Consultation and Support

The OFEW Director and the Associate Vice Provost for the Faculty (AVPF) offer individual consultation and support to faculty (at all career stages), department chairs, and deans regarding a variety of situations. Common issues or concerns include those related to: 

  • Faculty advancement

  • Climate or interpersonal problems within a department

  • Departmental issues identified during Academic Program Reviews (APRs)

  • Family responsive policies

  • Retirement

  • Abusive conduct or sexual violence/sexual harrassment concerns

  • Faculty searches 

The Associate Vice Provost for the Faculty is also available to consult with faculty, chairs, associate deans, and deans on issues that include, but are not limited to: 

  • Guidance around Career Equity Reviews

  • Specific issues related to the merit and promotion process

  • Significant circumstances that qualify for time off the clock

  • Reconsideration requests for merit and promotion cases

  • Consultation about salary equity programs and the negotiated salary program (NSP)

  • Pre-retention cases

  • Expectations for those in the teaching professor or professor in residence (PiR) series

  • Pathways to retirement

  • Input on new policies affecting faculty

The Faculty Ombuds is also available for consultation. The Ombuds is a confidential, informal, impartial resource for faculty experiencing work-related problems and conflicts. The Faculty Ombuds assists faculty in finding non-confrontational solutions to problems involving other members of the University. The Faculty Ombuds will listen, suggest, obtain information, and informally facilitate conversations, as appropriate, to achieve informal resolution of concerns. The Faculty Ombuds does not investigate, take sides, or issue findings. They do not keep written records. They subscribe to a code of conduct assuring impartiality and confidentiality. If you are a faculty member and wish to set up a confidential meeting with the Faculty Ombuds, please call 510-642-8788 or send an email to Angelica (Angy) Stacy, astacy@berkeley.edu, to request an appointment. 

The Berkeley Support Portal (“Supportal”) is a single entry point for all UC Berkeley community members to find support for themselves or others about a variety of concerns.