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September 10, 2026

   Vol. 7, No. 8    

A publication from the Office of the Interim Executive Vice Chancellor

Dear Colleagues, 

We’re excited to be preparing for a vibrant start to the fall quarter, which begins in just a few weeks. To help you prepare for the start of the new term, this issue highlights important updates and resources. 

To kick off the fall quarter, I strongly encourage you to participate in the Triton Weeks of Welcome Mixer for faculty and new students on Tuesday, Sept. 22. This event is a fantastic opportunity to foster connections and help our newest members feel at home. You can find more details and register here. 

You can also discover the exciting events happening across campus on the UC San Diego Campus Calendar at calendar.ucsd.edu. 

The well-being and success of our students, faculty, and staff are our top priority, and year-round support resources are available to help you thrive. Information on Support Services for Students and Support Services for Faculty and Staff is included at the end of this newsletter. 

Looking ahead to our leadership transition, as recently announced, Christine Hrycyna, dean of the School of Physical Sciences, has been appointed as the next Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective January 1, 2027. Her distinguished tenure and her commitment to academic excellence make her exceptionally well-qualified to guide our academic mission forward. I will continue to serve as the Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs until she assumes her new role in 2027, ensuring a smooth and seamless transition for our university. 

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication. I am looking forward to a productive and inspiring quarter ahead; please feel free to share your thoughts and feedback with me anytime at evc@ucsd.edu. 

Sincerely, 
Robert E. Continetti 

Critical TSS Updates for Faculty & Staff: 

Class List/Rosters: 

The team is prioritizing functionality to showcase class lists/rosters in TSS. These tools (Class Roster app and Find a Student app) are expected to be available before the quarter begins. The current target date is Sept. 15, but please note that this date is subject to change.  

Primary course instructors can currently access their class lists via the My Class List report, which is located in the Student tab of the Business Analytics Hub (BAH). This report provides class lists in which the user is the Primary Instructor. You can find more information about the report, including instructions on how to use the report, on the My Class List Blink page. 

Note: Your FERPA training must be current to access this report.   

Updated BAH Student Reports: 

Updated Campus Class List, Campus Grades, and Campus Student Information reports are now available in the Business Analytics Hub (BAH) and incorporate TSS data for Fall 2026 and future-term reporting. Learn more about accessing and using these reports in the Campus Class List & Additional BAH Reports Now Available article. 

TEA Requests: 

As a reminder, faculty will not get email notifications from TSS when students have submitted TEA requests for their courses. The TSS Project team is aware of the need for this in future quarters. To approve a TEA request, review the faculty guide for Reviewing & Processing TEA Requests. It is recommended that faculty check TSS regularly for TEA requests and process any outstanding requests accordingly. 

Critical Student TSS Updates for Faculty/Staff Awareness: 

Booking and Waitlists:  

A known issue may cause students to see a course displaying one available seat in the course but receive a message that it can only be booked through the waitlist. In these cases, the course is most likely full. Students are encouraged to identify backup classes in the meantime. In alignment with standard business operations: 

uAchieve Degree Audits:  

Now available in TSS for new and continuing undergraduate students! Graduate students will gain access to TSS Degree Audits later in September. Find more information on the Degree Audit website. 

The Student Overview Homepage: 

This is the central hub in TSS for all students, main campus and Extended Studies (DES). As of August 11, DES functionality is live in TSS, so the DES section appearing on the Student Overview Homepage is expected and does not indicate an error or require a support ticket. Students only need to utilize this section if they are a DES student. View more information in the TSS Login and Navigation Student Guide. 

Direct Deposit Accounts in TSS

The TSS My Bank Accounts App is now one of the primary tools for students to enroll in and manage their direct deposit information for student refunds, stipends and more. Students who previously had direct deposit information in TritonLink must re-enroll in TSS, as banking information entered or updated in the TritonLink Direct Deposit tool does not automatically transfer to TSS. View more information on the Student Financial Solutions website, including the Student Direct Deposit Guide. 

Here’s what’s ahead 

Sample of upcoming milestones and feature releases expected later this fall, not an exhaustive list and subject to change. For more information, view the TSS Major Milestones document that is updated regularly.  

Triton Enrollment Authorization (TEA) updates 

New TSS Resources 

New and updated job aids, guides, and materials are released weekly. View TSS Training Blink Website: Staff & Faculty and TSS Resources for Students for more information. A few recently released resources: 

Support continues to be available for the university community. See more information on the TSS website: Getting Support for TSS. 

Report Only Once: Submit one ticket per issue, avoid follow-up check-ins unless you have new information and close your ticket once resolved.  

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter, TSS-entials, released each Friday with system status updates, new training materials, and key dates.  

TSS Current Limitations & Known Issues: a living document that provides updates on some of the most frequently reported concerns and known issues with TSS. 

