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,
It’s been an overwhelming couple of weeks, a study in contrasts.
Nationally, we’ve seen an orderly transition of power and the indications of policy shifts in many areas that will directly and indirectly impact the university community: climate, immigration, diversity training, and human rights to name a few. Locally, we’ve weathered unusual drenching rains, high winds and even hailstorms that remind us why we call this Winter quarter.
On the hopeful side, UC San Diego Health has established a vaccination super-site that is immunizing 5000 members of the greater San Diego community daily and setting the standard for further such sites to help us bring an end to the pandemic. Yet we also are seeing data about new SARS-CoV-2 virus variants that are more transmissible and more deadly for individuals age 65+... which underscores the importance of maintaining our public health vigilance by testing, distancing, masking, and washing hands.
Through it all, you’ve been steadfast: teaching classes, undertaking shared governance, advising and caring for students, pursuing scholarship, keeping our business operations running and seeking out the next cohort of students who will join us in the fall. Thank you for your collective determination to maintain our institutional momentum.
Now that the UC has announced its intention to resume primarily in-person teaching in fall 2021, it’s time for us all to start planning ahead for the significant transition this will involve. I’ve discussed with Senate and Administration leaders, the Educational Continuity Task Force, and the Campus Operations Group a timeline and updated planning framework that units and individuals should take as guidelines for their local endeavors. These guidelines emphasize that our planning for in-person Fall 2021 teaching will incorporate flexible approaches, attention to ongoing pandemic developments, and shifts in public health orders. At any given time, our operations will always be fully congruent with current public health requirements.
The guidelines also remind us to selectively retain the beneficial elements of the new ways of communicating, connecting, and learning that we have initiated during this past year. Drawing upon our experiences will help the campus be even more resilient in the future.
We have a lot of important and inspiring work ahead as we establish a new academic equilibrium for the university. I look forward to partnering with you in these efforts.
With best regards,
Elizabeth H. Simmons
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Triton Transfer Allies and Peer Coaches
Faculty and staff are invited to enroll in the Triton Transfer Ally training to learn more about transfer student experiences and how to apply research-based strategies in their unique role. After completing the self-paced course in Canvas, you will be an expert in transfer student success and certified as a Triton Transfer Ally with your very own pin and e-sticker! Learn more.
Transfer Peer Coaching is another resource available to support students’ academic, personal, and professional success. Whether a student needs help achieving a long-term goal or an answer to a quick question, Transfer Peer Coaches are available by email ([email protected]), text (858-413-7757), zoom, and the Triton Transfer Forum. Peer coaches and students who participate in at least 10 hours of coaching earn credit towards their co-curricular record. Learn more about Triton Transfer Peer Coaches.
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New accommodations for undergraduate and graduate students
The Senate’s Representative Assembly recently approved limited-term exceptions to Senate regulations during Winter ‘21 and Spring ‘21 quarters. The following accommodations were approved to support students as they continue to navigate their academic careers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Deadline to change grading option (letter or pass/not pass) extended to the end of the 10th week of instruction for undergraduate students
- Deadline to change grading option (letter or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) extended to the end of the 10th week of instruction for graduate students
- Deadline to drop a class or withdraw with a “W” grade extended to the end of the 7th week of instruction for undergraduate students
- Exclude P/NP grades from the 25% limit on the number of units that may be completed on a P/NP basis, and allow students not in good academic standing to enroll in courses for P/NP credit
- Allow students to repeat courses with the P/NP or S/U grade option if they previously completed the course for a letter grade and received a D or F.
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Virtual Ed Tech Canvas course
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Get teaching support
The Teaching + Learning Commons’ Engaged Teaching Hub and Digital Learning Hub are offering regular drop-in hours for instructors. Simply join the Zoom call during the designated hours and a consultant will be available for an informal consultation or to answer questions. For details and information about other upcoming events, please visit the Keep Teaching website.
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Upcoming Return to Learn town halls
The next Return to Learn Town Halls are scheduled for February 17th for staff and February 18th for faculty. Visit the Return to Learn website to register and review information from previous town halls.
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Travel recommendations and requests for approval
In order to continue combating the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you please limit non-essential travel and minimize unmasked activities. If you must travel for an emergency or are involved in unmasked activity away from your residence for more than 48 hours, we recommend that you undergo additional COVID-19 testing within 24 hours and on days 5 and 10 after your return.
