The University of California and the Davis campus have a clear, explicit, and well documented organization structure. It is unremarkable, except for the very high level of commitment to the principle of shared governance, by which the faculty and administration have joint responsibility for the effective operation and overall excellence of the institution. The administrative leadership and organization is discussed in more detail in other Criteria and Standards. The faculty have primary responsibility for purely academic matters such as courses and curricula.

While academic departments and programs have considerable autonomy, the overall responsibility of the faculty for academic policy is evident in the extensive committee structure of the Senate. Every proposal for a new course or for a change in an existing course receives multiple levels of review. At the college level, there are the college courses committees and the college executive committees. At the campuswide level, there are several committees that are very important in academic matters. The Graduate Council oversees academic matters related to graduate education. The undergraduate education committee structure has just been reorganized. There is now an Undergraduate Council with overall responsibility for Senate policy on undergraduate education. It includes committees on general education, undergraduate instruction and program review, preparatory education, and special programs. In addition, there is the Committee on Courses of Instruction.

The Committee on Academic Planning and Budget Review is one formal mechanism by which Senate and administrative policy can be coordinated. There are numerous other established and ad hoc points of communication. The development of the Academic Plan exemplifies the extensive cooperation and consultation between faculty and administration on important complex issues with major implications for academics and resources.

Many Senate committees including the Executive Council, have undergraduate and graduate student members.