The ASL is selected by the unit under review. They are not affiliated with the unit. They have two principal functions: the first is to provide guidance to the ERC about UC Berkeley, its particular culture and institutions, and the context in which the department operates; the second is to act as the Academic Senate's observer in the review, for both its process and its content. As part of the latter the Senate Liaison is charged with focusing on the general environment in the department (e.g., faculty-student relations, status of women and underrepresented minorities, staff morale, teaching quality and quantity, intra-college/department faculty relations and collegiality). Although the liaison's focus is not on curricular or research issues, their observations about the department’s place within the larger intellectual landscape of the campus are valuable, along with any additional aspects that the Academic Senate wishes to learn more about.