Leadership Accountability and Institutional Values at UC Berkeley in the Context of AI-Based Administrative Systems

This study examines how leadership responsibility is expressed through institutional policies governing AI-based administrative systems at the University of California, Berkeley. The analysis focuses on formal administrative guidance that defines leadership roles, review responsibilities, and decision accountability when automated systems influence institutional processes. The findings show that leadership accountability is strengthened when policies clearly specify administrative responsibility, outline review procedures, and maintain direct leadership involvement in decision processes. Clear guidance supports consistent administrative practice and reinforces institutional commitments to fairness, transparency, and responsible leadership. Where guidance lacks clarity, responsibility becomes unclear and oversight weakens. This research contributes to higher education leadership studies by demonstrating how administrative policy shapes leadership responsibility during technological adoption. It offers an approach for examining whether institutional leadership practices remain effective as AI-supported systems are introduced into university administration.