2025-2026 UC Women’s Initiative for Professional Development
UC WI is a unique, experiential professional development program committed to enabling the full participation, success and advancement of woman-identified professionals at the University. The program is open to all who support this mission.
Websites:
For Questions/Support:
- UC Contact:
- UCR Contact:
Program Details
2025/2026 Program Overview
- Key Dates:
- Call For Application.
- Application Due Date.
- Program TimeFrame.
- Program Modality:
- Program Fee of $1,287.50 per participant
- To view the UC WI schedule for North and South Cohorts, please visit the UC WI Cohort Schedule webpage.
Sponsors and Management
- UC WI is sponsored by the President's Office and the Systemwide Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (SACSW).
- Systemwide Talent Management administers the program and coordinates nominations with locations.
Target Audience
- Mid-career faculty, academic personnel and staff from campuses, health centers, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Office of the President.
- Someone who has demonstrated potential for advancement.
Participant Outcomes
- Build strategic relationships.
- Actively communicate their value to the organization.
- Advocate for their own needs in the workplace.
- Coach others to demonstrate their value to the organization.
- Increase awareness of diverse UC career paths.
Participant Criteria
- The nominee is a current mid-career faculty, academic personnel and staff from campuses, health centers, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Office of the President.
- Demonstrated potential for advancement.
- Is a woman-identified professional or supports woman-identified professionals and seeks to learn concepts that improve their effectiveness at work and hear about the career journeys of established UC leaders.
- Represents the diversity at each UC location.
- Represents different functions and departments at each location.
- Is able to commit to the program with full attendance and participation at all sessions.
- Is able to complete intersession assignments which require up to two hours between seminars.
- Has the written support of their supervisor or Chancellor Cabinet Member.
Program Participation Expectations
- Participate fully — the UC Women’s Initiative is experiential and relies heavily on full participant contribution.
- Attend all program sessions in their entirety—locations will be charged for participants who do not complete the program.
- Complete the Pre-Work and Pre-Program Survey before the first day of their assigned cohort.
- Complete up to 2 hours of additional work assigned between program sessions.
UC WI Participant Costs
The participant fee covers virtual program delivery and all program resources, tools and support.
- Program Fee of $1,287.50 per participant
2025/2026 Nomination Process
- Individuals may be nominated or may apply to participate in the program.
- Nomination process dates coming soon
- Nomination process dates coming soon
- Review the UC WI FAQ’s
For more information regarding the UC Women’s Initiative for Professional Development, please visit the UC Women's Initiative webpage or contact ucwomensinitiative@ucop.edu.
For local support please contact ucrwomensinitiative@ucr.edu.
UC Women's Initiative Connect
UC Women’s Initiative Connect makes it easy for UCWI graduates to stay in contact with each other, explore jobs and volunteer opportunities, share expertise, support each other and network.
If you are a UCWI Graduate and have questions, or would like to sign up, please contact UC Women’s Initiative ucwomensinitiative@ucop.edu.