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 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

March 26, 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 this feeling of constant change, I want to take a moment to pause with you, to take a deep breath, and to acknowledge the weight many of us are carrying (perhaps have been carrying for a while). 

I say this now because I’ve had to remind myself, too. To make time for your wellness or you’ll have to make time for your illness. To take your vacation time so that you’re ready when surge mode comes around (A.K.A. now). Because the reality is, we can’t pour from an empty cup. And when we don’t give ourselves the space to recharge, we carry that exhaustion into everything we do. 

In the spirit of Women’s History Month, as Audre Lorde reminds us, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." Self-care is not a luxury - it’s a necessity, especially when the world demands so much from us. 

As we enter performance appraisal season (when many of us feel like we’re singing for our supper), I want to remind you to be intentional about acknowledging everything you do and accomplish - because sometimes we gaslight ourselves wondering why we feel so overwhelmed, stressed, and burnt out. And when we take the time to reflect, we realize just how much we’ve actually done. 

Many of the things you contribute are behind the scenes - things that others don’t even realize are essential to the success of your department and this world-class institution. So write them down. Document them. As you prepare for your self-evaluation, channel your inner cheerleader and celebrate yourself there. Acknowledge for yourself all that you do and everything you’ve brought to UC San Diego. 

But most importantly, remember that none of that is a measure of your worth or your value. Yes, you have accomplished incredible things. But you are worthy simply because you exist. Amidst ongoing uncertainty with budget cuts and hiring pauses, grounding ourselves in that truth becomes even more important. 

Now, before we wrap up, I want to wish a Happy Ramadan to those who celebrate, and an early Eid Mubarak as this month of reflection and renewal comes to a close. And speaking of reflection and renewal, I want to encourage you to figure out how you can be a light to at least one other person, even if it’s a tiny light. You never know when a tiny light might be the brightest light in darkness for somebody. Keep your light on. 

Lead with grace and courage, 

Terri S. Winbush   

Campus Chief Human Resources Officer  

In this recent message from University of California President Michael Drake, he addresses financial challenges faced by the UC due to proposed federal budget cuts and the 2025-26 California state budget. In response, a systemwide hiring freeze will be implemented, along with other cost-saving measures, including delays in maintenance and reduced travel. These steps aim to protect the university's financial stability while upholding its mission. Read more in this campus notice. 

UC is currently accepting applications for the next staff advisor to the Regents, with a deadline of April 11. This position offers staff members the chance to represent their peers at the Board of Regents, providing a platform for direct involvement in key decision-making. Staff advisors serve a two-year term, beginning July 2025, attend meetings, advocate for colleagues, and participate in committees. Learn more about this unique opportunity and how to apply on the UC website. 

As of Tuesday, March 25, UC San Diego Campus employees have generously donated 366 hours to colleagues affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. If you're interested in contributing vacation hours to help UC colleagues affected by the wildfires, the deadline to donate is March 31, 2025. Information on how to donate to the temporary Los Angeles Wildfire Catastrophic Leave Bank is available on our Catastrophic Leave Donation Program Blink webpage. Thank you to those who have donated and to those considering this opportunity to support our UC community.

The Tritonlytics team is excited to share key highlights from the 2024 Staff@Work Survey. This year, 46% of staff - 5,054 employees across 496 departments - participated. The highest People Proposition scores focused on care, inclusion, and equity. Staff responses highlight strong alignment with departmental missions, supportive supervisors, mutual respect, and a genuine sense of community. With 76% planning to stay in their departments and 83% intending to remain at UC San Diego, the trends from 2023 continue positively. As a reminder, the next survey will be conducted biennially to provide ample time for action planning ahead of the next survey in 2026. For more details, visit the Tritonlytics website. 

Registration is now open for UC San Diego CREATE Young Scholars, a family-paid summer enrichment program for students rising into grades 1-12. Held on campus, it offers hands-on, interdisciplinary learning tailored to each grade level. This year's theme, Igniting Curiosity, provides unique opportunities for students to explore new topics and for high schoolers to enhance their college readiness. Learn more here. 

