[CTcard]

(and an addendum: without knowing whether your peers are in a research-grant-predominant department or not, I suspect the experience at Berkeley varies a lot on this basis, because outside money can provide a department with more autonomy. The department I'm familiar with is comparatively less able to rely on outside grants, and so funding decisions are inextricably tied to central campus's prerogatives.)

I mostly know physics, chemistry, materials science, and electrical engineering.

These departments bring in outside research funding. That money doesn't bring a department autonomy in any direct sense, but it probably helps in broad and indirect ways in the constant, ongoing battle for resources.

As a rule, all faculty have contempt for central campus administration. The degree generally depends upon how much they've lost out in the latest round of budget cuts. I understand times have been rather tough there lately.

[CTcard]

(and an addendum: without knowing whether your peers are in a research-grant-predominant department or not, I suspect the experience at Berkeley varies a lot on this basis, because outside money can provide a department with more autonomy. The department I'm familiar with is comparatively less able to rely on outside grants, and so funding decisions are inextricably tied to central campus's prerogatives.)

I mostly know physics, chemistry, materials science, and electrical engineering.

These departments bring in outside research funding. That money doesn't bring a department autonomy in any direct sense, but it probably helps in broad and indirect ways in the constant, ongoing battle for resources.

As a rule, all faculty have contempt for central campus administration. The degree generally depends upon how much they've lost out in the latest round of budget cuts. I understand times have been rather tough there lately.