April 26, 2022

Good morning. Here are some items that couldn’t wait for the next DFA Update newsletter. Thanks for reading. If you have questions, reach out at dofa@ucmerced.edu.

GIVE A CHEER TO DFA'S SERVICE MILESTONE HONOREES
UC Merced honors employees who reach service milestone anniversaries in the UC system. This year, DFA proudly recognizes 26 staff members for their milestone service as of Dec. 31, 2021. An all-campus celebration is scheduled for May 20.
As a special recognition for the DFA honorees, please share your stories about and messages to them. Tap the button below to open a form where you can type your responses. Please submit the form by EOB Friday, May 13.
This year's DFA honorees:
20 Years
Regina Ranoa
15 Years
Emily Bustos
Francisco Flores
Lisa Mora
10 Years
Dana Bautista
Jennifer Carrero
John Holtz
Brandi Masasso
Andrea McDowell
Megan Potts
Chris Robinson
Martin Sanchez Mendez
Lorena Serrano
Stacey Teixeira
Nou Yang
Christine Yap
5 Years
Cynthia Crestmore
Jamie Dias
Naomi Estrada
Terri Harris
Maria Higareda-Marquez
Ken Masasso
Samantha Mata
Chelsea Pedretti
Melissa Tessier
Linda Wright
DFA APPRECIATION LUNCHES SET FOR MAIN CAMPUS, DCC
What a year it’s been! To honor the incredible work everyone has done in these challenging times, a pair of DFA staff appreciation lunches are scheduled for early May:

  • Main campus: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thursday, May 5, Elizabeth’s Garden in Yablokoff-Wallace Dining Center
  • DCC: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, Room 105/106 and Lobby

All DFA staff are invited. Please email your RSVP by May 5 indicating which luncheon you plan to attend.
OPEN HOUSE AND TOWN HALLS
The next DFA Open House is scheduled for 11 a.m.-noon Wednesday, May 11. It's a great way to catch up on Division news and with each other.

On Thursday, May 5, DFA will host a campus-wide town hall on the Oracle financial management system. The virtual gathering, scheduled for 9 – 10 a.m., will reset where we’ve been and where we’re going with efforts to improve the Oracle user experience.

Interim Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Kurt Schnier will co-host the town hall along with Assistant Vice Chancellor and Controller Amanda Preston-Nelson. You're invited to complete a pre-event questionnaire that asks respondents to list their priorities for the financial system.

Finally, Kurt will host a Financial Transparency Town Hall 10-11 a.m. Monday, June 6. It will focus on reviewing the FY2022-23 budget call process, which is scheduled to wrap in late May. We encourage everyone to join in.
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM!
Every day, the DFA's administrative staff keep the Division's numerous parts running smoothly. Wednesday, April 27, is National Administrative Professionals Day, so we offer an extra-deep bow and collective tip of the cap to the people who make our jobs easier to navigate.

Thank you!
DFA COMMUNICATIONS: WHAT DO YOU NEED?
The response has been great to our survey that asks you to rate efforts to communicate to DFA staff. But we’re eager to hear from more of you. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. Responses are anonymous.

The Division has bi-monthly DFA Open Houses and the monthly DFA Update newsletter. Staff also can schedule one-on-one meetings with Kurt to discuss any subject. How are these channels working for you? What do you want to hear and talk about?