"Discovery will be the foundation of the Berkeley experience and the heart of our campus identity." - UC Berkeley Strategic Plan
The Berkeley Discovery Initiative is a campus-wide effort to transform undergraduate education, and support students on a journey of engaged creativity and self-actualization. The “Discovery Arc” will begin the moment students arrive on campus as they are introduced to a creative vision of higher education. The journey will continue as students are invited into immersive and inquiry-driven learning across the curriculum. The arc will culminate with a personalized discovery project, whether original research, artistic production, entrepreneurial initiative, or community-engaged service. Ultimately, Berkeley Discovery aims to instill a life-long ethos of engaging with grand challenges, fostering creativity, and journeying toward innovation.
The core goals of the Berkeley Discovery Initiative are to:
● Elevate Discovery to become a universal signature of the Berkeley undergraduate experience
● Catalyze curricular innovation at the department level to better weave discovery into the fabric of undergraduate education
● Expand capacity in co-curricular programs by providing more opportunities in research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative discovery
● Develop a scaffolded arc for undergraduates from Berkeley Connect to Berkeley Discover that fosters a sense of belonging, builds a campus culture of student agency, and promotes authentic mentoring
● Provide equity of student experience by ensuring that all students have access to Discovery, with active recruitment, and retention strategies for first generation and underrepresented students
● Promote resilience and creative opportunities for Discovery during periods of remote learning