Following a comprehensive international search, Christine A. Hrycyna has been appointed as Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (EVC-AA) at UC San Diego, effective January 1, 2027. Hrycyna has been the dean of the School of Physical Sciences at UC San Diego since 2023, leading structural, financial and cultural transformation across the school. 

Read the announcement from Chancellor Khosla. 

Launching this fall quarter, Triton One is the university-wide access program that provides undergraduate students with all required textbooks and coursepacks for a predictable flat rate of $199 per quarter. 

Triton One: Textbook Publisher Office Hours 

Prepare for the launch of Triton One, UC San Diego’s new equitable access textbook program, by joining a free 30-minute Zoom session with VitalSource and its publisher partners. 

What to expect: 

How to register: These sessions are publisher-specific. Please search for the session that matches your course materials. 

Please contact textbooks@ucsd.edu for any questions or comments, including textbook-specific inquiries.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to honor the heritage, history and cultural diversity of Latinx individuals. At UC San Diego, the month-long celebration is called Latinx Heritage Month and runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 31. Take part in this year's National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) theme, “Unidos Somos Más” (Together, We Are More).

TWOW signature events are open to all and designed to instill Triton community pride, foster a sense of belonging, increase school spirit, and highlight some of the best things that our campus has to offer every Triton.   

Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Sun God Lawn 

All schools and faculty are encouraged to participate in this year’s Triton Weeks of Welcome faculty/student mixer. This event provides an opportunity for new students and faculty to connect in an informal setting, encouraging academic-, research- and career-oriented conversations. Please register to attend today!  

The 2026 UC San Diego Common Read is “Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry,” by Ada Limón, the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States, 2024 Time magazine Woman of the Year, and a 2023 MacArthur fellow.  
 
Campuswide Common Read events for the 2026-27 academic year are being planned, including an author visit on October 22.

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1 to 3 p.m., Pepper Canyon Hall, third floor (Suite 357) 

The Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) invites you to the annual John C. Moore DUE Art Show. Enjoy student-created paintings, photography, poetry and live music performances throughout the DUE offices and nearby outdoor spaces. No registration is required. 

The new Triton Center serves as a centralized hub for health, wellness, and comprehensive student and campus support services. We encourage everyone to stop by, walk through the new spaces, and discover how these centralized resources are designed to support your well-being and professional or academic success. 

The Triton Health and Wellness Building: Now open within the Triton Center, this is a fully integrated student, faculty and staff health center, centralizing resources and providing even more access to comprehensive health services. 

The Triton Administrative Services Building: Located along Gilman Drive east of Library Walk, this facility is also now open and houses the Triton Transfer Hub, Teaching and Learning Commons, and Global Initiatives.

Mentors are needed to guide the next generation of UC San Diego students. Student recruitment is also underway for undergrad and graduate students interested in having a mentor this year.  

Mentor and mentee applications for the Chicanx/Latinx Staff Association (CLSA) Mentorship Program are due Friday, Oct. 16, 2026: 

CLSA Staff and Faculty Mentor Application 

CLSA Student Mentee Application 

To share with students: 

Apply to the 2026-2027 Chicanx/Latinx Staff Association Mentorship Program and get connected to some amazing staff and faculty today! The program is open to all enrolled UC San Diego students. Mentee Applications remain open on a rolling basis. Quarterly soft deadlines are set to help with organization and impact. For fall 2026, the soft application deadline is Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. 

Community Hour to learn more (Hybrid event):  Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, 12–1 p.m., Zoom link. In-person event info TBD 

This mentorship program is supported by the UC San Diego Chicanx/Latinx Staff Association. 

YuJa Panorama is UC San Diego's new accessibility platform for Canvas, following a comprehensive review by IT Services, the Committee on Academic Information Technology (CAIT), and Senate leadership in early 2026. 

Endorsed by CAIT and used by five other UC campuses, Panorama integrates directly with your courses to help you identify accessibility issues, prioritize the improvements that will have the greatest impact on students, and remediate your course content over time, while providing students with accessible alternative formats for supported documents.   

Getting Up to Speed 

In May, a faculty-wide Accessibility Townhall was held to discuss the ADA Title II mandate and available faculty resources. View the townhall recording and slide deck. 

Summer Progress & Milestones 

Over the summer, the team has worked diligently to prepare for a full rollout, including: 

What’s Next? For the Fall 2026 rollout, ITS and the Senate are exploring strategies to streamline adoption, including the potential to enable Panorama tools automatically for all Canvas courses. 

The EdTech team is ready to help you get started with Panorama and answer questions about accessibility and content remediation. Contact them by emailing canvas@ucsd.edu. 

The Teaching and Learning Commons’ Experiential Learning and Instructional Services have recently relocated to the new Triton Administrative Services Building, Second Floor. Please note that undergraduate academic support and learning services will remain in Geisel Library. 

