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 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

April 7, 2026 

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. 

As we begin April and look back on March, I’ve been reflecting on the significance of Women’s History Month and the many individuals whose advocacy, courage, and persistence shaped the world we live in today.  

March allowed us not only to recognize women’s history, but to consider how that shared, collective legacy continues to show up in our policies, our practices, our workplace, and our shared responsibility to care for one another. Because enduring change often goes beyond just one person.  

I say this as our state recently evolved the recognition of its history with the renaming to celebrate Farmworkers Day. This moment in time offers an opportunity to look beyond a single name or day, and instead focus on the collective impact of a movement rooted in dignity, fairness, and care for working people. 

Working in California can sometimes feel hard - especially as new laws and procedures emerge. I know how challenging adapting can be, and I want to name that. But I also want to invite us to pause and look at these changes through a different lens. 

Many of the things that can feel difficult from an employer perspective are the very protections and benefits that support us as employees and as human beings. 

When we take a step back, we’re reminded that policies don’t appear out of nowhere. They are created in response to something - often something hard. Someone experienced harm, or inequity, or a gap in protection. Someone cared enough to speak up. And others worked, advocated, and pushed (sometimes over many years) to create something better. 

Expanded paid sick leave exists because too many people, especially those not working full-time, didn’t have a safe way to care for themselves or their families. Pay for Family Care and Bonding reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that there isn’t a penalty for having children or caring for loved ones. Policies around abusive conduct exist because people were being harmed in ways that previously went unaddressed. 

These aren’t just policies we implement - they are reflections of care, accountability, and progress. And while not everyone will personally experience the need for each of these protections, they are part of a broader system that supports all of us. In a world that often draws our attention to what’s not working, I want to challenge us to also make space for gratitude, for what we do have access to, and for the people who made it possible. 

Gratitude not instead of improvement, but alongside it. Let’s continue to lean into that perspective. To recognize the effort, advocacy, and resilience that brought us here. And to carry that forward in how we show up for one another in our work and our community. 

Lastly, for those who celebrate, I hope you had a meaningful and restorative Easter and Pesach, surrounded by moments of reflection, connection, and care. 

Lead with grace and courage, 

Terri S. Winbush   

Campus Chief Human Resources Officer  

Please see below for an important message from Systemwide Human Resources regarding an update and heads-up related to the Workplace Know Your Rights notice that was distributed on February 1. This notice includes language about an employee’s “Right to Designate an Emergency Contact” in the event they are arrested or detained at work. On March 30, UCPath introduced a new emergency contact relationship type, “Contact if Detained/Arrested,” that will allow employees to designate an emergency contact to be notified if they are arrested or detained at work. That emergency contact may be the same as or different from the employee’s primary emergency contact. Employees should review their emergency contact selections in UCPath.  If they wish to designate an emergency contact to be notified in the event of arrest/detention at work, they will need to update UCPath accordingly.  

Participants in the 2025 Health and/or Dependent Care (DepCare) Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), should be aware of an upcoming deadline that could affect their benefits. After April 15, 2026, participants will no longer be able to submit 2025 plan year expenses for reimbursement, and their funds may be forfeited. For more detailed information, read this UCnet article. 

The Performance Appraisal process for policy-covered (non-represented) employees for the 2025–2026 cycle spans from May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026. Appraisals must be completed within 45 calendar days following the end of the cycle - by close of business on Monday, June 15, 2026. 

What does this mean for you? Please connect with your People Leader to learn about your department’s specific steps and internal deadlines. The appraisal process is a collaborative effort, so take time to reflect on your accomplishments, growth, and areas for development. This is a great foundation for your self-appraisal. If you're unsure where to start, this resource can help spark ideas on what to include in your self-appraisal.  

A few reminders:

The Student Employment Office encourages the UC San Diego community to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of student employees during National Student Employment Week (April 12-18). Please visit our National Student Employment Week webpage for more information and ideas on how departments can show their appreciation for their student employees. We encourage you to use your creativity to celebrate your student employees in new and exciting ways. 

Our new Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Lawrence Furnstahl, was featured in UC San Diego Today, where he talks about his background, his outlook, his goals and priorities, and more. Read the interview on UC San Diego Today. 

In collaboration with the San Diego Food Bank, UC San Diego is now a Neighborhood Distribution Partner. Starting in April 2026, the Basic Needs Center will host a free food distribution on the last Friday of the month from 1 - 4 p.m. These distributions are open to everyone, including students, staff, faculty, and community members. Distributions will include shelf stable pantry items (e.g., canned goods, pasta) along with fresh seasonal produce. Attendees are highly encouraged to bring their own reusable grocery bags to carry their items. Distribution logistics: Friday, April 24 from 1 – 4 p.m. at Malk Hall (outside of the new Basic Needs Center); Friday, May 29  from 1 – 4 p.m. at Town Square; and Friday, June 26 from 1 - 4 p.m. at Town Square. If you are interested in helping with this event, you can use this link to sign up to volunteer. For any questions, please reach out to the Assistant Director of Food Security Programs, Haley Okamoto, at hokamoto@ucsd.edu. 

Whether you are new to supervising at UC San Diego, looking to refresh your leadership toolkit, or hoping to connect with fellow People Leaders/Supervisors, our 2026 People Leader Development Program is for you. These courses are designed to help build essential skills, foster inclusive teams, and grow your leadership capabilities. Previous participants are always welcome to return for a refresher! 

Registration is available. Here is a preview of our upcoming courses: 

You can register and view our full calendar of upcoming courses. Looking for immediate support? Check out all of our on-demand resources on the People Leader Network Blink page. 

Celebrate awardees for their leadership in making UC San Diego a more equitable, welcoming and supportive place to work, teach and learn, and for their strong commitment to the UC San Diego Principles of Community at the 31st annual Inclusive Excellence Awards ceremony. The event will be held today, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 2 – 3 p.m. via Zoom. Register to attend via Zoom here, and learn more about the recipients in this campus notice. 

Each year, April is designated as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center coordinates the campuswide activities for SAAM. For the full SAAM calendar, detailed event descriptions, and registration information, please visit the SAAM webpage. 

The UC San Diego LGBT Resource Center is excited to announce its 2026 Out and Proud series, taking place April 13 - 24, 2026. This two-week series, open to all UC San Diego faculty, staff and students, will feature programming that focuses on the theme "Becoming a Spark: Weathering Storms Together," bringing awareness to LGBTQIA+ issues and providing an opportunity for visibility and reflection. Visit the series website to learn more about the different events. 

People Leaders, mark your calendars for the upcoming People Leader Summit on Thursday, April 16  from 1:30 - 3 p.m. The topic will be Staff Performance Appraisal with a special emphasis on people leadership. Register and submit your questions in advance through Zoom. The People Leader Network meets four times a year for its centerpiece event, the People Leader Summit - an online, interactive session featuring a wealth of necessary tools for people with teams to thrive as People Leaders. The summit features news and updates; a real-time Q&A; moderated discussion groups; and more.

All faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in UC San Diego's Arab American Heritage Celebration Banquet on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 5 - 7 p.m. in Price Center Ballroom West. This year’s theme, “Many Voices, One Community,” highlights the diverse identities, cultures and experiences of Arab Americans from 22 nations. To view the monthlong calendar of events, please visit the Arab American Heritage Month webpage. 

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 12 from 1:30 – 3 p.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.