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 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

December 18, 2025 

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. 

In the midst of trying to get into the holiday spirit, it’s important to pause and acknowledge the full reality of this moment. Even as many of us are leaning into tradition and light, our hearts are also holding grief. Recent tragedies in Bondi Beach and Brown University are sobering reminders that loss and pain do not pause for the season. As Shola Richards says, “It shouldn’t have to happen to you to matter to you.” Check in on your colleagues, friends and community members.  

For some in our community and beyond, this time of year may feel especially heavy, tender, or complicated. As we navigate these days, I want to name something: not everyone experiences the holiday season in the same way. Even when our intentions are joyful and our spirits are light, our cheer may sometimes brush up against someone else’s grief or despair. That’s not them being grinches; that’s them being human. 

Holding that awareness - leading with compassion, empathy, and curiosity - matters now more than ever. And still, there is also room to wish one another peace and warmth, in ways that honor the full humanity of everyone involved. 

I shared this recently, and it feels especially true now: amid uncertainty, one of the most grounding things we can do is focus on what we do have control over. Whether you are continuing to work or eagerly anticipating curtailment, I invite you to ask yourself - what is one intentional thing you could do during this time that future you will be really grateful for?  

Maybe it’s finally reading that book that shifts how you think about something important. Maybe it’s tending to a long-ignored corner of your life - cleaning out that closet, organizing your space, or closing a lingering loop that’s been quietly tugging at you. Do that thing. Let 2026 you look back and say, “You did that - and I appreciate you.” And make sure future you celebrates each past thing you did, because you deserve it.  

You don’t have to do everything. You will get tired. And that’s okay. In times of chaos, choosing rest, tending to yourself, and honoring your limits is not indulgent - it’s a brave act of self-love. And when we care for ourselves with intention and grace, it becomes just a little easier to extend that same care to others. My hope is that in these days ahead, you find moments that help you feel grounded, proud, and deeply human. 

To those who are celebrating, I wish you a Merry Christmas, a meaningful Hanukkah, and joy amidst all traditions across faiths and cultures. May they be filled with moments of connection, rest, and light. 

Lead with grace and courage, 

Terri S. Winbush   

Campus Chief Human Resources Officer

As 2025 comes to a close, please take time to review important year-end updates related to your pay, taxes, and benefits. Several UCPath deadlines may require action, including verifying your personal and tax information, opting in for electronic delivery of your W-2 and 1095-C forms, and confirming dependent information for accurate reporting. Open Enrollment changes will take effect January 1, 2026, and retirement contribution elections will carry over unless you choose to update them. Reviewing these reminders now on UCnet can help prevent delays or issues in the new year. 

As part of our continued commitment to creating a safe and healthy working environment, the University of California launched an updated workplace violence prevention training. If you are a newer employee or haven't completed the course within the last 12 months, you will receive an assignment notification from the UC Learning Center the week of January 5, 2026. That message will provide instructions for logging in to the UC Learning Center and completing the course. The content is available in both English and Spanish, andtakes approximately 30 minutes to complete. For more information about required systemwide training courses, please visit the Compliance and Required Training page on Blink. 

UC San Diego is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful community. Hazing - any initiation or pre-initiation activity that could cause physical or psychological harm - is strictly prohibited, regardless of “willing” participation. Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to, harassment, physical or verbal abuse, forced consumption, or humiliation. Anyone found responsible for hazing may face serious legal and university consequences. If you become aware of hazing, it can be reported confidentially through multiple channels, including the Center for Student Accountability, Growth and Education (SAGE), UC San Diego Police, or the UC Whistleblower Hotline. Read this recent campus notice for more details. 

Read the latest edition of UCnet's UC Spotlight – a monthly feature celebrating the people and teams who help make UC a great place to work. Do you know a UC San Diego staff member whose story should be shared? Read the December spotlight and learn how to submit a nomination on UCnet. UCnetwork is emailed monthly to University of California staff, and all members of the UC community are invited to subscribe. Get UCnetwork delivered to your inbox. 

People Leaders, save the date for our upcoming People Leader Summit on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Register and submit questions in advance through Zoom. More details on speakers will be shared in the weeks leading up to the event. 

Join us for the first Staff Town Hall of 2026 on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 10 – 11:30 a.m., highlighting timely topics and featuring updates from HR, Staff Association, wellness and more. Register and submit questions in advance through Zoom. 

During the 2025 holiday season, UC San Diego (excluding the hospitals and clinics) will officially close for seven (7) days between Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026. The closure period includes four (4) university paid holidays (December 24, 25, 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026). Learn more about winter curtailment in this recent campus notice.

As outlined in the UC Payroll Policy (see pages 2 and 3 regarding holiday payroll schedules), the first payroll for both monthly and biweekly schedules will be processed on Jan. 2, 2026. Some employees may expect payments to be made on New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2026); however, as outlined in the UC Policy, payments will be issued on the next banking day, which is Jan. 2, 2026. For a complete list of 2026 payroll dates, visit Blink. For payroll questions, submit an inquiry to UCPath.