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Dear Colleagues,
I hope you had time to rest and refresh and are enjoying a pleasant start to our winter quarter and 2024. This is a time of year when people often embrace the opportunity to try novel things as part of the clean slate of a new year.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” (Neale Donald Walsch) is a quote that I keep front and center on my desk. Journeying outside of that comfort zone can bring joy, spark curiosity and encourage thoughtfulness and a broader life perspective. Our campus provides so many avenues through which we can try things that stretch our experience and imagination. Bouldering at the Outback Climbing Center and trying at my hand at ceramics in the Craft Center are just two examples of new activities I’ve been able to explore right here on campus. Checking out unfamiliar forms of art, music, and performance through the many offerings on the Arts @ UC San Diego site can be very rewarding. Learning about how campus research is contributing to the AI revolution may sound intriguing. Or perhaps you’re looking for a mentor, or to be mentored, in which case attending a conversation on Equity-Minded Mentorship may be appealing.
Whatever you include in the “new” part of this year that lies before us, I hope that you will find balance and equanimity in the months ahead.
Here’s to new discoveries of all kinds in 2024!
Elizabeth H. Simmons
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Just a reminder that the easiest way for us to talk is to come in during my office hours. Click the button below to find out more and schedule a time! |
Read the latest EVC blog post...
Honest and Purposeful Communication
I appreciate it when people let me know about university processes or operations that are not as helpful or timely as they should be – and I try to remember to express this in the moment. It takes courage to bring up disappointing news, especially if you fear this may be interpreted as assigning blame or causing trouble for a colleague.
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Attend An Evening of Cosmic Discovery with Nobel Laureate Andrea Ghez
Experience an enlightening talk with Nobel Laureate Andrea Ghez on Friday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Ghez, a trailblazing astrophysicist renowned for her groundbreaking research on supermassive black holes, will take attendees on a captivating journey through the mysteries of the universe as she shares insights that promise to inspire audiences. Additionally, Ghez's talk will help commemorate the 60th anniversary of Maria Goeppert Mayer's Nobel Prize in Physics, celebrating her historic achievement as one of UC San Diego's founding faculty members and the second woman to receive the prestigious prize. Click here to RSVP to attend this talk scheduled to take place at The Jeannie in the North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood.
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14th Annual Integrity Awards Nomination Deadline Reminder
Integrity is a core principle of the UC San Diego community – it is essential to the campus’ excellence. Each year, UC San Diego recognizes campus community members who have made substantial contributions to academic, research or professional integrity. Please consider nominating a UC San Diego community member or department/unit for the 14th Annual Integrity Awards; self-nominations are welcome. Information about nomination guidelines and the nomination form can be found on Academic Integrity’s webpage for the event. All nominations must be received by 8 a.m. on January 16, 2024. Honorees will be recognized at an in-person Integrity Awards Ceremony on the third Wednesday of Spring quarter, April 17, 2024. Time and location details to be announced later this month. Please contact the event organizers with any questions at awards-integrity@ucsd.edu.
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2024 Changemaker Week is Here
Changemaker Week 2024 is an opportunity for the UC San Diego campus community to join in a transformative weeklong celebration dedicated to igniting change and fostering the spirit of activism. Held Jan. 13-20, the lineup of in-person and online events is designed to empower students, staff, faculty and alumni to take action toward driving positive impact in their regional community and beyond. UC San Diego’s Changemaker Campus designation was recently renewed by Ashoka U, signifying the university’s commitment to cultivating a strong innovation and changemaking ecosystem. The event series — hosted by the Changemaker Institute and sponsored by various units and organizations across campus — encourages participants to dive into an array of workshops, volunteer projects and community discussions. All Changemaker Week events are free to register and participate in. For a comprehensive view of the entire schedule, visit the online event calendar.
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Reminder - RSVP for the 2024 Future of Academic Affairs Forum | |
Come help shape the future of Academic Affairs and the refresh of UC San Diego’s Strategic Plan by participating in the third annual Future of Academic Affairs forum! This hybrid event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The topics being discussed will include:
- Strengthening our summer academic offerings
- Identifying our research strengths and investing to boost rankings & impact
- Building a transparent, data-driven, service-oriented administrative culture
- Preparing for our 2024 WSCUC reaccreditation mid-point review and learning about what accomplishments we should be bragging about.
Click here to register for this hybrid event today!
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"Practical Approaches to Undergraduate Education" Virtual Workshop Scheduled for January 29
A one-day, UC systemwide virtual workshop focused on Practical Approaches to Undergraduate Education is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This mini-Congress was called for by popular demand as the participants in the inaugural systemwide Academic Congress on Graduate Education at UCLA last October recognized the inextricable linkage between graduate education and undergraduate instruction. This one-day virtual gathering is free and open to all UC academic administrators and faculty members. It may be of particular interest to faculty who are focused on academic planning, undergraduate curriculum, and/or issues related to teaching and learning. To view the full workshop agenda and register to attend, visit the Eventbrite page and RSVP by January 25.
