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News and Announcements from Provost and Executive Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Watkins

UCR Budget Update for Fiscal Year 2023-24
Dear UCR Colleagues,
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Provost's fall campus update
Dear Campus Community,
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Resources at UCR amid violence in Israel and Palestine
Dear Campus Community, We were heartbroken to watch as violence broke out in Israel and Palestine this past weekend.
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Campus operations continuing as normal
Dear Campus Community, I am writing to confirm that classes will continue as scheduled tomorrow, Monday, August 21. However, we encourage instructors to practice maximum flexibility and utilize remote options if needed, and to communicate those options to their students.  Similarly, though campus operations will continue tomorrow, we encourage supervisors to exercise maximum flexibility in allowing staff to work remotely.
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CNAS dean stepping down
Dear Campus Community,    Kathryn Uhrich, the longest serving Dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) in 40 years, is stepping down effective September 1, 2023.    Dean Uhrich was appointed in January 2016.  For the past seven and a half years, she has remained steadfastly committed to the pursuit of equity and excellence in research, science education, outreach, and public service.   
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Provost's spring campus update
Dear Campus Community, I am pleased to announce the official launch of our campus strategic plan, UCR 2030. The website is now live! I encourage you to explore the site, which includes links to the strategic plans of our academic and administrative units as well. Progress on initiatives and action items will be updated annually in the spring.
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UAW Contracts Updates
Dear Colleagues, As I noted in my winter campus update, the new union contracts with our academic researchers, postdoctoral scholars, graduate student researchers, and teaching assistants provide important salary increases and expanded benefits to these essential members of our academic workforce.
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Provost’s winter campus update
Dear Campus Community, We start this new year with signed union contracts with our academic researchers, postdoctoral scholars, graduate student researchers, and teaching assistants. The contracts provide important salary increases and expanded benefits to these essential members of our academic workforce, and we all look forward to working together in support of our mission here at UCR.
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UCR budget update for fiscal year 2022-23
Dear UCR Colleagues, We are writing to give you an update on the final outcome of the fiscal year 2022-23 UC Riverside operating budget. As we noted in last year’s letter, we once again have a lot of information to share, which makes this email a lengthy read.   
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“Compassionate clause” concluding at the end of this quarter
Dear Colleagues: This fall the UC Riverside campus has successfully returned to our most expansive in-person operations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.   With the wide availability of vaccines and boosters to Californians of all ages, high vaccination rates among employees and students, more COVID-19 treatment options, and continued availability of testing on campus, UCR will continue to pivot from an emergency response mode to more standard campus operations. 
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Provost's Fall Campus Update
Dear Campus Community, Each September, campus leadership kicks off the academic year with a day-long on-site retreat. The group consists of the chancellor’s cabinet and the provost’s cabinet, plus leaders from the Academic Senate and Staff Assembly.   
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Compassionate clause to continue fall quarter
Dear Colleagues:  As we look forward to the start of the fall quarter, we would like to confirm that the compassionate clause will remain in effect.  The compassionate clause, which was in place last academic year, allowed for exceptions to normal course delivery modes through an approval process starting in the home department that is offering the course. These course modality changes (from in-person to remote) applies to instructors who either: 
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a drone image of campus.
New Vice Provost & Dean of Graduate Studies named
Lidia Kos has been named UC Riverside’s next vice provost & dean of graduate studies, or VPDGS, effective July 15, 2023.
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Student wearing mask holds Tested! sticker.
Students receive Bear Bucks for COVID-19 test results
An incentive program aims to increase testing compliance and improve campus health at UC Riverside.
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Provost Watkins
The new provost is ready to get started
Elizabeth Watkins is UC Riverside's new provost and executive vice chancellor.
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Elizabeth Watkins to be appointed UCR provost and EVC
UC Riverside Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox announced the appointment of Elizabeth Watkins as provost and executive vice chancellor effective May 1, 2021, pending approval by University of California President Michael Drake. Watkins has extensive experience as a University of California administrator, faculty member, and leader in the Academic Senate.
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Provost Past Letters

October 17, 2023:  PhD/MFA Student Funding for 2023-24 & 2024-25

Note:  This letter was updated on October 30 to clarify ambiguities about funding levels for 2024-25.

April 6, 2022: Emily Engelschall AVCES 

March 28, 2022: Shaun Bowler Grad Division 

March 17, 2022: MarkoPrincevac_VPIA.pdf

March 9, 2022: DeanSOE_ Search.pdf

March 2, 2022: KenBaerenklau_IVP_EducationDean.pdf

February 15, 2022: DeborahDeas_DeanSOM.pdf

January 28, 2022: CompassionateClause.pdf

January 27, 2022: Matthew Gunkel_AVCCIO.pdf

January 25, 2022: JenniferBrown EducationDean.pdf

January 24,  2022: Remote to In Person.pdf

January 24,  2022: InPersonReturn.pdf

January 14,  2022:  WinterCampusUpdate.pdf

November 22, 2021: AnilDeolalikar_PublicPolicy.pdf

November 15, 2021:  Operating Budget

Provost Liz Watkins Headshot on Campus

OFFICE HOURS

Provost Elizabeth Watkins holds weekly office hours to get to know and hear from faculty, staff, and students at UCR. Instead of gathering in a large forum, office hours are opportunities to chat one-on-one or in small groups. Campus members can bring any questions or concerns to the meeting or use the meeting time to share perspectives and ideas. 

The office hours are offered by campus affiliation on a rotating basis, one week for faculty, the next for staff, the following for students, and so on. You can sign up for a 15-minute time slot below. 

 

FACULTY

Friday, April 12th, 10:00 - 11:00 am

Tuesday, May 7th, 9:00 - 10:00 am

Friday, June 14th, 10:00 - 11:00 am

 

STAFF

Friday, April 19th, 10:00 - 11:00 am

Wednesday, May 15th, 10:00 - 11:00 am

Friday, June 28th, 9:00 - 10:00 am

 

STUDENTS

Friday, April 26th, 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Thursday, May 23rd, 9:00 - 10:00 am

Friday, June 7th, 9:00 - 10:00 am