Achievement Relative to Opportunity (ARO) Principles 

---

TO: 
SENATE FACULTY
DEANS
DEPARTMENT CHAIRS

FROM: 
CAP Chair Gregory Gilbert
Interim CP/EVC Paul Koch

RE: Achievement Relative to Opportunity (ARO) Principles 

Dear Colleagues:

We understand that recent federal changes to funding, institutions, and travel opportunities may have significant impacts on the research and teaching of UCSC faculty.

As in all personnel cases, when preparing files for the 2025-26 review cycle, faculty personal statements and departmental letters should provide context for any external disruptions that have impacted research and/or teaching activity. Departmental personnel review committees, chairs, deans, the Committee on Academic Personnel (CAP), and final decision authorities (deans, CP/EVC, Chancellor) will take such factors into account when reviewing cases.

The campus is working actively on establishing more detailed and comprehensive guidelines for how to consider ARO in personnel reviews. Following Senate and dean consultation, we expect to have full guidelines in place by the end of the fall quarter for 2026-27 and subsequent review cycles.

cc: 

Christina Ravelo, Vice Provost, Academic Affairs
Matthew McCarthy, Chair, Academic Senate
Matthew Mednick, Director, Academic Senate
Jaden Silva-Espinoza, CAP Analyst
Academic Personnel Office
Divisional Academic Personnel Coordinators
Department Managers