On behalf of the College of Letters & Science (L&S), I am thrilled to provide you with our second annual L&S Leadership Fund Impact Report, which highlights what we achieved this past year thanks to your generous philanthropy. Donors like you are a vital part of our college’s success. Without you, we would not be able to create and maintain foundational programs and opportunities that guide our students toward rich and fulfilling lives at Berkeley and beyond.
As executive dean for the largest college at the world’s No. 1 public university, I feel an enormous responsibility to help our students thrive. They depend on us to provide them with a first-rate education, just as we rely on them to elevate our college’s research, reputation, and spirit. To heighten student success, our college has launched new programs and reimagined existing ones to enrich the undergraduate learning experience and foster academic excellence.
As we enter the 2024-25 academic year, we welcome a new chancellor, Rich Lyons, and a new dean of biological sciences, Richard Harland. We are so grateful to former chancellor Carol Christ and former dean Michael Botchan for all of their contributions, and I am excited to partner with our new campus leaders to propel the College of Letters & Science into the future. Thank you for helping us to uplift our college’s efforts to create a more welcoming and enriching environment for students.
Fiat Lux!
Jennifer Johnson-Hanks, Executive Dean, College of Letters & Science
WELCOMING INCOMING STUDENTS
The transition after high school is one of life’s most significant milestones. The L&S Leadership Fund provides guidance for incoming students so they get the most out of Berkeley from day one.
Starting college off right
For the second year in a row, our “Finding Your Academic Path at Berkeley” event was the top-attended session (other than the chancellor’s welcome speech) at Cal Day. This year, we put together a panel featuring eight L&S students who participated in Freshman/Sophomore Seminars, Integrative Biology (IB) Discovery for All, MPS Scholars, L&S First-Year Pathways, the Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP), and Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF). These initiatives help students explore the many options available at UC Berkeley and discover their unique academic path. The standing-room-only audience of newly admitted students and their parents listened eagerly to the panelists’ advice.
Leadership Fund donors also underwrote Golden Bear Experience, an August orientation program that helped new undergraduates become acquainted with Berkeley’s rich array of academic opportunities and resources. Incoming students received a comprehensive overview of the university, learned about class registration from academic advisers, and built relationships with peers at community events.
GUIDING NEW STUDENTS TOWARD THEIR PASSION
L&S has made great strides in improving the student experience — particularly during the first semester — with new programs and revamped courses.
Helping first-year students find their way
Last fall, we guided our inaugural cohort through the L&S First-Year Pathways program. Students took thematically linked courses together with a small group and benefited from stronger peer networks, interdisciplinary connections, and easier registration. Many students reported identifying desired majors, accessing research opportunities, and building close relationships through the program. In response to positive feedback and suggestions, we have added pre-med and democracy tracks to the program this fall.
"As a first-semester student, it’s a very good introduction to Berkeley as a whole. It reminds you that keeping an open mind and learning from a multitude of perspectives is very important and part of the reason why you’re here." – L&S First-Year Pathways participant
Spotlighting Berkeley’s role in the disability rights movement
The 2023-24 academic year brought renewed attention to disability studies on campus. The Division of Undergraduate Studies celebrated the 20th anniversary of its disability studies minor, and the On the Same Page program featured Crip Camp, a documentary film that chronicles the disability rights movement and its fight for accessibility. First-year students and other Berkeley community members deepened their understanding of the film’s backstory through L&S-sponsored events and programs created in partnership with the Berkeley Library, Disability Cultural Community Center, Othering & Belonging Institute, and Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability.
Using the college’s breadth to open up new horizons
We dedicate a lot of thought and energy to developing courses that provide the spark that leads undeclared students to their calling.
In the last school year, we offered 89 Freshman and Sophomore Seminars. These courses maintain low student-to-faculty class ratios and give students direct access to leading faculty. Course evaluation scores for the past year were exceptionally high. Students shared that the small class sizes and discussion-based learning built their confidence, supported their integration into our large university, and helped them find their place.
We also ran another round of Big Ideas Courses, interdisciplinary courses in which at least two of our most engaging instructors take up a key intellectual and societal challenge. This past year, we added two new classes that reflect growing student interest: “From Imagination to Innovation” and “AI, Robotics, and Art.” Students follow their passion in a broad theme and may discover a discipline that tackles the topic in a way they find compelling.
Similarly, we design our L&S Discovery Courses to engage and ignite the minds of non-experts while fulfilling college breadth requirements. Students love the chance to take courses with thrilling speakers like astronomer Alex Filippenko and psychologist Dacher Keltner. Each of our hand-picked courses is funded by L&S Leadership Fund donors.
"I love the L&S Discovery Courses — this is my third! I feel it contributed greatly to my understanding of the world and to my education." – L&S Discovery Course student
PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFE AFTER BERKELEY
UC Berkeley is an engine of success that improves social mobility for Californians. A degree from Berkeley opens doors that otherwise might have remained closed. Yet, there is always more we could be doing to equip our students with the skills they will need to lead meaningful lives long after graduation.
Sharing the benefits of research with more undergraduates
Berkeley strives to offer research experience to as many students as possible. This past year, the L&S Leadership Fund extended the reach of our two flagship programs, the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship and Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program, to 23 additional students. Students love the opportunity to develop their research skills through deep investigation and faculty mentorship, preparing students for graduate school and interesting careers.
"I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for this generous funding towards my research project. With your support, I will be able to explore the connection between some of the academic interests I am most passionate about in an interdisciplinary manner." SURF fellow
Retaining brilliant minds at Berkeley
To maintain our college’s competitive edge, we must hire talented staff. Our graduate students represent a wealth of untapped potential. This year, we partnered with the Graduate Division on a new initiative to offer recent Ph.D. alums valuable work experience in higher education administration. The two-year Future of Higher Education Postdoctoral Fellowship Program addresses the need for career pathways beyond academia and the lack of diversity in higher education leadership. Fellows continue their graduate research while gaining professional skills in one of three tracks: data, student experience, and leadership and strategic initiatives.
Appraising our curriculum for 21st century students
The L&S Futures project has made great headway in rethinking general education requirements for all students in the college. We are nearing the end of the second year of this once-in-a-generation assessment of the components of the L&S bachelor’s degree. A committee of faculty crafted a first draft of proposals to translate the nine core competencies we hope to develop in students — writing, empathy, integrity, collaboration, responsibility, critical thinking, quantitative skills, and consideration for others' perspectives — into specific requirements and policies. The committee plans to submit a finalized set of recommendations this fall.