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 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

May 16, 2024

ALL STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO (excluding UC San Diego Health and Health Sciences) 

People Leaders:  For staff without ready access to email, please print and post a copy of this email. 

…Deep breath…It certainly feels like I need to take one, and I know many of you share the same sentiments with all that is going on in the world.

You’ve heard me talk about grace before, and it feels more critical than ever to exercise grace toward yourself and toward others. We are living in historic times, and I know that the current world events elicit different reactions in all of us. While we come from different backgrounds and may differ in opinions, we all share a common thread - we are Tritons. We are humans. 

I urge you to keep that in mind as you practice your freedom of expression while engaging in civil discourse. As you do so, it’s important to understand the framework around freedom of speech at UC San Diego, making informed decisions and using your best judgment. You can understand your rights and responsibilities on our freedom of speech website.

May also just so happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month (but really all months should acknowledge the importance of our mental health), and it couldn’t be more timely to prioritize mental health with everything going personally, professionally, and as a collective. I’m grateful to work at a place that offers so many resources in support of mental health, and I encourage you to explore the options listed below available for you as a UC San Diego employee. 

One last but very important note. From a personal perspective, do not take time with your loved ones for granted. Cherish every moment, big or small. If you are a hugger, hug them tightly. If you love their stories, ask them to tell you more (and maybe record one or two). If they mean the world to you, tell them often. Remember to take care of yourself and your loved ones (and don’t forget to book your time off).

Lead with grace and courage,  

Terri S. Winbush 
Campus Chief Human Resources Officer 

The nomination deadline for the 39th annual UC San Diego Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year award program is Friday, May 17, 2024, at 5 p.m. Pacific time. To learn more about nomination criteria and to submit nominations, visit the Exemplary Employee of the Year Blink page. 

As shared in our recent campus notice, we are excited to announce the upcoming open application period for the Staff Equal Opportunity Enrichment Program (SEOEP), a fund designated to provide training and career development opportunities for eligible individual staff and departments.  The application period for the 2024-2025 SEOEP cycle began May 13, 2024, and runs through June 14, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. To learn more about the proposal criteria and to submit a proposal, visit the SEOEP Blink page.

Commencement ceremonies will take place on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, 2024, and your help is needed to ensure the success of this event. Keynote address for All Campus Commencement will be made by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. Register to volunteer through this Qualtrics form, and learn more about the commencement ceremony on Blink. Deadline to register to volunteer is May 31, 2024.

If your department is being impacted by a retirement or other vacancy, Executive Recruitment Services (ERS) is available to help. ERS is a dedicated recruitment team specializing in higher education, with expertise in hiring a wide range of positions including the Associate Director or above level. Learn more on the ERS website or by contacting ers@ucsd.edu.

Stop by the new UCnet website, redesigned to showcase the many benefits of working at UC and being part of a unique community that transforms lives and helps solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. With clear navigation and accessible, responsive design, the redesigned UCnet makes it easy to find what you need, whether you’re on your computer, tablet or phone, or using assistive technology.

Interested in additional opportunities to explore resources, curate ideas and strategies, and connect with people leader peers? Consider attending one of our forthcoming people leadership trainings. View the 2024 People Leader Development Program calendar for descriptions and registration information. Highlights include: Supervising at UC San Diego (May); Communication and Collaboration Tools for Teams (June), Building Inclusive Teams (June), and Supervisory Training Laboratory (July-August).

In honor of CPR week June 1-7, UC San Diego’s Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) department will be hosting a CPR/AED training at the Epstein Family Amphitheater on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 from 10 - 11 a.m. and 1 - 2 p.m. Staff can sign up via UC Learning. Limited space available. 

The Legal Program at the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, and The University of Trento are hosting a summer symposium in Italy on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) from June 17 - 21, 2024. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive an advanced mediation training (20 hours) certificate from the University of California San Diego in partnership with the University of Trento. Learn more and apply on the Extended Studies website.

Valuable resources are available through our Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP), wellness program, Equity in Mental Health (EMH) series, and more throughout May in support of Mental Health Awareness month. Visit Blink and the EMH site to get involved and learn more about the programs and events offered.

Join us on Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. for an open space where participants will explore the topic of menopause and support one another through sharing experiences, feelings, resources, and strategies to better navigate an often challenging phase of life. Personal medical questions must be reserved for consultation with a healthcare provider. Learn more and register through Zoom.

Connect with other campus staff who experience challenges associated with, but not limited to: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism, sensory processing sensitivity, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Share ideas, find support, and cultivate strengths. Thursdays during Spring 2024 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. on May 23, and June 6 via Zoom. Register through this Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) flyer.

UC Moves, a four-week UC-wide movement and activity challenge, is open through May 31, 2024. All UC employees are encouraged to participate, whether individually or on a team. The platform supporting the challenge gives participants simple, motivating tools to see progress, providing instant feedback from a tracking device or app. Participants can record daily physical activity with their favorite tracker or on their mobile or desktop device for a chance to win raffle prizes. Those interested can register through the UC Moves website.

Announced last month, you can sign up for the monthly Employee Wellness newsletter to learn about upcoming wellness events, workshops, and resources available to UC San Diego employees. Fill out this registration list to sign up.

HR practitioners at UC San Diego campus can join us for the next HR Forum on Thursday, June 27, 2024, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. The HR Network meets four times a year through the HR Forum to connect for professional development opportunities, best practices, and more. Register through Zoom.

Join us for the next People Leader Summit on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. through Zoom. The summit features news and updates; a real-time Q&A; moderated discussion groups; and more.

Join the next Staff Town Hall on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. through Zoom. Topics and speakers to be announced soon.

Hosted by UC San Diego, Process Palooza is a high-energy collaborative experience showcasing and celebrating the power of continuous improvement. Join the movement on August 21-22, 2024 by registering through this form.

Our most recent Staff Town Hall took place Tuesday, May 14, 2024. If you were unable to attend, you can watch a closed-captioned recording of the presentation on Blink along with handouts from the presentation.

Our newest property, Framework, is located two blocks from the Park & Market station on the UC San Diego Blue Line, providing direct access to the La Jolla Campus and is just a bus hop away from the UC San Diego Medical Center – Hillcrest. Learn more about Framework and other housing properties through Blink.