First Things First

First Things First Initatives

Last Updated: August 24, 2026

The First Things First initiatives address four critical areas where progress is both urgent and achievable. These are Berkeley’s highest priorities before broader long-term strategies begin.

Students walk through Sather Gate

In Progress

Student Accommodations

Sponsors: Fabrizio Mejia, interim vice chancellor, Equity and Inclusion; Oliver O’Reilly, vice provost, Undergraduate Education

Initiative Managers: Amber Johnson, assistant vice chancellor & chief of staff, Equity and Inclusion; Catherine Cronquist Browning, assistant vice provost, Undergraduate Education

This initiative advances UC Berkeley’s commitment to equitable access to education by strengthening how the campus delivers student accommodations, exam proctoring, and digitally accessible learning and administrative materials.

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View from the rooftop terrace of the Barbara and Gerson Bakar Gateway, home of the UC Berkeley College of Computing, Data Science, and Society, featuring a large glass skylight.

In Progress

Facilities and Physical Space

Sponsors: Lisa Alvarez-Cohen, vice provost for Academic Planning; Marc Fisher, vice chancellor for Administration (VCA); Kelly Sparks, vice chancellor for Finance (VCF)

Initiative Managers: Heidi Wagner, assistant vice provost and chief of staff, Academic Planning; Kyle Gibson, director of strategic communications, Office of the Vice Chancellor Administration

This Initiative brings together executive leadership across the three accountable divisions to assess recommendations, make decisions and take coordinated action to address the significant renewal challenges on our campus. We will deliver a transparent and aggressive renewal strategy. We have divided the efforts into three areas: Transparency and Communication, Process Improvement and Resource Strategy.

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on a bright, sunny day the campanile is to the left in the background with a focus on a UC Berkeley banner in the foreground

In Progress

Faculty Merit and Promotion Cases

Sponsor: Victoria Plaut, vice provost for the Faculty

Initiative Managers: Heather Archer, assistant vice provost for Academic Personnel, Dana Jantz, chief of staff, Office of the Vice Provost for the Faculty

We have a clear opportunity to establish and work towards meeting more efficient timeframes for issuing decisions or correspondence, strengthen communication and education about the review process and collaborate with campus partners — including chairs, associate deans and deans — on ways to enhance the whole case review process at all levels while maintaining the safeguards that preserve our standards of equity and excellence. Together as a campus we can ensure that faculty receive fair, constructive and timely merit and promotion reviews.

More on the Faculty Merit and Promotion Cases initiative

A scientist sits at a laboratory bench with her hands on a small bottle. She is wearing safety glasses, a white lab coat, and purple gloves. In the foreground and background are many small bottles and other laboratory equipment.

In Progress

Research Administration Ecosystem

Sponsors: Richard Allen, interim vice chancellor for Research, VCR; Kelly Sparks, vice chancellor for Finance, VCF; Marc Fisher, vice chancellor for Administration, VCA

Initiative Managers: Ann Jeffrey, executive advisor

This initiative aims to make coordinated investments and decisions that improve the grant submission process and post-award management, improve service delivery, and reduce redundancies, gaps and delays in research administration-related processes, to benefit both researchers and research support staff.

More on the Research Administration Ecosystem initiative