UCLA Connects:
Listening Exercise
In the spirit of connecting with our community, I am pleased to invite you to participate in a comprehensive, active UCLA Connects: Listening Exercise. This is a series of conversations that will bring together every school and unit on our campus, including UCLA Health, and include voices from every group in our wider Bruin family.
I will be at each session with open ears and an open heart. What you share will help me better understand our community’s hopes and aspirations — and will shape the vision I lay out at my inauguration on June 5. I am also looking for ways to fine-tune the goals in our 2023-28 Strategic Plan, so we can keep our mission of teaching, learning, and service front and center.
On this dedicated listening exercise web page, we will share the progress of the exercise and the insights that come out of it. Please take some time to read through the page and share your thoughts and ideas with me.
I look forward to meeting with you, hearing from you, learning from you and developing a shared vision for our remarkable university.
We are One UCLA.
Julio Frenk
Chancellor
By the Numbers
Questions & Comments
Schools & Departments
Total Meetings
Total Attendees
During his first several months in office, from February to May of 2025, Chancellor Frenk joined the UCLA community for the UCLA Connects: Listening Exercise. This series of 38 conversations brought together every school and unit on campus, including UCLA Health, as well as voices from the wider Bruin family.
The discussions contributed to the development of a collective vision for the future of UCLA that Chancellor Frenk shared during his inauguration ceremony on June 5, 2025. Learn more about the listening exercise and read summaries of the sessions below.
UCLA Finance Listening Exercise
Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with UCLA Finance on May 28, 2025 expressed their appreciation for the discussion, especially during a time of change and uncertainty. There was interest in the chancellor’s vision for UCLA and an acknowledgement of…
Black Life Advisory Group Listening Exercise
Participants in the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with the Black Life Advisory Group on May 22, 2025 expressed a range of hopes and aspirations for the future. Themes of empowerment, growth, and community building emerged repeatedly throughout the discussion. Some individuals…
UCLA Health Listening Exercise
Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with UCLA Health on May 16, 2025 expressed hopes and aspirations for the future of UCLA’s medical enterprise. One speaker highlighted the university’s strengths in research, mentioning UCLA Research Park, the California Institute for…
Chancellor’s Office; Legal; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI); Academic Personnel; Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost; Teaching & Learning Center and Campus & Community Safety Listening Exercise
Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with the chancellor’s office and other offices on May 12, 2025 engaged in a wide-ranging discussion encompassing several key themes. The importance of mentorship in fostering individual and institutional growth was highlighted, with the…
UCLA Registered Student Organization Listening Exercise
Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise for Registered Student Organization Leaders on May 9, 2025 shared several ideas and concerns. Housing availability was a key topic, with students asking about the university’s plans to ensure a four-year housing guarantee. Representatives…
Office of Research & Creative Activities & Institute of American Cultures Listening Exercise
Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with the Office of Research and Creative Activities and the Institute of American Cultures on May 9, 2025 expressed concerns about the impact of federal budget cuts on research funding at UCLA. A speaker…
Native American Advisory Group Listening Exercise
Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with the Native American Advisory Group on May 8, 2025 expressed concerns and offered suggestions regarding the need for increased support and resources for Native American and Indigenous affairs within the university. A speaker…
UCLA Student-Athletes Leadership Listening Exercise
Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with Student-Athlete Leaders on May 7, 2025 shared a variety of aspirations, concerns, and questions. Some speakers emphasized the financial challenges faced by club sports, highlighting the need for resource allocation and support. A…
UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television Listening Exercise
Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with UCLA Theater, Film & Television (TFT) on May 2, 2025 expressed their appreciation for the event. They highlighted the collaborative efforts of TFT with other schools and within the UCLA campus community. They…