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Dear Colleagues,
I’d like to extend a warm welcome back to campus at the beginning of this 2025 winter quarter, a time busy with new events, new deadlines and new challenges.
As we deal with the stressors of work, life, and the world’s heavy news, I hope you will reach out for support as needed. The university is committed to the safety and the wellbeing of the entire Triton community and there are many resources available to all employees for their wellbeing and safety.
Resources include:
Our hearts are heavy for the many people affected by the devastating wildfires in neighboring areas, including members of our own UC San Diego community and their loved ones. I invite you to review the Chancellor’s recent message which has many resources that may help you, colleagues, students, or someone you know.
Please join me in showing compassion and grace to yourselves and our campus community as we start this quarter, so we can all benefit from a supportive and collaborative environment.
If you’d like to talk or to share ideas, you can connect with me by scheduling a meeting – which can be in the form of a short walk, a meet-up for coffee or tea, or a more traditional meeting in my office. Or, you may prefer to schedule a “Reverse Office Hour,” where I can visit your lab, studio, or classroom and learn about the impactful work you are doing.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth H. Simmons
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Let's Chat!
Just a reminder that the easiest way for us to talk is to schedule time during my office hours. Click the button below to find out about ways we can chat!
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Day of Service
Join UC San Diego’s students, staff, and faculty, and alumni to march in San Diego's Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and honor Dr. King by coming together for a Day of Service.
23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Friday, January 17, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
This year, UC San Diego will work with the local partner school John Muir Language Academy for a day of community building and connection to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Service projects will include working with elementary and middle school students to teach about MLK Jr. and building an herb garden. Lunch and a volunteer t-shirt will be provided to all participants.
Complete the registration form to sign-up. For any questions, contact the Center for Student Involvement at getinvolved@ucsd.edu.
43rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
Sunday, January 19, 2025 | Harbor Drive, Embarcadero
Join the UC San Diego contingent at 10:15 a.m. at the Parade Assembly Area, along N. Harbor Drive between Grape & Ash streets.
The UC San Diego contingent will be led by a large "UC San Diego" banner, followed by the UC San Diego Pep Band, the Eight Colleges, and members of the campus community. Departments and organizations are encouraged to showcase their own banners, letters, and signage in the parade.
Sign up for the free shuttle to the parade here. Spots are limited.
- Individual marchers not taking transportation do not need to register
- T-shirts will be given out at the parade site and are on a first come, first serve basis
- Departments and colleges are not required to wear the parade shirts.
Learn more about parade details and transportation.
For any questions, please contact Ace Antonio at aceantonio@ucsd.edu.
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Scripps Pier Beach Clean-Up with MRSEC
Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 to 11 a.m.
Helen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier
Join the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) for a beach clean-up in honor of the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event will also highlight the environmental impact of existing plastics, which the UC San Diego MRSEC is striving to solve by developing new biodegradable materials using environmentally friendly processes.
Refreshments and clean-up supplies will be provided. Families are welcome.
Register by Thursday, Jan 23. Please contact j2bond@ucsd.edu for any questions.
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Triton Days participation form is now open
Registration is now open for both Triton Days main events:
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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, including how your unit can get involved, accessing the registration form, and the program overview video.
Registration is now open until Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. and early registration is highly encouraged! If you have any questions before submitting your participation form, please contact tritondays@ucsd.edu.
You can also sign up to be a general volunteer! 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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20th Annual Love Your Wetlands Day
Feb 1, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
UC San Diego’s Natural Reserve System hosts Love Your Wetlands Day each year in conjunction with San Diego Audubon Society, City of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation and Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Last year more than 1,000 eager participants gathered at UC San Diego’s protected Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve to participate in Love Your Wetlands Day. Volunteers participated in conservation activities, listened to science talks, and helped repair traditional Native American sailing boats during the event structured to show love to the last 1% of wetlands left in Mission Bay.
Pre-registration is open until Jan. 30, 2025.
