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Dear Colleagues,
After some chillier weeks, I hope you were able to enjoy the warmer weather this past weekend. We will continue to look for bright spots as we navigate challenging times. While the current barriers and unknowns certainly feel daunting, we will find strength and resilience by continuing to work together and support each other.
I encourage everyone to keep working collectively toward our common goals, to remain attentive to our Principles of Community, and to take a little extra time to ensure you are communicating with care and looking out for those in your circles. A few kind words or an offering of grace may help a student or colleague tremendously on a difficult day.
My most recent blog post highlights the importance of “Communication and Connection During Uncertain Times.” I hope you all feel empowered to share any concerns, questions and ideas so we can continue to strengthen our culture of effective collaboration.
You can also connect with me by scheduling a meeting – whether it’s a short walk, a meet-up for coffee or tea, or a more traditional meeting in my office. Or you can schedule a “Reverse Office Hour,” where I can visit your lab, studio, or classroom and learn about the impactful work you are doing.
Thank you for your inspiring dedication to UC San Diego, your colleagues, students, and the entire campus community. Let’s continue moving forward with the same warmth and optimism that is reflected in the changing season.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth H. Simmons
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Just a reminder that the easiest way for us to talk is to connect during my office hours. Click the button below to find out more and schedule a time! |
Read the latest EVC blog post...
Communication & Connection During Uncertain Times
It has often been said that "change is the only constant.” We are now living amidst rapid and unsettling change from pandemic losses, moments of racial reckoning, anti-DEI proclamations, governmental and institutional budget cuts, and recent catastrophic wildfires. Such challenging times can produce great stress and anxiety. How can we navigate this context in a healthy and productive way?
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Black History Month
Throughout February, UC San Diego invites you to join in a campuswide celebration of Black History Month. This year's theme is "Black Contributions to Labor: Honoring Our Legacy, Inspiring the Future."
See the full calendar of events at blackhistorymonth.ucsd.edu
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Triton Days Open House on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Transfer Celebration on Friday, May 9, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The goal for the Triton Days Open House is to create an immersive experience showcasing the rich and diverse life at UC San Diego. Students can engage with your unit through a variety of activities, including information sessions, resource fair tabling, and department open houses.
Campus will also host a Transfer Celebration event, exclusively for admitted transfer students, at the Epstein Family Amphitheater. This smaller-scale event will provide an opportunity for academic departments, programs, and student support services and programs to connect with admitted transfer students who may have missed the Triton Days Open House in April.
Visit the Triton Days webpage for additional event details.
You can also sign up to be a general volunteer by March 16. Volunteer tasks could be helping with setup, assisting attendees, or supporting the Triton Days team, depending on your interests and availability.
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Women of Warren Event
Feb 26, 2025 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. |
Atkinson Hall Auditorium
In celebration of Earl Warren College's 50th Anniversary and Women's History Month, distinguished Warren College Alumna, Jessica Chen '10 will be featured, an Emmy-Award winner, bestselling author, speaker, and CEO of the global business communication company, Soulcast Media. Jessica is an internationally-recognized communication expert and has taught over 2 million people how to improve their communication skills at work.
Registration required
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Call for Entries:
2025 Art of Science Contest
Celebrate the beauty that can emerge during scientific research by entering the Library's Art of Science contest. UC San Diego undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, researchers and scientists are invited to submit visually compelling images derived from their scientific work. These submissions are more than just images; they showcase the beauty of scientific exploration, inspiring curiosity and engagement with some of society's most pressing challenges and cutting-edge research.
The submission period is open now through April 25, 2025. Winning images will receive $75 and be featured in an exhibition at Geisel Library in Fall 2025.
Learn more and submit your entries at lib.ucsd.edu/artofscience.
For questions, please email Abigail Pennington at apennington@ucsd.edu
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Division of Undergraduate Education Strategic Plan and Survey
The Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) plays a vital role in supporting the academic success and well-being of UC San Diego’s undergraduate students. The DUE oversees the eight Undergraduate Colleges and the Undergraduate Colleges Business Office (UCBO), the Academic Integrity Office (AIO), the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), and the Triton Testing Center (TTC), and works with schools, departments, and other campus partners to create a supportive and enriching academic environment.
