Sometimes, in behind-the-scenes and supportive functions like Procurement, our work can seem disconnected from the educational mission of the University. This may be more true if we don’t see students flocking to class every day, reminding us of why we do what we do.
To balance this, UC Procurement has focused on developing opportunities with our suppliers that help achieve organizational goals while directly benefiting students. Notable examples include the array of student-focused programs that further UC sustainability goals and/or create process efficiencies.
These inspiring programs garnered over $170,000 in supplier-sponsored internships in 2019:
- UC Procurement partnered with U.S. Bank to establish the Student Engagement Fund to support multiple student internships in process efficiency projects at various UC campuses.
- UC Procurement collaborated with Office Depot to fund an annual student-run sustainability project to optimize UC’s ‘green spend’ reporting and analysis of sustainable product standards in key categories.
- UC Procurement negotiated with multiple suppliers to fund student internships at seven UC campuses to develop Green Lab Action Plans and implement waste management improvements.
Another win-win collaboration benefiting students and supporting the UC mission was the 2019 UC Grad Slam sponsorship deal brokered by UC Procurement with Life Sciences supplier Thermo Fisher Scientific.
The UC Grad Slam is similar to a poetry slam (a competitive performance that showcases poets’ work in a few dramatic minutes) in which UC graduate researchers compete by summarizing their work in compelling ways. UC President Janet Napolitano emceed the contest, which is judged by a panel of leaders in industry, media, government and higher education.
For the 2019 Grad Slam, UC Procurement connected the UCOP Graduate Studies team (Grad Slam organizers) with experts from the Berkeley University Partnership Program to help them approach Thermo Fisher Scientific with an exciting new sponsorship opportunity. The proposal package was designed to generate immediate interest but also serve as a model for future sponsorships.
Not only did Thermo Fisher Scientific sponsor this year’s Grad Slam for $11,000, it inspired their Chief Scientific Officer to serve as an event judge, and facilitated a discussion for an expanded sponsorship for future Grad Slam events.
In moving our relationships with suppliers beyond transaction-only exchanges to value-based and student-focused opportunities, UC Procurement elevates its purpose from acquiring goods and services to directly furthering the UC mission by serving students.