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Registration for the 2024 UC Academic Advising Conference Now Open
Professionals engaged in academic advising, student support services, or other related services are encouraged to register to attend the 2024 UC Academic Advising Conference on April 16 - 17, 2024. UC San Diego will be hosting this year’s conference at the San Diego Marriott La Jolla. The theme of “Building Community and Belonging through Academic Advising” will bring colleagues together from every UC campus to collaborate and share innovative practices that show up in the work done to support student success. Conference registration is now open! Act fast to take advantage of the early bird registration fee as reduced fees are limited. Registration will remain open until April 1 at 11:59 a.m., or until the event has reached capacity. Registration information and additional conference details can be found on the 2024 UCAAC site.
Individuals are also invited to submit proposals for workshops and presentations that showcase advising work to share their knowledge, exchange ideas, and learn best practices. The proposal submission deadline is January 21, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Additional information can be found on the 2024 UCAAC site. All questions can be directed to 2024ucaac@ucsd.edu.
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Winter 2024 Triton Testing Center (TTC) and Proctor Pool Services
The TTC exists to provide secure and integrous paper-based testing services to any student who needs to take their tests outside the time and space constraints of the classroom. The testing center is able to assist with accommodated testing, make-up testing, and in other situations where a student needs to test outside of the classroom but within a proctored setting. To get started, visit the TTC website for step-by-step instructions. The deadline for initial submission of testing dates/times is Jan. 19, 2024.
The Proctor Pool is designed to supplement a professor's instructional team in proctoring in-class tests if, for example, you need one or two extra proctors to reach a 1:50 proctor-to-student ratio, or you have a department-provided Instructional Assistant who can’t proctor due to illness, travel or other conflicts. It is recommended to submit Proctor Pool requests as soon as you are aware of the need by filling out this online form: https://forms.office.com/r/3XrPptheR6.
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Campus Offers Wealth of Resources to Support Student Health and Well-Being
The start of the new year is an ideal time to reflect on personal well-being, as well as increase awareness of the many UC San Diego health programs, services and resources for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. A recent campus notice summarized these resources, including online resources for students such as Togetherall, a safe, free, online mental health support community where students may anonymously connect with others who understand what they're going through – 24/7, and Triton2Triton, a supportive, online connection space where students may connect via chat with trained peers who understand what they're going through and can help with navigating resources. Triton CORE (pictured above) is UC San Diego’s mobile crisis response team that provides compassionate, mobile crisis response, mental health wellness checks, and telehealth assessment for students facing mental health challenges, substance-use related crises, and other forms of distress. Triton CORE can be activated by calling UC San Diego Police Dispatch at 911 or 858-534-4357. UC San Diego faculty and staff members who are concerned about a student may also utilize the Triton Concern Line 24 hours-a-day. The phone line can be reached by calling 858-246-1111. Referrals will be routed to third-party services for assessment, and then follow-up by university professionals. UC San Diego faculty, staff, fellow students, and community members may utilize the Triton Concern Form to refer students for support.
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Register for the 7th Annual Triton Leaders Conference
The 7th annual Triton Leaders Conference with the theme, “Embracing Equity: Perspectives on Environmental Justice”, will be held February 2-3, 2024. The event will feature 40 campus leaders/speakers from a variety of fields – and present the university as a thought leader around climate. Applying diversity and equity as the guide, the two-day conference will explore topics including:
- Environmental Justice and Energy Equity
- Offshore Wind and Renewable Energy
- Climate and Air Pollution: Local and Global Health Impacts
- Global Supply Chains: Perspectives and Trade-offs
Day One (Friday) will be offered virtually to allow guests to enjoy speakers and sessions from the convenience of their home/workplace. Day Two will be held at the Birch Aquarium, for a half-day of in-person education and connection. The conference will close out with the 2024 True Triton Celebration to honor alumni who have shown an extraordinary commitment to the university and their communities through service. Register today and bring your curiosity and Triton spirit, and invite others to attend.
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Advancing Equity in Mental Health Funding Opportunities
Funding opportunities for innovative pilot programs to advance the goals of the recently launched Equity in Mental Health (EMH) Series are now available. Acts of hate, racism and violence, and the health disparities of COVID-19, have taken a toll on the well-being and overall mental health of our nation and campus community. To advance systemic improvements in our understanding of trauma and its generational impact on and intersection with mental health and well-being, UC San Diego has launched the Equity in Mental Health Series, a campus-wide program led by the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to unify and expand services dedicated to supporting a diverse faculty, staff and student community. Grants of $5,000–$15,000 may be requested for projects that help us achieve the goals of the EMH Initiative. Grant applications are due by Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. For details on how to apply, please visit the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’s EMH mini-grant webpage.
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Qualcomm Institute Internship Trains Students for Careers in the Sonic Arts | The QI Sonic Arts internship exposes UC San Diego students to cutting-edge techniques and prepares them for careers in music technology. | | | |
UC San Diego Is Now a Bee Campus. Here's What that Means... | UC San Diego recently became a Bee Campus USA member, part of a national program created to support pollinating organisms, boost the abundance of native plant species and reduce pesticide use. Professor James Nieh explains what the designation means for UC San Diego and the San Diego region. | | | | | | |