The Division of Undergraduate Education has developed its first Strategic Plan and is seeking broad feedback on its proposed goals.
You can review the DUE Strategic Plan and then provide feedback in their survey.
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UC Launches Federal Updates Website
To help you stay informed, the UC Office of the President has launched a dedicated website that is continuously updated with information and resources on the system's approach to executive orders.
This site covers important topics including research funding, student financial aid, EDI, immigration, and health care.
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Teaching and Learning Commons
Program Review and Survey
The Teaching and Learning Commons (the Commons) will be undergoing its first program review in May. Your feedback is requested via an anonymous survey linked below and your participation will be welcome in a remote visit in May.
The Commons is undergoing its first program review on May 12 and May 14, 2025. The review includes a self-study and a remote visit by an external review committee. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the Commons’ effectiveness in advancing teaching and learning excellence and to identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth. This review will engage the entire campus community, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, lecturers, the Academic Senate, campus partners, campus administration, and Commons staff. Campus community members are encouraged to share their input through the anonymous surveys linked below. Additionally, if you are interested in participating in one of the open meeting slots dedicated to students or faculty during the site visit, please fill out the interest form below.
The surveys and interest forms are open until April 4.
Survey Links:
If you are interested in participating in a meeting during the remote visit, please submit an interest form.
Your feedback for this important review is appreciated. If you have questions, please contact programreviews@ucsd.edu.
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TritonGPT Resources and Training
Visit the TritonGPT Training Hub for a variety of training resources and templates for TritonGPT
Faculty and Staff from Campus and Health Sciences currently have access to TritonGPT through single sign-on.
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UC Mandated Training Single Sign-On Alerts
All Academic Affairs faculty and staff (except student staff) will now receive alerts when they log into Single Sign-On (SSO) if they have any outstanding training to complete in UC Learning.
With this alert launch, faculty and staff will receive the following messages:
UC Mandated training is due in 14 days:
A reminder will appear in Single Sign On, with the due date and training identified. There will be an option to either go to the UC Learning Center to complete the training or bypass the message and login through SSO. The message will continue to appear at each login until training is complete.
UC Mandated Training is overdue by 30 days or more:
If an employee is within one of the two annual lockout periods —designed to minimize disruptions to instructional operations—and is more than 30 days overdue in completing required training, they will encounter an intercept screen. This screen will restrict access to all systems except UC Learning, where they can complete their overdue training.
You are encouraged to complete any overdue training to prepare for this important change.
If you have any questions, please contact Leo Munduruca at lmunduruca@ucsd.edu.
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Undocumented Student Services (USS)
USS has created an interactive guidebook with a variety of on-campus and off-campus resources to equip you with tools and information in support of members of our undocumented and mixed-status community.
USS has also provided the document, Questions & Concerns from our Students, that includes FAQs and other resources designed to support students impacted by ongoing changes in policy.
USS will continue to share additional information, advice, and resources to help faculty and staff navigate changing conditions for our undocumented students.
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Student Employment CCR Initiative
The Teaching and Learning Commons has partnered with the Student Employment Office (SEO) to ensure that all on-campus student positions are on the Co-Curricular Record (CCR) portal. The CCR is an official record for UC San Diego students issued alongside their academic transcript that includes verified beyond the classroom experiences.
All 2,436 non-academic student employee positions from all VC areas are eligible for the CCR.
If your department or unit oversees any internships, volunteer positions, graduate positions, paid positions, and any other student work not for academic credit, please make sure to complete the department interest form to coordinate next steps or schedule an optional check-in with the project team.
Register here for an upcoming CCR Info Session:
Thursday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m.
Learn more about this initiative, and please send any questions to elt@ucsd.edu.
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MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE:
Triton CORE, UC San Diego's Mobile Compassionate Response Team
Have you ever had a student in your office who seemed visibly distressed? Or received an email from a student expressing emotional struggles? There’s a team you can turn to for support.
