Building, maintaining, and monitoring a healthy departmental culture and climate is a shared responsibility across the entire academic unit. Faculty, staff and the broader community can promote a positive culture and climate by shaping policies, practices and norms that support equity, inclusion, and belonging.
UC Berkeley strives for an environment consistent with our Principles of Community. "Campus climate" encompasses the current attitudes, behaviors, and standards of faculty, staff, and students regarding respect for individual needs, abilities, and potential. "Organizational culture" is the shared values, beliefs, behaviors and norms that shape how people interact, make decisions and get work done.
While the broader campus sets the baseline, the department is the primary location that influences how individuals experience culture and climate. A healthy, inclusive environment is essential for optimal student learning and the professional well-being of faculty and staff.
Services
The Academic Climate Program Director (Tracy Pascua Dea, ucblueprint@berkeley.edu) is available to consult with departments, schools/colleges/divisions, and individual faculty department chairs, equity advisors, and department managers, Chief Administrative Officers, Chief Diversity Officers, on the following:
AssessmentConducting focus groups, listening sessions, and environmental scans beyond a climate survey. |
Conflict TransformationManaging dialogue across differences and mitigating power dynamics across faculty, staff and student roles. |
Leadership CoachingProviding executive advisement and 1:1 coaching for Chairs, Deans and other unit leaders on leading with equity and emotional intelligence. |
Strategic FacilitationGuiding departmental strategic planning, retreats, community conversations, and mission, vision and values discussions. |
Culture ShiftOverseeing the lifecycle, timelines, and resources required for long-term departmental climate initiatives. |
CollaborationConnecting with Academic Planning, Center for Teaching & Learning, Equity & Inclusion, Graduate Division, DECC, People & Culture and Supportal. |
Learning Opportunities
From Critique to Dialogue: Navigating Differences
The semester-long series brings together faculty, staff, and graduate students for facilitated dialogue circles. By exploring intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational dynamics, participants are equipped with the skills needed to foster open, respectful discourse within their department.
Resetting the Table
Facilitated Resetting the Table workshops that provide foundational skills for productive communication on charged issues and a forum for dialogue across disagreement. Participants exchange views and experiences, surface differences and commonalities, and practice skills while directly discussing differences.
Microlearning on Psychological Safety
A series of microlearning opportunities including a SPARK Talk, scenario-based discussions and follow-up activities focused on addressing issues of psychological safety in the department. Participants engage in bite-sized activities to sustain learning and demonstrate understanding.
Programs
Specialized and tailorable Programs available to support departmental climate and culture.