Communications from the Provost

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

July 19, 2023

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.

February 17, 2023

UAW Contracts Updates

Dear Colleagues,

January 31, 2023

Provost’s winter campus update

Dear Campus Community,

November 08, 2022

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. A RELATIVELY GOOD YEAR FOR REVENUES

October 20, 2022

“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.

September 29, 2022

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.

August 22, 2022

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:

July 26, 2022

New School of Education dean appointed

Dear campus community, I am excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Joi Spencer as Dean of the School of Education. Her first day will be January 1, 2023.

July 13, 2022

New dean of the UCR School of Public Policy named

Dear campus community, I am excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Mark Long as Dean of the School of Public Policy. His first day will be January 1, 2023.

June 21, 2022

Spring update on FY22 Budget

Dear UCR Colleagues, While we await news on the final State budget and our allocation from the UC Office of the President for 2022-23, I thought I’d write to inform you about a number of financial decisions recommended by the Campus Finance Committee (CFC) and approved by the Chancellor and me since I last wrote in November about UCR’s 2021-22 operating budget.

March 24, 2023

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.

Student wearing mask holds Tested! sticker.

February 11, 2022

Students receive Bear Bucks for COVID-19 test results

An incentive program aims to increase testing compliance and improve campus health at UC Riverside.

May 03, 2021

The new provost is ready to get started

Elizabeth Watkins is UC Riverside's new provost and executive vice chancellor. The provost is eager to help raise the profile and funding support for UCR's research enterprise, and to work with its high-achieving students — this past year, UCR set a new six-year graduation rate record — many of whom are first-generation students, and from underrepresented and low-income families.

November 24, 2020

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.

Provost Past Letters

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

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.

For your first time registering for office hours, follow the link to the time slot you'd like below and then simply click "Login/Create Account" and register for your time slot once you are logged in.

Office of the Provost

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

Provost Past Letters

OFFICE HOURS

FACULTY

STAFF

STUDENTS

Office of the Provost