Dear Colleagues,
It’s the first week of September and back-to-school season is upon us. Yesterday Chancellor Khosla shared information about the 2020-21 academic year and our plans for welcoming students back to campus. Things may look a little different this quarter, but our commitment to our students remains stronger than ever.
As we head into the fall quarter, I’d like to share some important information for staff. You can also stay in the loop by attending our regular Staff Town Halls. Save the date for the next Staff Town Hall on Thursday, September 24 at 3 p.m. and keep an eye out for more details.
Resources for Parents of School-Aged Children
K-12 school is in session: The beginning of the school year has a considerable impact on staff who are also parents of K-12 students. If you are a supervisor or manager, I encourage you to be flexible as staff parents adjust to this new landscape and find balance between work and distance learning. If you need help navigating these conversations with staff, Campus Human Resources is here to guide and support you.
Regional child care resources: Recognizing that many staff parents are exploring options for their school-aged children due to school closures, we’ve curated a list of regional resources, including financial assistance and subsidies and child care options. We understand that these resources may not be practical or accessible to everyone and they may vary in their ability to support your child’s learning experience and your child care needs. Parents are also encouraged to check with their child’s school district, as additional resources may be available. View resources for parents »
Return to Learn: Key Information for Staff
Continuing remote work: Staff who are successfully working remotely should plan on continuing to do so through December 31, 2020. A limited number of student-facing staff may return to campus. If you are asked to return, your supervisor and/or vice chancellor will work with you to develop a plan for returning safely.
Face covering policy: If you are coming to campus for any reason or duration, make sure to familiarize yourself with our recently-updated face covering policy. Read the policy »
Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing: All faculty and staff are eligible to schedule a no-cost asymptomatic COVID-19 test. Frequent and large-scale testing of our campus community is a central component of the Return to Learn program. It’s also a unique benefit of working at UC San Diego. Learn more about asymptomatic employee COVID-19 testing. The test takes just a few minutes and results are typically available within 24-36 hours. Testing sites are available throughout San Diego. Schedule your test now »
Testing dashboard: View campus-wide aggregate test results on our testing dashboard, which is updated weekly.
Strengthening our Campus Community
21-Day Anti-Racism Challenge: We’re in the final week of the Chancellor’s 21-Day Anti-Racism Challenge, focusing on allyship, action and accountability. I encourage you to discuss the readings and resources with your colleagues, and consider how we can collectively deepen our understanding of systemic racism and speak out against injustice. The final webinar of the 21-Day Anti-Racism Challenge is this Friday, September 4 from 12 - 1:15 p.m. Register for the webinar »
I also want to extend my gratitude to the leaders of the Black Staff Association for hosting an open healing and reflection session on Friday of last week in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I am inspired by the leadership the BSA continues to show in this important time in our campus community.
July marked the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark piece of civil rights legislation. This milestone is worthy of celebration and is a time to honor the accomplishments of disability rights pioneers, as well as an opportunity to deepen our understanding about the ongoing disability justice movement.
To celebrate and recognize this anniversary, I shared the following two short videos to facilitate a discussion with my Human Resources organization and wanted to share them with all of you. I will keep you posted about events Human Resources will be hosting to celebrate Disability Awareness Month in October, so please stay tuned.
A successful Staff Summer Celebration: Lastly, I want to give kudos to the Staff Association for this year’s virtual Staff Summer Celebration, which was a great success. You can still check out some of the great content, including video messages from campus leaders and the staff talent show, on the Staff Association website.
