Temporary Systemwide Wildfire Catastrophic Leave Bank

This communication is to inform the campus community of UC’s decision to create a new, temporary Systemwide Wildfire Catastrophic Leave Bank. The leave bank is to benefit UC employees who have been adversely affected by the wildfires in the greater Los Angeles region. Effective, Thursday, February 13, 2025, through Monday, March 31, 2025, eligible...

By Human Resources |

Changes to Multi-Factor Authentication are coming to UCR

Key Takeaway: The decommissioning of SMS, phone call, and downloadable MyAccount passcodes on February 24, 2025 means that Highlanders must authenticate by configuring at least one of the following options: • Verified push via the Duo Mobile app on a personal smartphone or tablet (those currently using push notifications will automatically...

By Information Technology Solutions |

Expanded Sick Leave – Protected Sick Leave and TARS Entry Code

This communication is to inform the campus of recent Expanded Sick Leave as it relates to the Protected Sick Leave option made available to all staff and student employees. On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Campus Communications emailed a notice to UCR Faculty and Staff informing the campus that expanded paid sick leave would start on January 1...

By Human Resources |

Upgrade required: Microsoft Windows 10 no longer supported

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. What does this mean? This means that devices running Windows 10 after October 14 will no longer receive crucial security updates, increasing their vulnerability to cyber threats. If you use a device that is running Windows 10 you will need to take action before the deadline to maintain...

By Information Technology Solutions |

International visitors on tourist visa/visa waiver

Dear Colleagues, The U.S. Department of State has made clear that any visitor to a US academic institution who engages in research and whose activity will benefit the hosting institution should be sponsored for a J-1 or H1-B visa and not a tourist visa. While at first glance, a tourist visa (B-1/B-2; Visa Waiver: WB/WT) may seem to be an...

By Marko Princevac |

Cal/OSHA sunsetting COVID-19 workplace requirements

Effective February 3, 2025, California’s COVID-19 workplace regulations under California Code Section 3205 will officially expire. Since the onset of the pandemic, UC Riverside has remained committed to state compliance, actively monitoring and responding to COVID-19 cases, providing guidance on isolation, quarantine, and masking, and maintaining...

By Sheila Hedayati and Karla Hill |

Interim Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

Dear Campus Community, I’m pleased to announce that Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) and Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Johnny Cruz will serve as interim vice chancellor for University Advancement (VCUA), effective February 15, 2025. Johnny previously served as interim VCUA and interim president of the UC Riverside Foundation in 2022. He...

By Kim A. Wilcox |

Provost's winter campus update

Dear Campus Community, For this quarterly campus update, I want to focus on a scary topic: emergencies. This fall, I asked the XCITE Center for Teaching and Learning and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to partner on developing a suite of resources for faculty to help them to be better prepared in the event of an emergency in or near their...

By Elizabeth Watkins |

Update on Federal Research Funding Guidance

Like many of you, I have been closely following the evolving updates and discussions surrounding the recent White House executive orders and their implications for federally funded research. I fully understand the uncertainty this situation has created, and I want to reassure you that research leadership across the UC system is working diligently...

By Rodolfo H. Torres |

Applications open for UC student regent

Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this opportunity with their students. Hello, Highlanders! I am pleased to announce that the application for the UC Student Regent representative is now live. This is an exciting opportunity for all students to participate at the UC Regent level and serve as an advocate for student needs for two years. The...

By Brian Haynes |

California Wildfires FAQ for Faculty, Staff, and Students

UC Riverside is monitoring developments from the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County, Santa Ana wind events across the region, and the related power outages. Since UC Riverside is not under direct threat, we will continue to maintain normal campus operations. However, we realize many members of the UCR community and their families live within...

By UCR News |

Vice Chancellor for University Advancement transition

Dear Campus Community, Monique Michelle Dozier, vice chancellor of university advancement, has shared her decision to step down from her position at UC Riverside on February 14, 2025, to assume the vice chancellor for university advancement position at the largest HBCU in the country, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C...

By Kim A. Wilcox |

California fire-related resources

Dear Campus Community, I have watched news of fires throughout Southern California for the last two days with a heavy heart. I am sure the destruction equally saddens all of you. We know some members of our community have been directly affected by fires and evacuations. To anyone in this situation, I want to express condolences and support on...

By Kim A. Wilcox |

Academic Analytics to offer more research opportunities

In support of UC Riverside’s strategic goal to expand the university’s visibility and scope of influence locally, nationally, and globally, UCR has invested in Academic Analytics. As Provost Elizabeth Watkins shared in her fall campus update letter, this tool will showcase faculty research activity, assist in faculty collaboration, and facilitate...

By Research and Economic Development and Information Technology Solutions |

CNAS dean announcement

Dear Colleagues, I am excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Peter Atkinson, Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), as the permanent CNAS Dean, effective January 6, 2025. A UCR faculty member since 1997, Peter is a professor in the Department of Entomology whose research focuses on developing novel, molecular...

By Elizabeth Watkins |

Chancellor's Update -- December 2024

Dear Colleagues, The last month of the year is often a time of reflection and prediction. It’s both a time to look back at the year’s happenings while also looking forward and considering what may be different in the new year. While there is plenty we cannot know about what the next 12 months will bring, we can be certain that 2025 will be a time...

By Kim A. Wilcox |

UCR welcomes Misty Maurin as Associate CIO for the School of Medicine and UCR Health

Dear Highlander Community, Please join me in welcoming Misty Maurin as the new Associate Chief Information Officer for the School of Medicine and UCR Health. Misty brings over 19 years of experience in IT leadership and a deep understanding of the technology needs within complex organizations, making her ideally suited to lead strategic IT...

By Matthew Gunkel |

Drone requirements at UCR

As there has been a national conversation about drones, Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) would like to remind the campus about drone policies and procedures at UCR. All Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) drone flights must be registered and approved before the flight occurs. Registration is required anywhere on UC property, and off campus if using...

By Environmental Health & Safety |

Commencement 2025 dates, locations announcement

I am pleased to announce that the dates and locations for each of the 2025 UC Riverside Commencement ceremonies are now confirmed. The ceremonies for the master’s and bachelor’s degree candidates will take place June 16 and 17 at Toyota Arena in Ontario. The School of Medicine Hippocratic Oath Ceremony for M.D. degree recipients and the Graduate...

By Brian Haynes |

Updated IT Request Process

UCR Information Technology Solutions (ITS) has made an update to the way IT project requests are managed. Starting December 18, 2024, all IT project requests will be processed through UCR’s Workfront platform. A few things to note about this update: ● Your access remains the same. You will continue to navigate to the IT project request form through...

By Kathleen Rondeau-Taylor |