President Napolitano sent the following message to all UCOP staff on Jan. 12:

Dear colleagues,

Happy New Year. I hope the holiday break afforded you the opportunity to relax and recharge. Your dedication and continued good work at the Office of the President will make 2018 a year of innovation and positive change. This year marks our 150th anniversary as an institution, a milestone we are celebrating not simply by looking to our past but by laying the groundwork to ensure we have a progressive, strong University of California that serves the State, the nation, and the world for the next century and beyond.

One of the essential hallmarks of UC’s excellence is its commitment to continuous improvement, and over the past few years the OP leadership team has been committed to taking several actions that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our office and align our work in support of the university’s core missions. Five of our divisions have developed strategic plans, several have conducted and implemented organizational reviews, and we continuously strive to improve our internal operations.

Last September, I initiated an additional, holistic, UCOP review intended to assess our organizational design, alignment, portfolio and strategy. The goal of this latest review was to determine the best ways to carry out our complex set of functions and services and make sure we have an organization that supports the future of UC — not merely for the next budget cycle, but for generations to come. The report has now been completed, and its recommendations, in tandem with other strategic changes already underway, will serve as a basis of a comprehensive OP restructuring plan that will take place over the next 18 to 24 months.

These changes will evolve through multiple stages of decision-making and implementation. Throughout the process, we will consult with our community to assess possible actions based on how they best position UCOP to serve our mission and the university’s stakeholders. The division leaders and I are aware that this decision timeline and the accompanying uncertainty necessitated by such change is stressful. We want to assure you that we are working hard both to act promptly and engage our community with attention to careful and deliberative thought as we build our future organization.

Please join me on Monday, Jan. 22 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., when I will provide an overview of this process and a progress update at a Town Hall meeting for all UCOP staff in the Lobby 1 Conference Room and via web streaming. The details for how to join the meeting will be sent out shortly.  Starting now and throughout this process, please reach out to your division leaders and managers should you have questions, suggestions, or concerns.

I feel confident we will exit this transition better able to deliver our mission for generations to come and I want to thank each of you for your dedication to UCOP and our university.

Yours very truly,

Janet Napolitano

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