View in browser  |  Ver versión en español

 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

July 29, 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. 

If you’ve read the last Updates from HR or attended one of our recent quarterly webinars, you’ll know we’ve emphasized well-being a lot lately - and not just in the general sense, but in the day-to-day, moment-to-moment sense. How we show up, how we feel, how we bounce back (or don’t), and how we keep ourselves grounded when it seems like the ground keeps shifting.  

In last month’s newsletter, I encouraged you to think about your own well-being and even identify an accountability buddy. So, I’ll ask again now: How’s it going? No guilt, no pressure - just an honest check-in. Have you been able to give your well-being the attention it deserves? Have you followed through on even one small thing for yourself? If not, this is your gentle nudge to begin. Because you’re well worth it. 

For a while now it’s felt like we’re all on the cusp of something. So much is happening all around us - politically, environmentally, economically, and personally - that it’s hard to know if we should brace for impact, lean into hope, or live in a dizzying limbo combination of both. Either way, I invite you to try something different: stay grounded in stillness. How? By shifting your energy toward what you can control. 

Not because it fixes everything, but because it allows you to stay rooted while the world spins. Taking small, intentional actions - especially around your well-being - is a powerful way to do that. It’s how we build the kind of resilience that doesn’t just show up when things get hard, but that sustains us through the hard. 

So here’s my ask: This month, choose one area of your well-being - mental, emotional, physical, financial, spiritual, social, or otherwise - and set an intention. Put a little energy there. Something you can act on, however small. Something that reminds you that you matter, and that you have agency over how you care for yourself. 

And if you haven’t yet connected with your accountability buddy (or with our Faculty and Staff Assistance Program), now’s a great time to reach out. You never know how much a quick check-in or shared goal can shift someone’s day – or your own. 

As always, we’ve included resources and upcoming events below that we hope will support you on your journey. Keep doing the good you can, where you can. We see you, I see you, I’m proud of you, and we’re all in this together. 

Lead with grace and courage, 

Terri S. Winbush   

Campus Chief Human Resources Officer  

UCPath has rolled out a fresh new design to make it easier for employees and retirees to manage their pay, benefits, and personal details. The updated portal features a modern look, improved navigation, mobile-friendly access, and a more seamless benefits enrollment experience. Explore the new features or log in to see what’s new. 

Our local UCPath security administration team is working to improve the current UCPath access management form in the Employee Center. If you've requested access to UCPath, we value your feedback on how we can better serve you. Please  take a quick 2-minute survey to share your experience with requesting access to UCPath. Your responses will directly shape improvements to the form, making it more efficient for users like you. 

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2024–2025 UC San Diego Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year Awards. This prestigious honor recognizes professional and support staff career employees who have made outstanding contributions to our university and the broader San Diego community. Their work advances UC San Diego’s mission to be a “student-centered, research-focused, service-oriented public university.” To read the full list of recipients, refer to the Campus Notice emailed on July 21.  

The UC Board of Regents formally recognized the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) on July 17, 2025, for 50 years of dedicated service and advocacy on behalf of UC staff. You can learn more about CUCSA’s dedication and impact on this UCnet article, including how to get involved. 

The 2024-25 CUCSA Chair, Jen Bowser of UC Santa Barbara, and our very own Chair-Elect, Desiree Hennon from UC San Diego, presented the 2024–25 CUCSA year-end report to the regents, highlighting CUCSA’s workgroup findings and recommendations from the past year, and offering a forward-looking perspective on staff priorities across the UC system. Watch the presentation on YouTube. 

This month’s edition of UCnet’s UC Spotlight is full of inspiring stories and accomplishments from across the UC system - including several standout staff members from our own Triton community. The UC Spotlight is 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? We encourage you to submit a nomination. Read the July spotlight and learn how to submit a nomination on UCnet. 

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 strategies and approaches? Explore our managerial and leadership development course offerings within our Subway Stop 2 series. Multiple opportunities include: 

Course descriptions and registration links are available in our  2025 calendar. 

The University of California Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) cohort launches Monday, September 1, 2025, with an information session on Monday, August 25, 2025, from 12 to 1 p.m. (sessions are both virtual and in person). The DPP is a free, one-year lifestyle change program available to all UC San Diego employees 18+ who have pre-diabetes or are at risk for type 2 diabetes. 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.   

Bright Breaks now offers more ways to engage your team. Create and manage your own departmental challenge, assign team captains, and get moving together. Want to lead a challenge or serve as an advocate? Contact Employee Wellness Program Manager tguglielmo@ucsd.edu. Plus, Bright Breaks is now integrated with Microsoft Teams –just search for “Bright Breaks” under Apps, install, and launch a session right in your meeting to add a quick dose of movement or mindfulness.

Designed to support faculty and staff in building a network of accountability and encouragement for personal and professional growth, this monthly facilitated group explores skills and strategies to navigate stressors and sustain well-being in daily life. In these uncertain times, maintaining resilience is more important than ever. Sessions are open to all campus faculty and staff and take place via Zoom on Fridays, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, and Oct. 17 from 12 – 1 p.m. Meetings are facilitated by William Youngblood, LMFT, CEAP of our Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP).  Register in advance through Zoom. Questions? Email wdibbleyoungblood@ucsd.edu. 

Our next Staff Town Hall will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register and submit your questions in advance here. This will be a two-part webinar series exploring Change, Community, and Agency - a focused conversation for employees navigating ongoing uncertainty in the workplace. Together, we’ll explore how to lead with resilience, support others through transformation, and build strength in the midst of change. In part one, we’ll unpack how to foster a sense of stability and cohesion amid disruption. The event will also include updates from HR, a Q&A session, and more. If you are unable to attend or stay for the entire event, a recording of the presentation will be available on Blink in the days following the Staff Town Hall. 

The University of California’s Cybersecurity Summit returns on August 19–20, 2025, bringing together participants from the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges systems. This year’s theme, Building Resilient Communities, sets the stage for two days of exploration into the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital ethics, and cyber risk - fostering collaboration and forward-thinking strategies across higher education and the public sector. Held virtually and free of charge, the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pacific each day.Register for the Cybersecurity Summit on Zoom. 

Join the Staff Association on Thursday, August 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Revelle Plaza for their first Triton Treats: Welcome Back BBQ Bash. Registration is not required. Stop by for lunch, to connect with colleagues, and meet the new Staff Association Executive Board. The Staff Association is planning two more Triton Treats this quarter in October and December, so mark your calendars.  

Members of the UC San Diego community are invited to attend the virtual Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 3 p.m. Register to attend through Zoom, and learn more about the program on Blink. 

Framework, our newest studio apartment community in Downtown San Diego, is offering immediate move-ins with no application fee, waived income requirements, and minimal screening. Located just two blocks from the Park & Market station on the UC San Diego Blue Line, Framework provides a convenient commute to both the La Jolla campus and the Hillcrest Medical Center. Residents enjoy modern amenities including co-working lounges, a fitness center, rooftop BBQ, and more. Learn more, schedule a tour, and explore current availability for Framework and other housing options on Blink.