The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research is an administrative office that helps the Santa Cruz campus provide an effective environment for faculty research in departments as well as within formal Organized Research Units (ORUs), Multi-campus Research Units (MRIs) as well as through centers and other programs. The aim is to ensure high quality graduate education and research training; facilitate the processes and procedures for acquiring and administering research funding on campus; oversee the compliance of campus research with federal, state and university regulations; and insure the dissemination of faculty efforts both to the public, through publications, education and outreach, and to private industry through technology transfer.

These activities are supported by regular review of graduate programs and ORUs by faculty in order to maintain the excellent quality of research and graduate training on the campus and by an information system and technology structure that facilitates achieving the goals in cost-effective ways.