Dear Campus Community, It’s been an eventful first month for me as your provost. Although I’ve moved into my office in Hinderaker Hall, I’ve spent most of my time on Zoom! I have managed to get outside now and then: I’ve had lunch at the Sub Station, I’ve watched the women’s soccer team practice, and I got a tour of the almost-completed Student...

Dear Colleagues, For your review and comment is a draft Presidential Campus Safety Plan that lays a foundation for transforming UC’s culture, policies and practices to achieve a vision of safety in which all members of the community feel equally welcomed, respected and protected from harm. This draft plan was developed based on extensive input from...

The UC Riverside Operational Continuity Working Group has issued campus events and gatherings guidelines, including a gatherings checklist and approval process. The campus continues to recommend that events be held remotely and virtually when possible in keeping with the State Guidance for Higher Education. Event planners seeking to hold an in...

UC Riverside has created five campus working groups to plan for the fall and the transition to returning to campus. See below for the latest updates from the working groups: Research Ramp-up Starting May 26, campus laboratories that conduct human subjects research may resume operations as long as they abide by a matrix designed to assess the risk...

Dear campus community, Now that Riverside County is in the orange coronavirus tier, the restrictions brought about by the pandemic on conducting human subjects research can be relaxed. Starting today, campus laboratories that conduct human subjects research may resume operations as long as they abide by a matrix designed to assess the risk in...

Dear Campus Community, As we approach the end of the academic year, I have been reflecting on all we have experienced together in one year. Four months ago, we were just beginning to receive and administer vaccines through UCR Health. In the previous months, some California counties, including Riverside, had temporary curfews in place to limit...

Dear Campus Community, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Heidi M. Scribner as UCR’s next Associate Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary Services. Ms. Scribner’s appointment will begin on July 1st, 2021. Heidi spent the past six years at UC Berkeley and since 2017 served as Executive Director for Housing, Events, and Facilities Services. She...

UC Riverside has created five campus working groups to plan for the fall and the transition to returning to campus. See below for the latest updates from the working groups: Operational Continuity The Operational Continuity working group campus briefing takes place Friday, May 21 at 12 p.m. and is available for view, both live and recorded on...

Dear Highlanders, As of May 13, 2021, COVID-19 vaccinations were made available to all individuals 12 years and older. The university is encouraging students to get vaccinated prior to our return to campus in fall. Vaccinations can be obtained through local pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreens, county clinics, in addition to your primary...

Dear Campus Community, In recent years, UC Riverside has been increasingly recognized nationally for our achievements in student success and research, and for our contributions to the state of California and beyond. One of the major reasons for our success is the commitment and passion of our employees. Even as I recognize the importance of our...

Dear Campus Community, Following the recommendations of the Campus Safety Task Force, I am writing today to announce the reorganization of several departments into a new division for Health, Well-being, and Safety to be led by Associate Vice Chancellor Denise Woods, who will report to me beginning July 1. With the objective of enhancing overall...

Dear Campus Community, The UC Office of the President recently shared the details of a proposed policy on COVID-19 vaccination for employees and students at all University of California campuses. While the policy has not yet taken effect, we are preparing for the likelihood of the policy’s adoption. We know that thousands of UCR employees have...

UC Riverside has created five campus working groups to plan for the fall and the transition to returning to campus. See below for the latest updates from the working groups: Student Services The Student Services working groups campus briefing takes place May 12 at 3 p.m. and is available for view, both live and recorded on YouTube. COVID Management...

On March 13, 2020, we received notice that we were to limit all campus activities to personnel supporting essential activities and all other personnel were required to work remotely. In a short period of time, we learned that many jobs could be performed effectively in a remote setting. For some, the flexibility of working from home afforded...

Although UC Riverside is planning for a safe return to campus this fall, access to campus buildings and other facilities remains limited for now and should be arranged in advance. Under approved worksite specific plans, a limited number of employees are working on campus, with a phased ramp-up of on-campus research activities. Remote work remains...

Dear UCR Community, A month ago, I endorsed the Commencement Task Force recommendations of a stage-walk for the graduating classes of 2021 and 2020, consistent with public health guidance. As you know, California’s in-person gathering restrictions are evolving to reflect changes in infection, vaccination, and testing data, although notable...

The University of California (UC) Office of the President is conducting the biennial Staff Engagement survey to learn more about policy-covered (non-represented) staff employee’s impressions of working for UC. Engagement Survey The survey was developed by the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) in collaboration with...

Dear Campus Community, In November, I announced the establishment of the Athletics Working Group to conduct a thorough assessment of Intercollegiate Athletics on the UC Riverside campus; review challenges and opportunities; and make recommendations on the long-term sustainability of the program. Over the past few months, the working group has...

UC Riverside has created five campus working groups to plan for the fall and the transition to returning to campus. See below for the latest updates from the working groups: Research Ramp-up A recording of the Research Ramp-up group's May 3 return to campus briefing is available on the UCR YouTube channel. COVID Management The vaccines subcommittee...

Hello Highlanders, It is with great pleasure that I officially join the UC Riverside family today as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. There are few universities as well-positioned as UCR to take on the complex and intersectional challenges confronting our world today, and even fewer that can take pride in their core values and inclusive...