Shine a Light - Fall 2024 Staff Newsletter

At-A-Glance

Register for the Illuminate Conference on January 30!
Our newly minted Impact Report tells the story of Student Affairs programs and initiatives.
Read new articles about UCLA's new LGBTQ Center director Vanessa and campus civic engagement.

Dear Student Affairs Educators,

As we wind down on Fall Quarter, I invite you all to reflect on your successes over the past few months. As I walk across campus, I see direct evidence of our impact – of your impact – on our students and this campus. It is ever-present. From the enthusiastic student organizations on Bruin Walk, to the many events we host to welcome and re-engage our students, to the spaces we provide to bring students together in times of distress – this vibrant campus community is possible because of the work we do.

That is why I am so excited to share with you all our 2023-24 Student Affairs Impact Report. Every single one of you as Student Affairs educators is responsible for bringing this project to life. Thank you. I encourage each of you to take time to read through the report – to identify something you may not have known about Student Affairs – and to appreciate the sheer magnitude of all that we do and are able to accomplish. I am sure you share my joy and pride in serving our students – in cultivating the next generation of leaders in an ever-changing world.

With that, I hope you enjoy reading through our fall edition of the Student Affairs newsletter. In this edition, we will share more about our civic engagement efforts, welcome our new LGBTQ Campus Resource Center Director, and share an update on our internal staff website and Organizational Effectiveness.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Illuminate Conference on January 30. I hope you all find time to relax, do something you enjoy and spend time with the friends and loved ones over the upcoming Winter Break.

Happy Holidays,

Monroe

Monroe Gorden, Jr.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

You Should Know...

Student Leadership Academy (April 25-27)

This year, Leadership Academies are being offered throughout the academic year. For an excellent professional development opportunity, sign-up to be a pod leader. You can also nominate a student for the chance to participate in the spring Academy.

Little Bruin Wishes

The Bruin Resource Center's Student with Dependents (SwD) program hosts their annual Little Bruin Wishes campaign to grant holiday wishes to thousands of UCLA families. This holiday help is just one of many ways SwD supports parenting and caregiving students.

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Illuminate: Student Affairs Staff Conference

Register for the Illuminate Conference at UCLA: a beacon of innovation in Student Affairs. On January 30, 2025, we're gathering the brightest minds in Student Affairs to address the pressing challenges of our field and shape a brighter future for all UCLA undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. This conference is open to all UCLA Student Affairs professional staff.

📅 Important Dates

Winter Closure

Saturday, December 21 - Wednesday, January 1

The campus closure period begins on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, with plans to reopen on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The period includes four University paid holidays (Dec. 24, 25 and 31, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025). This year, four days (Dec. 23, 26, 27 and 30) are not paid holidays.

Note: The UCLA Health System and certain essential-service facilities will continue to remain open.

Winter Move-in

Saturday, January 4

Following the break, students return to campus to begin winter quarter instruction. Unless otherwise requested, on-campus residents will not be permitted to return to their dorms until January 4. Most dining halls will remain closed until move-in.

Individuals working on-campus should prepare for extra traffic around the Hill and apartments during this period.

Illuminate: Student Affairs Staff Conference

Thursday, January 30 | 8AM-7PM | Carnesale and Covel Commons

We're gathering the brightest minds in Student Affairs to address the pressing challenges of our field and shape a brighter future for all students. Learn more on the Student Affairs staff site. RSVP by January 17 to lock in your attendance.

Spring Break

Saturday, March 22 - Sunday, March 30

Students go on their spring break toward the end of March. Some on-campus services may have reduced hours to reflect decreased student demand, and the university will be closed on Friday, March 28 in observance of César Chávez Day.

New Staff Welcome Spring 2025

Wednesday, April 16

Student Affairs welcomes new professional staff educators to join the next New Staff Welcome luncheon. These meetings are held biannually and serve more than just lunch: meet colleagues from across the organization, leadership from different areas of Student Affairs and learn more about UCLA. Watch out for a save-the-date in the new year.

Bruin Day

First-years on April 12, 2025 | Transfers on May 10, 2025

Prepare to welcome newly admitted students and their families, and help shine a light on the wide breadth of resources and opportunities at UCLA. Sessions offered on Bruin Day typically include resource fairs, sample lectures, financial aid consulting, campus tours and more. Staff are welcome to volunteer and join in on the fun.

✨ Spotlights

Check out these articles.

Vanessa Aviva González-Siegel: Putting the Soul in Social Justice

Good bagels or not, Los Angeles welcomes Manhattan-raised Vanessa Aviva González-Siegel to the forefront of UCLA's LGBTQ Campus Resource Center. As the Center's new director, she brings to the stage her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices.

Beyond Voting: How UCLA Student Affairs Champions Civic Engagement

From watch parties to democracy workshops, Campus Life and BruinsVote are on the forefront of UCLA's mission to boost civic engagement. Student Affairs spearheads multiple programs and initiatives to improve voter education and mobilization on campus.