Students and educators can expect continued support and services tailored to their needs. In addition, this new location will enhance cross-campus collaboration and partnerships, fostering a stronger network for innovation and shared initiatives among faculty, staff, and students. 

Triton Administrative Services Building, Second Floor: 

Geisel Library, First Floor, West Wing:

The new UC San Diego Major Exploration Website has officially launched at majors.ucsd.edu. 

This tool is designed to help prospective students explore majors as they consider where to apply and what educational pathways to pursue. It is also a valuable resource for new and continuing students who are undeclared or seeking to make the most of their major experience. 

Get Started and view the overview slide deck to learn about the tool's capabilities. 

A Collaborative Effort This project was the result of a year-long collaboration between Undergraduate Education, the Career Center, all academic schools and colleges, and several Enrollment Management partners, including Admissions, Outreach and Engagement, and Creative Services. 

Additional content and tools will be released in the coming months. Admissions officers, advisors, and staff are encouraged to use and promote the resource. Feedback is welcome as the tool is refined; please email Stefan Montouth with any comments or questions. 

UC San Diego and UC Online are offering support to departments and faculty for the development of online undergraduate and graduate courses. Selected projects will receive one quarter of course development support. 

Submission Deadlines & Notifications 
Winter 2027: Submit by Nov. 2 | Notification Nov. 30 
Spring 2027: Submit by Feb. 1 | Notification Feb. 26 
Summer 2027: Submit by May 3 | Notification May 28 

Selection Criteria 
Proposals are reviewed quarterly by the Senate Administration Committee on Distance Education (CODE). Priority is given to undergraduate courses and those that are R-Course approved. Learn more about the proposal questions and evaluation criteria in the July 14 campus notice.

Once awards are made, a member of the Digital Learning team will reach out to assess your course needs and create a design plan to execute within that quarter.  

This proposal process will remain open throughout the 2026-27 academic year. 

Next Steps: Faculty may book a consultation with the Digital Learning team before submission. For questions, contact Jen Schwedler, Executive Director of Online Learning, at jschwedler@ucsd.edu. 

The UC Office of the President has announced the 2026-27 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the University of California Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity Initiative (UC-HSI DDI). This is a system-wide effort designed to strengthen academic pathways to the professoriate. Participation in the program is based on institutional affiliation and academic criteria. Selection does not consider race, sex, or any other protected characteristic, in compliance with University of California policy and applicable law. 

The program supports graduate student preparation and institutional collaboration to advance inclusive excellence through evidence-based academic development strategies. The UC-HSI DDI program includes two components: 

For more information, please visit the UC-HSI DDI webpage and review the RFP for specific program guidelines. Every proposal requires a signature page signed by the Vice Chancellor for Organizational Transformation. Please submit this portion of the proposal to vcot@ucsd.edu no later than Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The proposal submission deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, at noon Pacific Time (PT).

The UC San Diego Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Compliance Training on UC Learning is now available. The training was developed through the efforts of the Vice Chancellor Offices for Organizational Transformation and Operations Management and Capital Programs in collaboration with the Human Resources Learning Technologies team.  

The first of its kind in the UC system, the training reflects UC San Diego’s prioritization of compliance with federal and state repatriation laws and UC policy. The content focuses on creating shared understanding of NAGPRA basic requirements for reporting Native American and Native Hawaiian cultural resources. This module is intended to strengthen campus consistency and provide accessible guidance for those within the campus community who may encounter cultural material during their course of work. 

All faculty and staff, particularly those who may have a higher likelihood of encountering cultural items or remains in their work, are strongly encouraged to complete the training.   

UC San Diego supports the campus community in preparing for and traveling globally. Travelers are encouraged to use UC and UC San Diego resources to make informed decisions. 

Planning and Safety Resources:

Health, Risk and Documentation

Prioritize safety and well-being and make informed decisions about travel risks, which vary by individual circumstances.

If you are concerned that delay or disruption of travel may interrupt a research project, award or grant, please reach out to your department, school leadership or OCGA for consultation or assistance. 

For more information, visit the University of California System Travel Risk and Insurance Webpage and Global Initiatives International Travel Guidance Webpage. 

If you are an international scholar on a non-immigrant visa, ISEO’s travel pages provide important information about traveling internationally. Ensure travel documents are up-to-date. Documents can include a verification of employment printed from UCPath. 

The well-being and success of our students is our top priority. A wide range of resources are available to support students throughout their academic journey. 

UC San Diego is also committed to supporting the professionals who make our campus thrive. 

UC San Diego Chief Privacy Officer Pegah Parsi argues that privacy isn’t a barrier to AI on campus, it’s the trust-builder that makes adoption worth it and shares four practical privacy checks every unit should run before the next AI tool goes live.