are reaching out to you with a message of support. UC Berkeley leadership remains steadfast in our values and committed to the safety and well-being of all of our students, faculty, and staff.

October 4, 2016

Announcement: Interim VC of Student Affairs and Interim AVC for RSSP
I am delighted to announce that Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D., has agreed to serve as Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, effective January 1, 2017. He will replace Harry LeGrande, who is retiring after more than 35 years at UC Berkeley. Steve currently serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Residential & Student Service Programs (RSSP). In his stead, we are announcing that David A. Surratt, Ed.D., has agreed to serve as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for RSSP. David is currently the Associate Dean of Students.

October 3, 2016

Announcement: VC Real Estate
The Chancellor has informed me that he has accepted the resignation of Vice Chancellor for Real Estate, Robert Lalanne, effective immediately. We will announce our plans for the management of the Real Estate portfolio shortly, but it is our intention to eliminate the Vice Chancellor position and continue the effort to strategically manage our physical assets.

September 7, 2016

An update on efforts to prevent sexual violence and sexual harassment on the UC Berkeley campus
Each member of the UC Berkeley community has a role to play in the ongoing effort to end sexual violence and sexual harassment on our campus. As the semester gets underway, we encourage you to spend some time on Berkeley’s survivor support website learning about what constitutes sexual violence and sexual harassment, our prevention and safety programs, how to respond, and how to get help in an emergency. We also hope that you will familiarize yourselves with new University of California systemwide policies on these critical issues, and especially what the new policies mean for the reporting of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination.

September 6, 2016

Announcement: Vice Provost for Academic and Space Planning
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Tsu-Jae King Liu as Vice Provost for Academic and Space Planning, for an initial two-year period with the possibility of extension at the discretion of the next Chancellor and my successor. Her appointment as Vice Provost will begin on October 1, 2016.

August 22, 2016

Update from the Chancellor
Update pursuant to my announcement last week that I will be stepping down as Chancellor as soon as a successor is selected and in place.

August 16, 2016

Announcement from the Chancellor
I am writing today to say that I have informed President Napolitano of my intention to step down as Chancellor once a successor is selected and in place. It has been a great honor to serve as the 10th Chancellor of Berkeley, and I am proud of all we have accomplished. Over the summer I have come to the personal decision that the time is right for me to step aside and allow someone else to take up the financial and institutional challenges ahead of us.

August 2, 2016

VCSA Harry Le Grande to retire this year
After 35 years of service to UC Berkeley, Harry Le Grande has informed me he will retire from his position as Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs on December 31.

July 20, 2016

Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Extension
As follow-up to the announcement I made on April 26, I am pleased to tell you that Carol Christ has agreed to continue serving as interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost through June 30, 2017.

June 15, 2016

Announcement: Dean of Undergraduate Studies

April 27, 2016

Professor Michael Botchan to serve as Interim Dean of Biological Sciences

April 26, 2016

Carol Christ appointed interim EVCP

April 15, 2016

Claude Steele steps down as EVCP

April 11, 2016

Campus Budget Update
As we continue our work on the long-term strategic planning and review process that we announced in February, we write to provide an update on the specific near-term steps we are taking to address the campus’s structural deficit. Our ultimate goal is to achieve a balanced budget by 2019-20. As of today, we estimate that the cumulative effect of our present efforts, along with the assistance we are receiving from the Office of the President on restructuring our debt, will reduce our deficit by approximately $85 million by June 2017, the end of the next fiscal year.

March 31, 2016

Campus Shared Services - Administrative Realignment Update
Effective July 1, units will no longer pay a 2% assessment for the services CSS provides. This assessment has produced unintended consequences for our departments and schools. As such, we will redesign the CSS funding model.

March 30, 2016

Update on the campus' strategic initiatives
This is the first in what we expect will be a series of regular updates about the campus strategic planning process Chancellor Dirks announced (link is external) last month. The goal of these updates is to keep you informed of our progress, our timeline, as well as opportunities to get involved.