Message from the Dean

March 25, 2016

Our Campus Heard Us — Great News!

Doug Clark

Dear College of Chemistry community,

It is my profound pleasure to inform you that the campus administration has removed the possibility of dissolving the College of Chemistry from the academic structural realignments that are being considered. The College of Chemistry will remain intact as a single independent unit.

We will move forward now from this strong position. Our faculty will be working with campus as a team to help devise creative and sound ways for addressing the structural deficit and continuing to develop the multidisciplinary power of this great university. 

I am certain that the outpouring of support from the CoC community was crucial in persuading campus that the unique structure of the College of Chemistry is integral to its worldwide reputation, to the outstanding productivity of its renowned faculty, and to its strength as a fund-raising and revenue-generating enterprise.

I would like to acknowledge this vital support in a general way, here. Support for the College has been demonstrated in many ways:

  • an impressive group letter from the College of Chemistry faculty, spearheaded by CBE professor Alex Bell;
  • a powerful group letter from a majority of our Advisory Board members;
  • letters of support from our five living Nobel Laureate alumni and four of our National Medal of Science awardees;
  • individual letters from prominent members of the Berkeley community;
  • numerous emails, letters and phone calls from concerned alumni, colleagues, and friends, offering their assistance;
  • and, with remarkable impact, the change.org petition, initiated independently by undergraduate Jo Melville, that garnered almost 4,500 signatures and scores of comments from students, parents, staff, alumni and colleagues across the nation, catalyzing articles in the international, national, state and local media. 

As dean, I am deeply grateful for the energy, devotion and commitment shown by so many of you. Thank you. I am tremendously proud to be the dean of this wonderful College.

Sincerely,

Doug