Join us for the launch of the People Leader Support Series - an interactive, recurring webinar shaped by feedback from People Leaders, and designed to explore key topics that help them support their teams throughout the employee lifecycle. The spring 2025 People Leader Support Series will focus on performance. Be sure to register for all four spring sessions on Blink, as they each address a different aspect of performance management. Recordings for select sessions will be made available on Blink a couple of weeks following the events. 

Do you want to connect with colleagues who are also leading teams? Are you new to people leadership at UC San Diego or looking to refresh your People Leader toolkit? Check out our managerial and leadership development course offerings within our Subway Stop 2 series (course descriptions and registration links available in our 2025 calendar). Upcoming session highlights include Communication and Collaboration Tools for Teams (May 30), Team Building: Setting Norms, Goals and Expectations (June 25), and Building Inclusive Teams (July 15).  

Connect, share ideas, and cultivate strengths. Thursdays, April 3, May 8, and May 22 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Learn more and register through this flyer.

Share experiences, strategies, and resources. Thursdays, April 17 and May 15 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Learn more and register through this flyer. 

Dr. Christina Lambert of FSAP offers consultation to People Leaders seeking strategies and resources to work effectively with neurodivergence. Thursdays March 27, April 17, and May 15 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Learn more and register through this flyer. 

Learn about terminology, strengths, and advocacy. Monday, April 28, or Tuesday, May 6 from 12 - 1 p.m. Register through UC Learning Center. 

Bright Breaks, a free and voluntary wellness program brought to you by Employee Wellness, now offers the ability to run internal departmental challenges. Looking to create a fun, engaging, wellness-focused way to support your team/unit? Try running a mini challenge. You choose the duration, topic/focus, and prize, and Employee Wellness will set it up for you in the platform. Contact Employee Wellness to learn more. 

The University of California Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a free, one-year lifestyle change program available to all UC San Diego employees and their family members (18+) who have pre-diabetes or are at risk for type 2 diabetes. The next cohort starts in early May. In each session, you and your group will meet with a certified DPP coach to discuss topics such as nutrition, stress management, physical activity, and more. The program helps cut your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half while building a supportive community. To register your interest, fill out this Qualtrics interest form. 

Several events centered around the theme “Empowerment Echoes: Celebrating Women Who Advocate and Educate” are being held on-site in March. There’s still time to attend! For dates and details, visit the Women's Center website. 

Join the Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) on April 1, 2025 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. via Zoom for a conversation with UC Regents Vice Chair Maria Anguiano as she delves into the role of the Regents in University governance. She will also address the challenges UC faces, including state budget cuts and potential reductions in federal funding. Register through Zoom. 

People Leaders, save the date for our upcoming People Leader Summit on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 2 - 3:30 p.m. Register and submit questions in advance through Zoom. We will focus on a very timely topic – Staff Performance Appraisals (as well as other relevant updates). What’s a People Leader? Learn more on Blink. 

Attend the 30th Annual Inclusive Excellence Awards on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 2 - 3:30 p.m. at the Price Center East Ballroom. This annual event honors faculty, staff, students, and departments or groups for their leadership in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as their commitment to the UC San Diego Principles of Community. In-person attendees, please register online via Eventbrite. Online attendees, please register via Zoom. 

In this webinar you will learn the core principles of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and demonstrate how AI-driven tools like UC San Diego’s TritonGPT can optimize workflows and problem-solving. The session, held April 24 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m, you will explore how these tools differ, how they may complement each other, and potential practical applications.  Whether you're new to Lean Six Sigma, looking to integrate AI into your professional toolkit, or simply curious about the intersection of both, this webinar will offer insights into the future of process improvement. For further information and to register, visit the TritonGPT Resources Hub.  

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 13 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. for our upcoming Staff Town Hall, focusing on staff performance appraisal, as well as critical and relevant topics that matter the most to UC San Diego staff. Can’t make it the day of the event? A recording will be available on Blink a few days following the meeting. Register in advance and ask questions through Zoom.