Campus Initiatives

Overview

OSI leads and supports large-scale, cross-campus initiatives that are critical to UC San Diego’s strategic goals We serve as program managers and facilitators—defining scope, aligning stakeholders, and keeping efforts on track through structured planning and transparent communication.

Whether it’s launching a new initiative or improving system-wide processes, we bring a neutral, university-wide perspective to ensure coordination and clarity. The result is strategic progress with less friction and stronger collaboration across the institution.

What We Offer

Our role is to organize high-priority initiatives, connect the dots between different units, and ensure that the project stays aligned with the university’s vision and delivers real results

Scoping & Chartering

OSI partners with sponsors to define project goals, scope, stakeholders, and governance—ensuring clear alignment from the start through a formal project charter.

Project Management

We create project plans, manage timelines, track progress, and resolve blockers—keeping large initiatives organized and on schedule with tools and structured coordination.

Cross-Department Facilitation

OSI leads discussions across departments to surface concerns, build consensus, and document agreements—ensuring alignment on key decisions throughout the project lifecycle.

Reporting & Monitoring

We deliver tailored updates, define success metrics, and meet internal or external reporting needs—so leadership and teams stay informed and accountable.

What to Expect

Strong Start
When OSI supports a campus-wide initiative, we begin by setting up governance structures and a shared understanding of scope. This often includes establishing a steering committee, defining roles, and facilitating a kickoff meeting that aligns stakeholders around goals, timelines, and responsibilities.

Ongoing Coordination
Throughout the project, OSI serves as the central coordinator—leading meetings, tracking progress, managing tasks, and flagging risks. We maintain communication across units, document decisions, and ensure that everyone stays informed and engaged. We’re especially mindful of scope: if new requests arise, we evaluate and document changes to avoid confusion or delay.

Stakeholder Engagement
We emphasize transparency and inclusive communication. That could mean hosting town halls, developing a project website, or sending regular updates to make sure impacted staff and faculty are in the loop. We also facilitate tough conversations and resolve conflicts when priorities or perspectives diverge.

Change That Lasts
OSI helps prepare for implementation—running pilots, finalizing documentation, and coordinating training or communications. We stay involved through go-live to monitor progress and troubleshoot issues. Our goal is not just to launch the project but to leave your team set up for lasting success.

Project Spotlight - 2024 Strategic Plan Refresh: A Triton-Wide Collaboration

The Challenge and Our Approach
After a decade of transformational growth guided by the 2014 Strategic Plan, UC San Diego leadership recognized the need to refresh the plan to meet the evolving needs of the campus and the broader world. In 2024, the Chancellor launched a university-wide effort to update the plan’s goals, sharpen priorities, and strengthen alignment across the institution.

With support from OSI, the Strategic Planning Council led an inclusive process that engaged thousands of students, faculty, and staff through surveys, listening sessions, town halls, and working groups. Rather than starting from scratch, the refresh built on the original plan—refining goals, revalidating UC San Diego’s mission and vision, and introducing new emphases on People, Collaboration, and Efficiency.

The Impact
The updated plan features seven campus-wide goals and fourteen strategic areas, from advancing high-impact research to enhancing well-being and streamlining operations. It also introduces six refreshed research themes and new funding initiatives to accelerate interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. As implementation begins, the plan is already serving as a unifying framework for campus priorities—aligning efforts, informing decision-making, and guiding UC San Diego’s next decade of impact.

Let's Collaborate

Do you have a university-wide project or transformational idea on the horizon? Get in touch to discuss how we can support your campus-wide project – from initial planning through execution.