Chronus serves as a bridge to remove barriers that hinder genuine connections. Simply sign up, log on, and let the program handle the heavy lifting of matching you with a peer and initiating conversations that make an impact.
UC Berkeley staff have asked for more structured environments to connect with peers across campus. The UC Berkeley Peer Connections Program is one way we’re making that happen.
This is a self-driven program that prioritizes meaningful connections by pairing participants with a peer, an individual working at an equivalent level at UC Berkeley. In general, managers will be matched with fellow managers, and individual contributor staff will be matched with peers at their level, ensuring a balanced and comfortable exchange.
In addition to matching participants based on their organizational level, participants complete a questionnaire - the Purpose Profile - detailing their goals and motivating factors at work. Using this information, Chronus's matching team will generate purposeful peer matches, helping connect individuals with shared values and aspirations.
Once matched, participants will meet with their peer connection over the course of the matching period. During these weeks of connection, participants will engage in a series of 3 to 5 Smart Conversations, guided conversations utilizing unique prompts provided by Chronus and structured around both individual participants' Purpose Profiles. These Smart Conversations are designed to facilitate impactful interactions from the very start and dig deeper than your typical networking conversation. Peer connections will discuss your similarities, differences, values, goals, and what truly drives you.
At the end of the matching period, participants will be matched with a new peer, allowing for participants to match with 3 different peer connections over the course of 1 year.
UC Berkeley People & Culture values community and connection, and we proudly sponsor the UC Berkeley Peer Connections Program as an opportunity for staff to build meaningful, supportive relationships across our campus.
In the dynamic landscape of our hybrid work environment, we understand the challenges of fostering organic connections. The Chronus platform is one solution to make engagement and connection more accessible for you and your colleagues.
We hope that participants will:
These conversations are not recorded, so participants can feel comfortable using this dedicated window of time to speak freely about their work, their goals, and their motivations. Additionally, the peer-to-peer approach aims to foster a level playing field for participants to feel safe and comfortable expressing themselves authentically.
Over the course of 1 year, program participants will be matched with 3 different peer connections. Each peer connection will take place within the time frames outlined below. During that time, participants will engage in 1-hour Smart Conversations through an online platform. These Smart Conversations will prompt participants to discuss wins, challenges, opportunities and much more related to their work.
Participants will manage the scheduling of their own Smart Conversations directly with their peers, allowing them to find times that are convenient for each participant.
In total, over the 1-year program, participants must plan to commit to 12 hours of conversation spent with their peer connections, and 1 hour to set up their Imperative account and complete the Purpose Profile.
Period 1: September 14, 2026 – December 11, 2026
Period 2: January 11, 2027 – March 5, 2027
Period 3: March 15, 2027 – May 7, 2027
Initial orientation(s) at the start of each round.
This program is open to any UC Berkeley staff who wish to participate and meet the criteria below. Participants must:
Be employed in a Full-time or Part-time Career or Contract position, (including non-represented and represented employees) at UC Berkeley.
Have completed their probationary period (if you are unsure about whether you have completed your probationary period, please ask your manager/supervisor).
Be on pay status at the time of enrollment.
Have the support of their direct manager/supervisor to ensure that they are able to participate in all program events as part of their professional development, and supported by our Participation in Campus-Sponsored Activities Policy.
Complete the program application.
Please submit your application here.
UC Berkeley has 100 spots available for staff to participate in the 2026-27 UC Berkeley Peer Connections Program.
To be selected for a spot, please submit your application by Monday, August 24, 2026, at 5:00 pm PST. After that time, 100 participants will be randomly selected to join the program.
Applicants will be notified by Friday, August 28th, regarding their placement and status.
Please note: if you are not randomly selected to participate in 2026-27, you will be given priority to join the program in 2027-28.
