César E. Chávez Celebration Month

April 1 - April 30, 2025 

UC San Diego celebrates the 24th annual César E. Chávez month-long celebration. This year's theme "Revolution of Mind and Heart" highlights a series of events and opportunities for the campus and the community. 

See the full events calendar.



Arab American Heritage Month

Join the UC San Diego's Arab American Heritage Celebration on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Price Center Ballroom East. This meaningful celebration will feature a dynamic lineup of speakers and performers, including Arab-American comedian Nasser Al-Rayess, DJ music by Ola Almasri, cultural dances and more. 

This year’s theme — “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future” — provides an opportunity to uplift the richness and diversity of Arab American heritage through education and celebration.  

Registration is required for the April 17, Arab American Heritage Month Celebration. This is a free event, open to all UC San Diego staff, faculty, and students. Learn more about the Arab American Faculty and Staff Association. 

As confirmed in the Chancellor’s recent message, in recognition of this annual event, two hours of administrative leave with pay have been approved for employees to attend an Arab American Heritage Month activity. Supervisors, upon request, may approve the use of such leave when the absence does not infringe upon the performance of required job duties or patient care. 



Commencement 2025  

Faculty Registration Now Open 

Faculty registration is open for All Campus Commencement which will take place on Saturday, June 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at RIMAC Field. Registration is also open for commencement ceremonies for the undergraduate colleges, the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, Rady School of Management, and the School of Global Policy and Strategy ceremonies. 

As faculty members and campus leaders, your participation is a key element in the pomp and circumstance of All Campus Commencement and the related college, graduate division, and professional school celebrations. The students and their families deeply appreciate your presence as a symbol of the faculty’s central role in the university and their student’s collegiate experience. You are encouraged to participate in as many ceremonies as possible. 

Faculty registration is open through Thursday, May 30, 2025. To receive alma mater and degree-specific regalia rentals you must register by that date, you must register no later than Tuesday, May 6, 2025. 

Note, if you submit your registration and request regalia rental after May 6, the order will be filled with UC San Diego regalia and hood.  

To register and to order regalia, please visit the Faculty Commencement website.  

Volunteers Needed for Commencement Weekend 2025

Volunteers are needed for Commencement weekend events taking place on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15. Volunteers support the success of this event and help ensure a fulfilling experience for every attendee. Please assist the volunteer effort by sharing the need with your friends and family. 

Submit a volunteer registration form on the Commencement website by May 18, 2025. 

Student Registration

Student registration for All Campus Commencement 2025 is now open through Friday, May 30, 2025. 

Learn more and see the Commencement 2025 Schedule at commencement.ucsd.edu 



Earl Warren College’s 50th Anniversary Alumni Career Panel 

Tuesday, April 15, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. 

Warren Student Activities Center (SAC) 

Join a moderated conversation with Warren College Alumni on how the college motto of "toward a life in balance” has influenced their career paths. Featuring Dean J. Hass '83 of DJH Coaching, an executive coaching and leadership consulting business., Matthew Matzkin '97 EVP, Operations for Warner Bros. Unscripted Television and Warner Bros. Animation, and Julie Thompson '94 a Product Management Executive with over 15 years of experience successfully growing packaged software and cloud-based start-ups. 

Dinner to follow at Canyon Vista Marketplace. All attendees will receive a meal voucher and will be entered into a raffle.  

Registration required. For any questions, please contact Kara Bayani at waprovost@ucsd.edu



Latest issue of Explore Magazine  

The Fall/Winter 2024-25 Issue of Explore Magazine, the UC San Diego Library’s publication centered on the theme of student success is now available to read online. 



Teaching and Learning Commons:

New Spring 2025 Hours 

To help ensure that students have ample opportunities to make appointments and receive the peer-to-peer support they need, this adjustment in service hours for the Commons is strategically aligned with historical usage rates and patterns. 

New Service Hours: 

Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. 

Tuesday and Thursday: 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. 

Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

For detailed schedules and to book appointments for Supplemental Instruction (SI), Content Tutoring, Writing and Communication, and Experiential Learning, please visit commons.ucsd.edu 

For more information and services regarding Graduate Students, Instructional Assistants, and Faculty, please explore commons.ucsd.edu/educators/index.html. 

For any questions, ideas, partnerships, or concerns, you can contact David Ruiter at druiter@ucsd.edu. 



Request for Proposals: UC Online Block Grant and AI Innovation Pilot  

For 2025-26, UC San Diego requests proposals for funding course development projects that: 

• Promote digital inclusion and access to high-impact courses. The high impact course list is generated on an annual basis using DFW, waitlist, and Curricular Analytics data. 
• Research and assessment on effective online teaching and learning. 

Separately a pool of funding is set aside for faculty who wish to pilot the use of AI, through the ASPIRE program, in their classes. The pilot will focus on evaluating the value to students and faculty, and how to improve the workflow for faculty. Faculty may request a stipend of up to $1,500 to be part of this study. 

Please submit a proposal form and accompanying budget for an online/hybrid course development project. The maximum award per course project will be $45K.  