Triton CORE, a Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Program, is a team of licensed mental health professionals who can meet with students experiencing a behavioral health crisis anywhere on campus. Whether students are dealing with thoughts of harming themselves or others, significant changes in behavior (like isolation, neglecting basic needs, or a sudden drop in grades/class attendance), or emotional distress, Triton CORE can provide support.
The student also has the option of meeting with clinicians at CAPS Urgent Care (Galbraith Hall, RM 190) from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. If the student is unable to utilize that as a resource, Triton CORE can provide immediate, on-campus support, including a comprehensive mental health evaluation, safety planning, and coordination of care. The team offers a person-centered, trauma-informed approach, focusing on understanding each student’s unique mental health, case management, and cultural needs. If necessary, Triton CORE can also transport students to a higher level of care, such as an emergency department or crisis stabilization unit.
HOW TO REACH THEM:
Triton CORE is available Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. To contact the team, call UC San Diego Police Department’s (UCPD) non-emergency line at 858-534-HELP (4357), and ask to speak with Triton CORE.
TO LEARN MORE: Visit the Triton CORE website
You can schedule an outreach presentation from the TRITON CORE team to learn more about their services and how they can assist your students. Email tritoncore@ucsd.edu
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Equity in Mental Health Series:
Winter 2025 Events:
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion invites you to attend a workshop facilitated by Marianne Frapwell, Director of the Campus Advocacy, Resources, and Education at the Sexual Assault Resource Center (CARE at SARC). The workshop supports learning outcomes for student-facing staff and faculty as part of the Equity in Mental Health quarterly series. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of trauma-informed practices, and the tools and strategies needed to better support UC San Diego students.
To help ensure maximum participation the same workshop will be offered twice on:
Monday, March 3
10 to 11:30 a.m.
The Forum (Price Center, Fourth Floor)
Wednesday, March 5
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Huerta Vera Cruz Rooms
Registration required.
Information about past and upcoming sessions in the series can be found on the Equity in Mental Health webpage.
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First-Generation Professionals (FGPs)
Support Group Launch 2025
Who Are First-Generation Professionals (FGPs)? FGPs are individuals who:
- Are the first in their families to graduate from college or university
- Are the first to complete professional school or enter a professional career
- Come from low-income or working-class backgrounds
Dive deeper into this definition in the group sessions.
Join a Supportive Online Space!
UC San Diego Campus staff and faculty are invited to participate in a conversational group designed for First Generation Professionals to:
- Explore and discuss tools to support the emotional well-being of FGPs.
- Enhance self-compassion for navigating workplace and personal challenges for FGPs.
- Build a supportive community at work for FGPs.
- Center the lived experiences of first-generation professionals.
Dates:
- Thursday, March 20, 12 p.m.
- Thursday, April 17, 12 p.m.
- Thursday, May 15, 12 p.m.
- Thursday, June 12, 12 p.m.
Registration Required
For any questions, please contact Valeria Moreno the FSAP staff member at v2moreno@ucsd.edu
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Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) Support Groups
- Tritons Flourish
- Mindful Pause (Mindfulness Meditation Group)
- BIPOC Support Group
- Black Community Support Group
- Neurodivergent Support Groups
- Parent and Caregiver Support Groups
See the full list of FSAP support groups and workshops for more information.
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UC San Diego Unites to Support Life-Saving Research | UC San Diego united on Feb. 20 in support of life-saving biomedical research at an on-campus advocacy event. | | | |
'Marine Prosperity Areas' Represent a New Hope in Conservation | Researchers have introduced a new framework for marine conservation, dubbed 'Marine Prosperity Areas.' This science-informed effort goes beyond protecting marine life-it uses targeted financial investments to prioritize human well-being, uplift communities, and create a sustainable blue economy. | | | |
Annual Kyoto Prize Symposium Slated for March 12-13 at UC San Diego | The University of California San Diego, together with Point Loma Nazarene University, will co-host the 24th annual Kyoto Prize Symposium on March 12-13, 2025. The event is free and open to the public. | | | |
Co-Curricular Record: Beyond a Traditional Transcript | For close to a decade, UC San Diego has offered students a unique and official way to document their valuable beyond the classroom experiences. An official record called the Co-Curricular Record (CCR) documents a student's co-curricular involvement and achievements. | | | | | | |
