In FY25/26, UC Davis implemented a 10% budget reduction across the university. At the same time, campus units continued to seek outside vendors for marketing and communications support. To respond to both pressures, we launched the UC Davis Commons, an internal marketplace designed to retain institutional expertise and keep more work within the university. The UC Davis Commons functions as a website directory of campus service providers. Each participating unit maintains its own webpage and service listings, making it easier for colleagues to find and hire internal partners before pursuing external contracts. The structure is flexible. Some units operate through defined project agreements with clear scopes, timelines, and costs, while others use approved recharge rates. All transactions occur within the university financial system. Before launch, we conducted a focused review of vendor spending and identified more than $500,000 paid to just five external firms for communications-related work. Although only a partial review, it confirmed sustained demand during a period of staffing reductions. In its first fiscal year, UC Davis Commons generated seven new cross-campus projects, totaling approximately $100,000 for just our team and helping stabilize key roles affected by budget cuts. Still in the pilot phase, UC Davis Commons offers a practical model for institutions seeking to strengthen internal capacity without increasing budgets.
From the Judges
Thoughtful approach that not only addressed a budget crisis but preserved internal talent in the process. Other institutions could adopt this idea.