Academic appointees seeking approval for travel must contact their Academic Personnel staff who will use Interfolio to process request forms. Staff should consult their supervisors for unit-specific approval processes. Please review the interim travel policy and AP website for details.
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Winter Wellness Symposium
February 1-5, 2021
Discover how to reinvent your personal wellness and reconnect with members of our resilient community through interactive workshops, cooking classes, fitness classes, and more during the Winter Wellness Symposium. Visit https://wellnessfair.ucsd.edu/ to listen to a curated wellness playlist, request a wellness kit, join the virtual gathertown and review details for the full list of symposium activities.
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2021 Tritons Leaders Conference: February 5-6
Each year, the Triton Leaders Conference brings together alumni, students, staff, faculty, and community leaders from UC San Diego and around the world to connect, learn, share and grow as Tritons. We are excited to utilize this year’s conference to share updates on how the Triton community is fulfilling its commitment to advancing equity in our university community and beyond. Visit the event website to review event details and register for activities.
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UC Path and Financial Information Systems Support
In response to feedback from faculty and staff, Budget & Finances Services is offering a suite of educational services and self-help resources to support units’ transition to new business tools. Office hours, zoom webinars, online courses, instructor-led training sessions, and video tutorials are offered on a wide range of topics, including UCPath, EcoTime, Concur, Oracle, and financial reporting. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions, request services, and contact the team for additional assistance using the UC San Diego Services & Support portal.
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Where to find your two W-2's
One W-2 will reflect earnings prior to UC Path deployment and will be available in the AYSO portal. Historical tax and earning statements are also available in AYSO.
Please note that UC does not send W-2 statements via email. Do not open any attachments or click on any email links that claim to give you access to your W-2 as they may be phishing scams. To access your electronic W-2s, you must sign in to UCPath and AYSO.
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A conversation with Kevin Young: February 24
Join us for an engaging virtual event with poet, author, and director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Kevin Young. Moderated by UC San Diego Foundation Board Trustee and UC San Diego Alumni Board President Kimberley Phillips Boehm ’82, Ph.D., the discussion will explore Young’s career, including his most recent work, “African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song.
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Show your Triton Pride at the virtual tailgate: February 6
This season is the Tritons' Division I and Big West Conference debut. Show your school pride and support for your fellow Tritons by taking part in the men’s basketball virtual tailgate before the game against our rivals at the University of Hawaii. Join us Saturday, February 6 at 4:30 pm PT for a scouting report from coaches, online trivia, and chances to win exclusive prizes! Watch the game and follow Triton athletes all season by watching LIVE at no charge on ESPN3. RSVP here by February 5 and don’t forget to showcase your UC San Diego spirit with virtual backgrounds!
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Get moving with new Tritons Go!
Subjects of Triton’s kingdom are lost on campus and Recreation needs your help catching them! Join us for Tritons Go!, a wellness game that will help you improve your well-being throughout the year. Each month, we will focus on a different wellness topic and will help you incorporate it into your daily life. Maintain the habit or complete mini-challenges to earn badges and your chance to win gift cards and other prizes! Visit Recreation’s website for details.
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Virtual events at new Craft Center: February 11-14
UC San Diego’s new Craft Center will open in early 2021, marking a key milestone in the long-awaited return of a beloved creative community hub. With studios dedicated to jewelry/glass art, woodworking, ceramics, mixed-media, surfboard shaping and culinary arts, the center will offer students, faculty, staff and the local community unique opportunities to connect and create. The center is hosting For the Love of Craft -- a multi-day preview event with free virtual craft demonstrations and workshops. Visit the Craft Center’s website to register for activities.
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Inclusive Excellence Award Recipients |
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Congratulations to all of the faculty, staff, students, and units named this year’s Inclusive Excellence Award recipients! A special shout out to Shelley Halpain who received the award for Academic Affairs and Sonya E. Neal who was the campus-wide faculty awardee. Your extraordinary efforts to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion help make our university community a more welcoming place for all Tritons.
Join us in honoring all of the 2020 recipients at the 26th annual Inclusive Excellence Awards ceremony Tuesday, February 2 from 1:30-2:30 pm PT. The zoom meeting ID for the event is 91740398719 and registration is not required.
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Meet a scientist - Olivia Graeve
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