Greetings!
Welcome to the Academic Affairs newsletter. Browse updates and announcements, connect to tips and resources, and check out stories from around campus.
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Dear Colleagues,
Spring Quarter is starting off with some excellent news.
First, in the state of California, all adults age 50+ are now eligible to sign up for vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 and those age 16+ will be eligible as of April 15. Vaccinations are now universally accessible through the state’s MyTurn portal. To promote public safety, we’ll be continuing our practices of symptom screening, asymptomatic testing, distancing, and masking throughout the coming months.
Second, our university continues to receive recognition for the excellence of our academic programs at all levels. In the K-12 arena, the Preuss School UC San Diego has earned a Distinguished School Award from the State of California, for providing an outstanding education and closing achievement gaps. Preuss was also recently featured in the local CBS News Innovate 8 segment; Dr. Phil Ensberg and his scholars showed off the Rube Goldberg projects they created at home during the pandemic. At the other end of the pipeline, US News & World Report’s latest rankings praise many of our graduate programs; to cite two notable examples: our Department of Political Science now ranks 8th nationwide, while the Jacobs School of Engineering is 9th in the nation.
Third, UC San Diego’s new 66,000 square foot building at Park and Market in downtown San Diego is rapidly nearing completion. As University Extension Dean Mary Walshok discussed in her recent keynote address at the Educational Innovation Winter Expo, this new building will facilitate programming related to research, education, performance and engagement -- and support the development of strong partnerships with community organizations that will have a presence there.
I recently had the opportunity to tour the new space -- and it is fantastic. High ceilings and large windows connect to the cityscape and trolley stops right outside. The areas for performances, lectures, exhibits, gatherings, and classes will be spacious and welcoming. An outdoor area flows naturally into adjoining neighborhood spaces, to create a sense of community. The neighborhood is ideally located, adjacent to a wide variety of office buildings, housing, schools, and cultural organizations, ensuring that our Park & Market offerings can connect to people of all ages through work, education, and entertainment.
I look forward to being able to take the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley directly from our new Design & Innovation Building to the entrance of the Park & Market building starting in the fall -- and I hope many of you will join me.
Wishing you all the best for the spring,
Elizabeth H. SimmonsElizabeth H. Simmons
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Creating a culture of care
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This interactive training is designed to assist faculty and staff in recognizing and supporting students in distress. What is a student in distress? A student whose academic progress or functioning in the university environment is adversely affected due to a number of indicators that are impacting their well-being and/or the well-being of others. Sessions are available on April 16, May 12, and June 1. To register, visit the UC learning center.
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Fullbright Day - April 15
Global Education and the Graduate Division are hosting UC San Diego's fourth annual Fulbright Day to educate students, scholars, faculty and staff on the available funding opportunities through the Fulbright Program. Fulbright Scholars offers diverse opportunities for U.S. academics, administrators, and professionals to teach, research and attend seminars abroad under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State's most prestigious fellowship program. The application cycle for the 2022-23 academic year is now open for the many international opportunities available in the awards catalog.
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Welcoming the new dean of GPS
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Reminder: Spring CCR opportunities
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Reopening the faculty COVID relief grant
We are pleased to announce that we are re-opening the Faculty Covid Relief Grant and accepting applications now through April 11. Eligible faculty who demonstrate a need for assistance due to unexpected demands on their time during the pandemic, e.g., redesigning courses, remote teaching challenges, increased support for students, young children at home (who would normally be in school or daycare), or other related challenges are encouraged to apply. Grants will be awarded based on demonstrated needs. Grant funds may be used for equipment, software, supplies, research personnel, graduate student support, or any other research or teaching support needed and as permitted by University policy. Please review the recent campus notice for details.
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Upcoming Return to Learn town halls
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UC San Diego is beginning the next phase of the plan to incrementally welcome more employees back to the campus, with safety and equity as the top priorities. We are reimagining our workplace to promote greater work-life balance in acknowledgment of the significant impact of shifting between remote and on-site work.
The first phase in our plan to gradually rewelcome employees back to campus is focused on increasing the number of faculty and principal investigators (PIs) permitted to use their individual labs, offices and studios for academic and research work within the county’s current 25 percent occupancy cap.
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Pre-approval for essential travel
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Temporary pandemic relief for Flexible Spending Accounts
For many, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to our plans and routines, including child care and health care. To support employees who need to make changes to their annual Flexible Spending Account elections or who are at risk of losing their FSA contributions, UC has approved some important temporary changes, in line with the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021. Please review the campus notice for details, including answers to frequently asked questions.
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UC Global Health Day 2021
We are thrilled to invite you to submit to the Creative Expression Contest in photography, video and poetry. Selected submissions will be featured in this year’s UC Global Health Day on April 24th. Contest details
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Staying connected and communicating as a team
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The success of any team depends on good communication. For remote teams, where virtual team members may be in different places and time zones, with different working styles and cultures, effective communication is essential and can also be a challenge. Watch this brief video in the UC Learning Center to learn strategies for building trust, establishing reliable communication, and staying connected.
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Submit your workplace ideas!
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2021 Goldwater Scholars
Pleased to share that three students have been named 2021 Goldwater Scholars: Congratulations to Mara Casebeer, Aditi Gnanasekar, and Claire Zhang!
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. From an estimated pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors, 1256 natural science, engineering and mathematics students were nominated by 438 academic institutions to compete for the 2021 Goldwater scholarships. Learn more.
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Full STEM Ahead
Below are links to video content from last week’s Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom. The stories and discussion within these videos are inspiring and moving. Please share widely, as appropriate.
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Have an idea for our newsletter? We'd love to hear from you!
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