The following message was shared with all staff in the Administration Division on September 4, 2025:
Dear Administration Division Colleagues,
The start of a new academic year is always a special moment at UC Berkeley. As the campus comes alive with students, faculty, and visitors, I want to pause and thank everyone in the Administration Division for the dedication and service you bring to this university every day. Our division is home to nearly 1,700 professionals across ten departments, and your collective work ensures that Berkeley remains a world-class institution, ready to serve the next generation of leaders and innovators.
Celebrating accomplishments and progress on key priorities:
- Embracing innovation: Across the Administration Division, departments are exploring how artificial intelligence can improve the way we work and serve the campus community. People & Culture has launched Bear GPT, an AI-powered tool that provides staff with quick access to policy and workplace guidance, making information more accessible and reducing the time it takes to get answers. Supply Chain Management has introduced the AI Procurement Assistant in BearBUY, which helps staff navigate complex purchasing needs more efficiently. Berkeley IT has also created the Campus AI Sandbox, a secure environment for staff and faculty to experiment with emerging AI technologies, build familiarity, and inform the university's approach to using AI responsibly. Together, these initiatives position Berkeley as a leader in harnessing innovation to support our mission and modernize university operations.
- Strengthening safety: UCPD has introduced a new motorcycle unit to enhance patrols across campus. This addition increases UCPD's ability to respond quickly in emergencies, improves traffic safety, and provides greater visibility of officers in daily campus life. This week, UCPD also welcomed two new Campus Community Standards Coordinators. This new role is dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive campus atmosphere, ensuring the respectful exercise of First Amendment rights, and facilitating the management of demonstrations and protests.
- Caring for our campus environment: Facilities Services spent the summer preparing classrooms, common areas, and outdoor spaces for the return of our students. From landscaping to building maintenance, their work has ensured the campus is both beautiful and functional, creating a welcoming environment for the year ahead. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. I have received notes and compliments from across the campus, as well as from parents and alumni, praising how the campus has never looked better. These reflections make clear what we already know: the hard work of Facilities Services is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated by our community. Their dedication helps make Berkeley a campus that everyone can be proud of.
- Building for the future: Several major capital projects advanced significantly over the summer. The new Undergraduate Academic Building, which will house more than 10% of the campus's general assignment classrooms, is on track for completion this academic year. The Gateway, a transformative new home for computing and data science, will also open later this year. In June, we broke ground on the new Bancroft Parking Structure, which will add more than 600 much-needed parking spaces for our campus community. And in August, construction at the student housing project at People's Park—to be named in honor of Judith Heumann, the trailblazing disability rights leader—reached its topping-off milestone.
- Preserving history: While we are building new facilities, preserving and reimagining our historic buildings remains a top priority. The Old Art Gallery building has been restored, including its iconic WPA mosaic murals, now visible once again and preserved for generations to come. Beyond its cultural significance, the building will also play a crucial role in the campus's energy future, supplying electrical power to the new central plant scheduled to begin construction next summer. The Julia Morgan House at 2232 Piedmont Avenue, located next to Memorial Stadium, has also been carefully renovated. Now open, it serves as Berkeley Haas's new Entrepreneurship Hub. And Creekside Center opened as the new home of the Disabled Students' Program (DSP). Located along Strawberry Creek, the center preserves a beloved campus building while creating an accessible, welcoming environment that reflects Berkeley's values of equity and inclusion.
- Celebrating our people: This summer's NOW (Next Opportunity at Work) Conference was once again an incredible success, bringing together more than 1,000 participants from across UC and beyond for a week filled with learning, coaching, career development, and community building. Now in its 13th year, the conference is organized by UC Berkeley People & Culture and has grown into the largest event of its kind in the UC system. For those who were not able to attend, I encourage you to save the date for next year's NOW Conference in June 2026.
- Welcoming new leadership: Over the past year, several leaders have stepped into new roles within the Administration Division, strengthening our capacity to serve the campus. Courtney Chandler joined us as Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff, providing leadership across divisional priorities and helping guide strategic initiatives. Kyle Gibson was appointed Director of Strategic Communications, leading efforts to share the division's work and impact with the campus and broader community. Most recently, in June, Alicia Bihler was named Executive Director of Environment, Health & Safety after serving as Acting Director since 2023. Together, these leaders bring strong expertise and vision to their roles, helping position the Administration Division for continued success in the years ahead.
A New Strategic Plan for the Administration Division
This summer we have also been diligently working on something that will help guide our division for years to come: a new 5-Year Strategic Plan for the Administration Division.
During a two-day retreat, the Executive Leadership Team gathered to chart a course for our shared future. On the second day, they were joined by your senior managers, and came together to add their ideas, priorities, and expertise. Many of you have been contributing to this effort, and your input has been invaluable.
Our new strategic plan is important because it will help us align around shared goals, focus our energy on what matters most, and continue building a culture of a more united and unified Administration Division—one where we succeed together.
This coming year we are also introducing new ways to come together as a division:
Oct. 6 - Administration Division-wide Town Hall
On Monday, October 6, we will hold an Administration Division-wide Town Hall to share more details about our new Strategic Plan. The event will take place in the morning at the Pauley Ballroom at MLK Jr. Student Union. Please save the date and look for an email soon with additional information. We hope to see you there!
Lunch with Marc
I also want to share a new program I am personally excited about: Lunch with Marc. Each month, I'll meet with a small group of staff members from one of our departments for lunch at the historic UC Berkeley Faculty Club. Your department's leader will nominate staff members to participate, and together we'll have the chance to connect, share ideas, and recognize the remarkable work happening across our division. This is an opportunity for me to hear directly from you—your perspectives, your insights, and your feedback—and to thank you in person for your contributions to Berkeley.
As we begin this fall semester, I am inspired by the momentum we share and the future we are building together. Thank you again for your professionalism, your expertise, and your commitment to this campus and its mission.
In all that we do, fiat lux—let there be light—and go Bears!
Warmly,
Marc
Marc Fisher
Vice Chancellor for Administration
University of California, Berkeley