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Fire-Related Resources, Staff Recognition, MLK Jr. Day of Service & Parade, and more  

January 10, 2025

Dear Student Affairs and Campus Life Colleagues and Friends,

I hope you are doing well as we begin the new year together. 

Given the ongoing wildfire emergencies throughout Southern California, I want to start by asking you to please utilize your communication networks to share these resources and support services with our students. Staff can refer to these resources organized by our HR colleagues. We continue to monitor the changing conditions and will update this information regularly.

Also, I want to thank those who collaborated in the early morning hours on Wednesday to prepare a direct response plan and messaging that centered the safety and well-being needs of our students. I know that many of us have loved ones, friends and colleagues who have been impacted in some way and who will navigate a long recovery period. Let’s continue to work together to ease the challenges ahead.

In what I hope will be an uplifting reminder, we closed out fall quarter with an incredible celebration of professional development and achievement in support of students by individuals, our teams, and colleagues. The challenging events of the first week of this term demonstrated why we celebrate your continuously remarkable work. Your engaged and collaborative response speaks to the strength of your commitment to our students and community, and to the expertise each of you bring to this work.

Once again, thank you.

December 17 was Staff Centeredness Day featuring the Inaugural Student Centeredness Awards, 7th Annual Professional Development Day, and 4th Annual Student Affairs and Campus Life Staff Awards.

In partnership with Associated Students and the Graduate and Professional Student Association, it is my pleasure to shout out the recipients of the inaugural UC San Diego Student Centeredness Awards. These new awards highlight transformative actions that advance student success and inclusivity in all aspects of university life, in alignment with UC San Diego's Vision to be student centered, research driven, patient dedicated and service oriented.

I’d like to share my sincere appreciation for the work of the Professional Development Day (PDD) Committee and their efforts in coordinating a meaningful opportunity for our team to recharge, reconnect, and renew! Please join me in thanking these folks for their creativity, vision and dedication to strengthening our team (please let me know if I missed anyone).

PDD Committee Members:

Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to once again recognize and thank all of the recipients of the 2024 Student Affairs and Campus Life Staff Awards. We are proud to honor your work!

Shelly Taskin, International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO)
Triton Transfer Hub

Maricela Alvarado, Online Student Experience
Recreation Events Management Team

Hazing Prevention Committee Coalition
The Longest Table Team

Dayan Castañeda Muñoz, Undocumented Student Services
Commitments to Address Anti-Blackness Subcommittee

University Centers Team
Center for Student Accountability, Growth, and Education (SAGE)

CalFresh Team
Mentoring for All Committee

January 11, 2025 - Creative Renewal Retreat

Join the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness (CFM) and the UC San Diego Craft Center community for a creative renewal retreat. 

The CFM will present a morning session of silent mindfulness and compassion practices, followed by the option to choose one of three craft-making sessions (Japanese journal binding, ceramics, or candle making).

Visit the Center for Mindfulness website for more info and to register.

Friday, January 17 - 23rd Annual Day of Service

Join other members of the UC San Diego community at John Muir Language Academy from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for a day of community building, service and connection to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Service projects will consist of working with elementary and middle school students to teach about MLK Jr. and building an herb garden. A lunch, and volunteer t-shirt will be provided to all participants. 

Sunday, January 19 - 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

You can join the UC San Diego contingent, which 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 while we march in the parade.

This parade is coordinated by the Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Visit www.sandiegoalphas.com/mlk-parade for official parade information.

The SACL Professional Development Committee hosts Triton Time every Thursday from 10 – 11 a.m. via Zoom during the academic year.

For more information on these informative sessions and how to register, visit the Triton Time website. If you'd like to suggest ideas or have questions, please contact Kirby Knipp (kknipp@ucsd.edu)

All UC San Diego employees are required to take online trainings via the UC Learning Center within 30 days of hire and renew them regularly.

Completion of these trainings is critical to fostering a healthy, positive, and supportive workplace. To check your status on compliance courses, please login to UCLearning.ucsd.edu. 

For more information:

If you have questions about these essential trainings or have difficulty accessing them, please email VCSACL@ucsd.edu, and we’ll get you connected to colleagues leading this important effort.

I’m pleased to share an important initiative between the Student Employment Office and the Teaching and Learning Commons aimed at ensuring that all student employment jobs at UC San Diego are recognized on students’ Co-Curricular Record (CCR). This effort will highlight the valuable skills students gain through employment and align with our commitment to holistic student development.

To achieve our goal by the end of Spring Quarter 2025, we ask for your support in encouraging your teams to engage with the Student Employment and Teaching and Learning Commons teams to complete this project. More information on the project and available resources can be found at: elt.ucsd.edu/ccr/student-employment-ccr.html.

If you would like any further information or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Rochelle Smarr directly at rsmarr@ucsd.edu.

February 11 – 13, 2025

You are invited to take part in the 2025 Symposium on Enhancing the Experiences of Students of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern Descent.

This in-person symposium is a multi-day learning opportunity, curated exclusively for staff and faculty to engage with UC San Diego's Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) designation.

The theme this year is: ‘AANAPISI: Transforming from simply serving students to creating an environment in which students can thrive,’ and attendees will leave with a plethora of resources, a network of committed practitioners, and a plan for continued action.

Pre-registration is available by way of this 2025 APIMED Symposium Google Form.

February 13 and March 13, 2025

Case Management Services will again facilitate training sessions for “Creating a Culture of Care: Supporting Students in Distress” on Feb. 13 (in-person) and March 13, 2025 (virtual).

These free, interactive trainings are designed to assist staff in recognizing and supporting students in distress – defined as: a student whose academic progress or functioning in the university environment is adversely affected due to a number of indicators that are impacting their well-being and/or the well-being of others.

To complete the training, individuals only need to attend one of the scheduled dates. To register for any of these sessions, visit this link on UC Learning (login required).

For more information, please contact Chrystian Smith at cas014@ucsd.edu.

Our students are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated team of professionals supporting their development. Please make time to take care of yourself!

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. 

Happy New Year,

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