Bearometer

Your Question Keepers are pleased to announce our First Annual Beary Awards: citations that we are honored to bestow on units whose participation in 2025 merited special distinction. But first, we would like to share a few reflections on our survey’s inaugural year. The Bearometer’s first question, suggested to us by the Senate’s Faculty Welfare…

On Nov. 19, 2025, the Faculty Bearometer distributed the following question to 2,579 senate members. To what extent, if at all, does ideological homogeneity within your department limit open and vigorous discussion of important issues in your discipline? N=143

The Faculty Bearometer sent the following question on November 11, 2025 to 2,589 faculty senate members: How, if at all, have you changed formative or summative assessment of your students because of generative AI? N=113. Of the participants, 108 were regular faculty, 5 have emeritus status. 61 of the participants had a primary appointment in…

The Bearometer is an independent faculty project that poses a single poll question to Berkeley Senate faculty on issues of teaching and governance. It is unaffiliated with the Academic Senate or the administration and is modeled on MIT’s Faculty Pulse. Faculty propose and vote on questions, which are then selected by the Question Keepers (currently…

The Faculty Bearometer sent the following question on October 28, 2025 to 2596 faculty senate members: What have you observed about how disability accommodations are implemented at Berkeley (e.g., benefits, costs, process, communication, fairness, inclusion, workload, small/large class dynamics)? N=130 (4 submissions are blank). Of the participants, 119 were regular faculty, 11 have emeritus status.…

The Faculty Bearometer sent the following question on October 14, 2025 to 2,614 faculty senate members: What percentage of undergraduate students attend your lecture on any given day? 180 faculty answered this survey. The results are available at the link provided to faculty.

The Faculty Bearometer sent the following question on October 7, 2025 to 2,620 faculty senate members: What do you enjoy most about being a faculty member at Berkeley? (open text response). 138 responded. The Bearometer also sought votes for the following nominated questions (in randomized order). 114 responded.

The Faculty Bearometer sent the following question on September 23, 2025 to 2,630 faculty senate members: Has the use of student evaluations of teaching in faculty merit and promotion cases affected the difficulty of your course? If so, how? 238 responded. Respondents could choose multiple responses:

All, here are some methods updates on the Bearometer for Fall 2025. Our faculty changes, and so our N fluctuates. In September 2025, we added new faculty who have joined the campus this fall, and eliminated entries for those departed. Our N also decreases over time as faculty opt out of the Bearometer. When we…

The Faculty Bearometer sent the following question on April 29, 2025 to 2,564 faculty senate members: Thinking about the students you teach, what portion of them are exceptionally prepared, adequately prepared, minimally prepared, or not at all prepared for the level of rigor you believe UC Berkeley coursework requires? 238 responded. The results are available…

On April 22, 2025, we distributed the following question to senate faculty (2567 members) via Qualtrics email contacts. 237 completed the survey. Results are available in the link circulated to senate faculty. Over the past 12 months, approximately how much have you personally spent on work-related expenses without getting fully reimbursed, because of policy rules…

On April 16, 2025, we distributed the following question to senate faculty (2564 members) via Qualtrics email contacts. 291 completed the survey. Results are available in the link circulated to senate faculty. In the current environment where our university’s mode of operation is being openly challenged by powerful outside forces, do you believe that some…

On April 8, 2025, we distributed the following question to senate faculty (2579 members) via Qualtrics email contacts. 155 completed the survey. Results are available in the link circulated to senate faculty. A new chancellor means a new vision for Berkeley. What are the most important issues the strategic planning process should address?

On April 1, 2025, we distributed the following question to senate faculty (2588 members) via Qualtrics email contacts. 335 completed the survey. Results are available in the link circulated to senate faculty. Are you concerned about retaliation when you speak, or is your speech chilled by any of the classes of people listed below?

On March 4, 2025, we distributed the following question to senate faculty (2635 members) via Qualtrics email contacts. 341 completed the survey. Results are available in the link sent to senate faculty members. What level of priority should Berkeley place on intercollegiate athletics?

On February 20, 2025, we distributed the following question to senate faculty (2635 members) via Qualtrics email contacts. 430 completed the survey. Results are available at the link sent to senate faculty members. Should UC Berkeley go back to using standardized test scores (e.g. SAT or ACT) in undergraduate applications?

On February 11, 2025, we distributed the following question to senate faculty (2635 members) via Qualtrics email contacts: “As the University prepares to renegotiate the graduate student union agreement, what is the most important insight you want negotiators to understand about how the current agreement impacts your teaching or research?” 179 responded. Results available by…

On January 27th, 2025, we distributed the following question to senate faculty (2635 members) via Qualtrics email contacts. 300 submitted responses. What is the single most important challenge to your overall welfare as a faculty member at Cal? Results are at the link circulated to senate faculty members.