Note: Each PI may submit one proposal for each funding opportunity (UC Online and AI Innovation Pilot). If applying to both opportunities, submit this form twice. 

Timeline: 

Friday, May 2, 2025 is the deadline for submitting proposals. Please contact Jen Schwedler, Executive Director for Online Learning, at jschwedler@ucsd.edu with any questions. 



AFD Workshop: Demystifying Tenure and Promotion: Strategies for a Meritorious File 

Thursday, April 10, 2024, 12 - 2 p.m. on Zoom 

Presenter: Victor Ferreira, Professor of Psychology and AVC for Faculty Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 

Join a special virtual workshop to review how academic files are put together and evaluated. Dr. Ferreira will walk us through the UC system of steps and processes involved in merit, tenure, and promotion. He will also provide strategies for putting together a strong file, including how to document and frame your contributions to research, teaching, and service, and your contributions to diversity. 

Register here. 



AI Literacy for Faculty and Instructors:

Coffee Chats  

April 30, May 21, June 4, 2025, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, Room 217 or 255 

Join Teaching and Learning Commons and be part of a collaborative community exploring the world of artificial intelligence in education. During these sessions, we will discuss the latest AI developments, share innovative teaching methods, and collaborate to create strategies for integrating AI literacy in the curricula. 

Click here to learn more. 



MOP Update Information  

The Mortgage Origination Program has been unpaused. 

Additional information is available on the UC San Diego MOP webpage. Details of how to engage in the MOP program for those faculty eligible has been shared with those faculty and their leadership, however, please visit the website for answers to questions and next steps.  



UC Mandated Training Single Sign-On Alerts 

As a reminder, 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. 



Secure Connect Update: Cybersecurity Awareness Training Enforcement  

As part of the Secure Connect program, all faculty, staff, and student employees must complete the required Cybersecurity Awareness Training to maintain system access using campus Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication. The training itself takes approximately 35 minutes and is available on-demand online. 

Compliance Enforcement Begins: Monday, April 14, 2025 

To remain compliant and maintain access to any system requiring Single Sign-On, please review the following: 

• If your training is more than 30 days past due → Your access will be denied until you complete the training. A link to the training will be provided when attempting to login via SSO. 
• If your training is less than 30 days past due → You will receive messaging to complete the training before your access to the system is denied due to non-compliance. 
• Avoid access disruptions by completing your training before your due date each year.  

Important Note for Health Science Users: 

Access to clinical applications will not be impacted unless using campus Single Sign-On. 

Learn more about the Single Sign-On Intercept for Cybersecurity Training 

Spring Students in Distress Trainings  

This Spring, Case Management Services will be facilitating trainings for “Creating a Culture of Care: Supporting Students in Distress.” This free and 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. This is excellent training for any UCSD staff or faculty member that has high interactions with UCSD students. 

Topics Covered: 

How to recognize a student in distress. 

How to provide support to a student in distress. 

How to connect a student in distress with support systems. 

Become prepared to offer the best resources to support students in distress. 

Upcoming classes: 

May 8, 2025 | 9 - 10:30 a.m. (Virtual) 

June 5, 2025 | 9 - 10:30 a.m. (IN-PERSON) 

Register on the UC Learning Center and search keyword “Students in Distress” 

For more information, please contact Chrystian Smith at cas014@ucsd.edu. 



Basic Needs Center and CalFresh Resources for Students 

The Hub Basic Needs Center provides Food Security Resources, Housing Resources, and Financial Wellness services to undergraduate and graduate students. Food security resources include the Triton Food Pantry, CalFresh, Food Recovery Network, and Grocery Shuttle. 

Food insecurity is a critical issue among college students nationwide and the 2024 UCUES data showed that 51% of UC San Diego undergraduate students report facing food insecurity- which threatens their wellbeing and academic success! 

But CalFresh, a state program that awards up to $292 a month for groceries can help! Over 50% of UC San Diego students are eligible for CalFresh and 60% of students enrolled in CalFresh receive more than $200 a month for food. 

Please consider including information on Food Support resources in your student-facing communications such as class syllabi and PowerPoint slides. You can find resource downloads for this use on the Collective Impact website. 



Basic Needs Center Diaper Drive and Distribution

The Basic Need Center and Students with Dependents are hosting a collaborative program called "Tiny Triton Family Fest" on April 30 on Matthew's Quad. This program is aimed to support UC San Diego students, especially those with dependents, with holistic wellness resources, free baby items (diapers, food, wipes), and more. They are collecting donations for the collaborative event. 

Items being collected:  

• Children's books 
• Baby diapers (newborn through size 7) 
• Gently used children's clothes 
• Baby wipes 
• Baby food 
• Baby formula 

Please bring items to the Basic Needs Center located at Student Center A by Tuesday, April 22. Contact mcg008@ucsd.edu for any questions. 

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. They will continue to share additional information, advice, and resources to help faculty and staff navigate changing conditions for our undocumented students. 



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, April 17, 12 p.m. 
• Thursday, May 15, 12 p.m. 
• Thursday, June 12, 12 p.m.  

Registration required. For any questions, please contact FSAP staff member Valeria Moreno at v2moreno@ucsd.edu 



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.