One of the reasons I believe in setting goals is that they give us a compass. When the work is complex and the to-do list never ends, goals help us stay oriented — reminding us of where we’re headed and why it matters. 

Think about the everyday ways you interact with UC Davis. The forms you fill out to get work done. The safety of walking across campus at night. The beauty of the Arboretum when you need a break. The speed of help when there’s an emergency. Behind each of these moments is a team that set a goal, followed it through, and made life at UC Davis a little better. 

Last year, our compass guided us to some remarkable milestones: replacing clunky paper forms with DocuSign, hitting a construction milestone on the Arboretum Waterway a full year early, launching new financial tools in Aggie Enterprise, and even helping secure one of the largest philanthropic gifts in our history for the Maria Manetti Shrem Art District. Human Resources asked tough questions in the Employee Experience Survey — and you responded in record numbers. The Fire Department expanded Narcan distribution on campus, helping save lives. 

This year, our compass points toward new possibilities that will again show up in your daily experience. Soon you’ll be able to pay for parking on a new mobile app and even see where spaces are available. A new shipping center will extend university mailing discounts to everyone. Facilities is expanding its Learning by Leading program to bring more student and volunteer energy into caring for our campus landscapes. Police are adding more blue light call boxes and preparing to launch all-digital ID cards. Fire is testing new emergency tools and collecting wildfire air samples that will directly support UC Davis research. Safety Services is deploying building-level emergency plans and a new Youth Protection Handbook. 

Each of these goals might look small on its own, but together they keep us moving in the right direction — toward a university that works better for the people who learn, live and work here every day. 

This is our third year of sharing and tracking our goals in a transparent way. I encourage you to explore the interactive website, filter by category or unit, and see how your work connects to the bigger picture.