It was nearly six months ago that we decided to take necessary actions to support our students, staff, and faculty by mobilizing a comprehensive response to combat COVID-19. These efforts included shifting nearly 46,000 students to remote learning, aiding nearly 13,000 students to move out of their on-campus housing and refund their payments for Spring Quarter, temporarily suspending all parking permit fees, and ramping up technological capabilities to support the 46,000 students and approximately 24,000 employees working remotely.
In September, we learned that UCLA was recognized as the #1 public university in the country by U.S. News and World Reports. In the same month, we also learned that Niche awarded UCLA for having the #1 Best College Food in America for the fourth time in five years. These are just the most recent acknowledgments of the quality programs and services recognized as the best in class. UCLA Administration is both in the foreground and behind the scenes in bringing such quality to reality.
Looking forward, our strategic work plan sets out to make Administration more focused, innovative, and efficient in its delivery of services to customers and stakeholders across the organization and community. We strive to implement the plan in a comprehensive, transparent, and inclusive manner and encourage all staff and customers’ participation and engagement to contribute to this effort. This plan includes opportunities to change business processes and centralize certain services using a “hub and spoke” organizational model. Furthermore, it pushes UCLA to partner with neighboring agencies and institutions where synergies and cost savings can be achieved in addition to investing in technologies and people to deliver innovative solutions, and much more.
I am humbled by the extraordinary efforts made by each of you to support fellow teammates, serve the Bruin community, and make personal sacrifices to ensure excellent service continues during these extraordinary times. Whether you are working from home or on the campus, your individual and collective contributions are of tremendous value and keep the campus community functioning.
I look forward to sharing the full contents of this plan with you and our colleagues over the coming weeks and months as we embark on this journey. We shall rise up to the challenge together!
Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence, especially during this unprecedented time of uncertainty and challenge. I hope you know how much I appreciate all your contributions and the hard work you all do. I pray that you are all remaining safe and can’t wait to see you again during a Thank You Thursday event.
Gratefully,
Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor
UCLA Administration