For any questions, please contact Debra Bass at dbass@ucsd.edu
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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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Price Center Extended Hours for Student Study Spaces
As a reminder, the Price Center has extended hours to accommodate student study needs. Open Desk and Sun God Lounge are now open until 2 a.m. and Price Center East Levels 1 & 2 are open 24 hours on weekdays.
Price Center Hours:
Monday – Thursday:
Price Center East, Levels 1 & 2, Open 24 hours
Sun God Lounge open until 2 a.m.
Open Desk open until 2 a.m.
Friday – Sunday:
No changes to current building hours
See a complete list of Price Center study spaces and a list of campus study spaces.
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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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Save the Date: Future of Academics Affairs Forum
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at 9 a.m. | via Zoom
Save the Date for the annual Future of Academic Affairs Forum – an opportunity to share your ideas and hear about updates, opportunities for collaboration, and the latest news about the campus’ refreshed strategic plan.
Registration is available online.
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Chancellor's NIH Institutional Training Grant: GSR Cap Gap Program (TCGP)
Chancellor Khosla has committed up to $4.3 million in funding for fiscal year 2024-2025 to provide relief for PIs who are successful in securing training grants, specifically for the NIH T-series, for their graduate students. Funding will be provided to cover stipend gaps, with PIs continuing to fund tuition and fees.
Learn more
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UC Washington Center (UCDC)
Encourage your students to apply to the UCDC program, offering all UC San Diego students an incredible opportunity to gain professional experience, build networks, and explore career paths in Washington D.C.
This quarter-long program allows students to live, take courses, and intern for academic credit in D.C., immersing them in national policymaking, advocacy, and cultural exchange. Internships in prestigious organizations like government agencies, nonprofits, and think tanks provide firsthand exposure to careers in public service and policy. Scholarships are available to ensure accessibility for students from diverse financial backgrounds.
Learn more and check for availability.
There are also several UC Washington Center faculty opportunities, including teaching and research.
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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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Virtual Workshop: Burnout - A Guide & Tools for Prevention and Recovery
Friday, January 24, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
via Zoom
Join an interactive “Burnout” workshop by attorney and mindfulness coach Annette Wong and learn more about what burnout entails, the factors that contribute to it, and how to chart a path toward prevention and recovery using mindfulness techniques.
Register by Thursday, Jan 23.
Please contact j2bond@ucsd.edu for any questions.
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Symposium on Enhancing the Experiences of Students of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern Descent
Feb 11-13, 2025 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Pre-register
This in-person Symposium is a multi-day, learning opportunity whose goal is to increase awareness of the experiences of students of Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Asian descent at UC San Diego.
The topic of focus this year is to explore UC San Diego's Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) designation.
Participants are encouraged to attend all days and participate across the workshops and lectures.
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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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2024 Student Affairs and Campus Life Staff Awards
The annual Student Affairs and Campus Life Staff Awards at UC San Diego are designed to encourage Student Affairs and Campus Life team members and close campus partners to showcase their work, celebrate each other, and recognize the creativity and student-centered innovation that consistently emanates from our division.
Winners were announced at the Student Affairs and Campus Life Staff Centeredness Day on Dec. 17, 2024.
The Collective Impact "Erasing the Opportunity Gap 2024" Award was presented to:
Learn more about the Collective Impact Initiative and its working groups aimed at closing equity gaps among students. See the full list of award winners and learn more about the awards.
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Solving Engineering Challenges to Make Fusion a Viable Clean Energy Source | The way scientists think about fusion changed forever in 2022, when what some called the experiment of the century demonstrated for the first time that fusion can be a viable source of clean energy. But a whole host of engineering challenges must be addressed before fusion can be scaled up to become a safe, affordable source of virtually unlimited clean power. | | | |
10th Annual Reed Family Concert Showcases the Best in New Music | This January a three-part series of events will be held in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Reed Family Concert, an annual showcase of musical innovation at the University of California San Diego led by Distinguished Professor of Music Steven Schick. | | | |
Grant Goodall Elected a Fellow of the Linguistic Society of America | Grant Goodall, professor of Linguistics in the School of Social Sciences, has been elected a fellow of the Linguistic Society of America (LSA). | | | | | | |
