Building A Stronger, More Sustainable Financial Future
Dear Campus Community,
Over the past year, we have taken a thoughtful look at what it will take for the Division of Finance to help Berkeley build a stronger, more sustainable financial future. We have made meaningful progress, not only in developing our Division Strategic Plan, but in creating a shared understanding of where we are today, where we want to be, and how we can work together to get there.
Developing our Strategic Plan has truly been a collaborative effort. Leaders and staff from across the Division of Finance brought different perspectives, experiences, and areas of their expertise to the process. Through these discussions, we identified opportunities for improvement, considered how our contributions can have the greatest impact on the university and campus community, and examined the challenges we must address along the way. The result is a plan that reflects not only where we want to go, but the collective thinking and commitment of the individuals who will help us get there.
Our Division Strategic Plan begins with a shared vision for what we hope Berkeley’s financial future will look like. Our goals describe this future state, while our strategies guide our direction in the years ahead. Together, these strategies translate our broader goals into areas where we can focus our efforts and strengthen how we operate and achieve the objective of ending perennial austerity. Our goals include:
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Campus leaders make holistic, values-based, long-term decisions.
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The university has a strong financial community.
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The campus's financial picture is clearly understood by all audiences at the appropriate level.
We also took the time to reaffirm the division values that will guide us throughout this journey: Innovation, Collaboration, Integrity, and Accountability. These values reflect how we want to approach our responsibilities, make decisions, and partner with one another and our campus partners. As we move from planning into implementation, they will help us stay grounded in the principles that matter most while providing a shared framework for how we approach this plan and measure our progress.&
Looking ahead, our focus now turns to action. We have developed a three-year roadmap to move these strategies from planning to action, with clear tactics, and milestones to measure our progress along the way. This endeavor will require focus, efficiency, collaborative partnership, and a willingness to continually learn and adapt.
At its core, our work is about strengthening Berkeley’s financial foundation for the future and ending perennial austerity by creating conditions for more strategic, sustainable decision-making. I am grateful to everyone across the Division who has contributed to this initiative so far, and I look forward to continuing to move forward together as we put our strategic plan into action and make meaningful progress for Berkeley.
Thank you for your partnership and commitment to this important work.
Kelly Sparks
Vice Chancellor of Finance and Chief Financial Officer