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Student Centeredness Award Updates, Assessment Day 2024, The Longest Table, and more

May 21, 2024

Dear Student Affairs and Campus Life Colleagues and Friends,

I recognize that it has been a very difficult period of time since our last Division Message reached your inboxes. Please be reminded of the resources that are available for supporting our students who have been impacted by the many complexities of the last few weeks – including CAPS’ convenient options – as well as those that are available to staff and faculty in our Triton community.

In these challenging times, I hope that the offerings and invitations below will help lift your spirits.

Please continue reading for information on submitting nominations for the inaugural campus-wide Student Centeredness Award; tomorrow’s Assessment Day 2024; upcoming Tritons Belong opportunities – including The Longest Table; Mental Health Awareness Month events; and more.

Last month, we announced the launch of the inaugural Student Centeredness Award, a campus-wide recognition initiative designed to celebrate individuals who exemplify unwavering dedication to our students.

The new Student Centeredness Award will honor those who go above and beyond to put students first, innovate in their approaches, and champion diversity, equity and inclusion across our campus.

Accepting nominations through May 29
All currently affiliated members of the UC San Diego community are encouraged to nominate individuals who embody student centeredness and contribute to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all Tritons.

To submit your nomination, please visit the Student Centeredness Award website.

More about the Student Centeredness Award
In partnership with Associated Students and the Graduate and Professional Student Association, the award seeks to highlight the transformative actions that advance student success and inclusivity in all aspects of university life, in alignment with UC San Diego's vision to be a destination public university that is student centered, research driven, patient dedicated and service oriented.

The Tritons Belong initiative was developed by our colleagues and friends in the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to engage the UC San Diego community in conversation, dialogue, compassion, and connectedness during challenging times.

To learn more about additional opportunities and to review recordings of previous online educational events, visit the Tritons Belong Events webpage.

1,000 Paper Cranes for Peace: Art for Healing and Restoration
Through challenging times, it’s important to be in community to heal and hope for peace.

As part of 1,000 Paper Cranes for Peace, you’re invited to join us this week in creating traditional Japanese origami cranes with messages of peace attached. Keep your beautiful creation, or contribute it towards a final installation to be displayed in a prominent location on campus.

1,000 Paper Cranes for Peace
Wednesday and Friday, May 22 and 24
Noon – 2 p.m.
UC San Diego Craft Center
Open to All Community Members

UC San Diego’s Assessment Day is a full-day professional development program on May 22, 2024, curated by the VC-SACL Assessment, Evaluation, and Organizational Development team in partnership with the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

The theme of Assessment Day 2024 is "Breaking Barriers: Redefining Assessment for Equity and Empowerment", and this year’s keynote speaker will be Jody Greene, Associate Campus Provost for Academic Success and Professor of Literature at UC Santa Cruz.

No-cost sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Dolores Huerta Room and online via Zoom.

Full-time UC San Diego staff, graduate student staff, and faculty members will have opportunities to attend a variety of sessions covering topics from innovative assessment techniques to best practices in data analysis.

If you have any questions, please contact Assessment Day Co-Chairs, Shannon Milligan (smilligan@ucsd.edu) and Ahliyah Chambers (achambers@ucsd.edu).

Now taking place on Thursday, June 6, The Longest Table at UC San Diego is exactly as the name implies – a 300-foot-long table that will span the length of Library Walk – with the goal of building community and a sense of belonging.

As part of the Tritons Belong initiative, the Longest Table aims to bring Tritons together to share a multicultural meal in community, while enjoying a variety of live entertainment, activities, and engaging conversation.

The expansive table will be dressed with a tablecloth-meets-art-project that was created by UC San Diego community members who came together at twice-weekly workshops in the Craft Center to decorate portions of the 300-foot “canvas.” I hope to see you there on June 6.

Supporting mental health is a systemwide priority for the University of California, and UC San Diego is proud to be at the forefront of this effort.

Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to remind everyone in our Triton community of UC San Diego’s comprehensive programs, counseling, and support resources designed to help our students, faculty and staff flourish – in May, year-round, and particularly during times of additional stress.

As part of the Tritons Flourish Initiative, departments across campus have partnered together – including Counseling and Psychological Services, Health Promotion Services, Recreation and Student Affairs Case Management Services – to create in-person and remote well-being programs and events for undergraduate, graduate and professional students as well as staff and faculty throughout the month of May.

Student Affairs Case Management Services is excited to share that Bianca Barreto has recently transitioned to a Case Manager position.

In her previous role as Students with Dependents Coordinator, Bianca provided 1:1 direct contact and case management to students needing additional resources on-/off-campus, and collaborated with campus colleagues and local entities to provide more visibility and advocacy for students with dependents at UC San Diego. We are excited for Bianca to step into this new role, and cannot wait for her to engage with Student Affairs and Campus Life colleagues and partners in her new capacity.

June 4, 2024

In an effort to help the County of San Diego and UC San Diego’s Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health reach the goal of 1 million trained San Diegans in bystander or Hands-Only CPR, we will be conducting another CPR/AED Training Day at the Epstein Family Amphitheater on June 4, 2024.

Two separate sessions (10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.) will be offered, and staff may sign up via UC Learning (SSO login). Students are also welcome to drop in, though each session will be capped at 100 participants.

June 15-16, 2024

It’s hard to believe that commencement is right around the corner! In addition to the all-campus ceremony on June 15, visit commencement.ucsd.edu for details about undergraduate college, professional school, and Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs ceremonies, as well as volunteer opportunities.

Thank you for all you do to advance student centeredness at UC San Diego, and please let me know if you would like to take a walk on campus, grab a cup of coffee together, or hop on a Zoom to connect – just send me an email at VCSACL@ucsd.edu.

Be Well,

Alysson
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Alysson M. Satterlund
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life