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APRIL 2021: WHAT'S NEW
  • April 22 Open House 
  • Staff Honors & Awards
  • Big Recognition for Pavilion 
  • Summary of Accomplishments Due
Dear Division Colleagues, 

The warmer days of spring bring hope that the coronavirus cloud that has hung over us for a year is beginning to lift. Merced County is expected to improve this week to the red tier of California’s color-coded regulations for business operations. It is reported that more than 30% of all Californians have received at least one vaccine dose. 

What does this mean for UC Merced? If we continue to be vigilant – if we continue to wear face coverings, physically distance and wash our hands – we can follow through with plans to begin transitioning staff from remote to in-person work, which leads to our larger goal of largely in-person student instruction in fall semester. 

In the weeks and months to come we will share details as they become available about things like preparing buildings and offices for greater use. We’ll talk about what we know so far at the next DFA Open House, scheduled for April 22. 

We are proud of everything you do for the university and for each other. 
 
Be well, 

The DFA Leadership Transition Team: 
Gerry Elizondo 
Luanna Putney 
Kurt Schnier 
JOIN US AT THE DFA OPEN HOUSE 
The next DFA Open House is scheduled for Thursday, April 22 from 11 a.m.-noon. Join us on Zoom to get updates from the Division leadership transition team and to enjoy our breakout room topics (we learned at the March Open House that there are many weekend gardeners among us). Please make sure you have the latest version of Zoom (download updates here: zoom.us/support/download). 

Let’s hear from you: If you have questions or ideas you'd like to be addressed, please share them here. All posts are anonymous. 

Catching up: Presentation slides and video of earlier open houses are here. 
THIS MONTH: FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWN HALL 
Interim CFO Kurt Schnier will be the lead presenter for the next Financial Responsibility Town Hall, open to the entire campus and scheduled for noon-1 p.m. Friday, April 30. Watch your inbox for information on how to register for the event. 
POLLACK DEPARTS AS HR CHIEF; PUTNEY TO SERVE AS INTERIM
Nicole Pollack, associate vice chancellor and chief human resources officer (CHRO), left UC Merced April 2. She intends to “take my next journey that leads me to caring for my family and friends.”
 
Associate Chancellor/Chief of Staff to the Chancellor Luanna Putney will serve as interim CHRO. A search for AVC Pollack’s successor will begin as soon as possible.  
LAKIREDDY HONORED FOR SERVICE TO STAFF 
Congratulations to Contract Administrator Priya Lakireddy, who work with Staff Assembly was recognized by the systemwide Council of University of California Staff Assemblies. The council presented Priya, a Staff Assembly past president, with the Kevin McCauley Outstanding Staff Award, which recognizes UC staff members who support colleagues, encourage diversity, and don’t compromise quality. She is one of four recipients systemwide. Thank you, Priya, for your advocacy for and support of the campus community.  
CASHIERING'S OWENS WINS AT CONFERENCE
UC Merced's Cashiering team attended the virtual Transact 360° Users Conference in March. Cashier Jan Owens was one of the event's Passport Program winners, and also won a $500 food-security donation that will be given to Bobcat Pantry. Transact developed the CASHnet platform the Cashiering team uses. Congratulations, Jan!
THE PAVILION EARNS DESIGN AWARD
We know The Pavilion is an incredibly cool looking and well-laid-out campus dining center. The folks at Foodservice Equipment & Supplies agree; the magazine named The Pavilion its 2021 Facility Design Project of the Year. The magazine said the dining center’s designers “brought new flexibility into how the campus can use the space while not neglecting traditional elements or how students function in the space.” Congratulations to Dining Director Kunal Sinha and the entire Dining team! 
GOT GOOD NEWS? LET US KNOW 
We welcome any information about recognition earned by Division individuals and teams. Please contact us at [email protected]
RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL HEALTH & CAREER GROWTH
Following last month’s Staff Resources & Opportunities Town Hall co-presented by Human Resources, the department posted a list of helpful resources. The subjects range from personal health to professional development. 
SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS DUE APRIL 5
The 2020-21 performance appraisal process is open for all staff. The appraisal period covers April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 – a stretch that falls fully within the pandemic. Please enter your summary of accomplishments in Saba by April 5. Please include responsibilities created or impacted by our response to COVID-19, including the challenges of remote work and on-site work, along with the changes required to maintain campus operations.
HAVE YOU DONE YOUR MANDATORY TRAINING? 
Are you up-to-date with assigned mandatory online trainings? Log in to the UC Learning Center and click the Training icon to see the Training Analysis screen. For information on how to check your status and additional details, visit ethics.ucmerced.edu/mandatory-training 
DFA PULSE
Thanks to everyone who responded to last month's question: Is coffee required for your workday mornings? There were 22 responses: 
This month's question:
What's your favorite time of year?
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
STAFF PROFILE: MELISSA TESSIER
Each month, we turn a spotlight on a Division colleague to learn about their lives with UC Merced and beyond. Is there someone you would like to nominate for the monthly profile? Let us know. 

This month's profile is on Financial Systems Support Lead Melissa Tessier.

What are your job responsibilities? DFA colleagues may be most familiar with me for managing the implementation of the DFA Service Catalog, which is almost complete but still requires a good amount of support and maintenance. I supervise a team of business analysts that support Oracle Financials, am the lead for the hypercare (post go-live) support of Oracle. I also help facilitate many meetings for other initiatives or projects as needed. 
What do you enjoy the most about it? The opportunity to work with different people in various units and having something new and different to work on. I like to look for ways to improve processes and implement those solutions for UC Merced. 

What’s one thing you want everyone to know about the Financial Systems Support team? The team is agile, hardworking and focused on providing solutions for the users. It’s easy to overlook the amount of work it takes to keep a system up and running. Use the DFA Service Catalog, show patience and grace as we are all learning together! 
   
What do you do to relax? Gardening. I have herbs, fruits, veggies, succulents and other plants that I spend time taking care of. 

What kind of music makes you get up and dance? Whatever makes the kids dance. 

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why? On a sandy beach somewhere that has good weather and lots of sun. I enjoy the sound of the ocean, the smell of the cool breeze, seeing my children run and play for hours while I sit back and soak it in. 
LET'S HEAR FROM YOU
Do you have questions? Feedback you want to share? Something you want to put into the next newsletter? Reach out via our Comment Box or by emailing us at [email protected]
DFA Update, a newsletter for the Division of Finance and Administration, is published monthly. Follow these links to catch up on news in earlier issues: