Welcome to Winter Quarter: National Mentoring Month, MLK Jr. Parade and more

Dear Student Affairs Colleagues and Friends,

Happy New Year! I do hope that you were able to find some time for respite between the end of Fall Quarter and the beginning of this new Winter Quarter. If you’re like me, you may have resolved to get healthier; I committed myself to 10,000 steps a day (not quite there yet) and have been “candy-free” for ten days (so far, so good).

We can’t hear it enough: we need to take care of ourselves in order to take care of our loved ones, our teams, and our students. In this spirit, I encourage you to visit the Student Affairs Employee Resources Page for information on ways to maintain your physical and mental health and well-being in the new year. You’ll find opportunities from Recreation, FSAP (the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program), Triton Time, and more.

Being in community with one another is also good for our health and well-being; please find below opportunities for your teams, our students, and for you to connect and celebrate together.

MLK Jr. Parade and Day of Service

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Day of Service Committee would like to invite staff, faculty and students to join UC San Diego in the campus traditions of serving our local community and marching in the 41st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade this weekend.

Day of Service - Saturday, January 14, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Mission Bay High School
To learn more about the day of service and/or register, please visit: https://mlkday.ucsd.edu/?p=dayofservice

Parade - Sunday, January 15, 2 – 4 p.m.
Downtown San Diego
The UC San Diego contingent will include a float, university spirit groups, students, staff and faculty. Colleges, departments and organizations are encouraged to showcase their own banners and signage as we march together.

For more detailed information, please visit: https://mlkday.ucsd.edu/, and I look forward to seeing you there.

January is National Mentoring Month

National Mentoring Month is designed to celebrate the power of supportive and meaningful mentorship relationships, recognizing the importance of mentoring and the impact it can have on students’ university experience.

Share your mentorship story

As part of this important initiative, I invite you to submit a short (20-30 seconds is perfect!) video recording on how mentoring has made an impact on your life – to be proudly featured on our Student Affairs Instagram channel (@ucsdstudentaffairs) throughout the month of January. Please visit the National Mentoring Month website for submission instructions.

Additional National Mentoring Month events

I hope that you’ll also check out these upcoming events showcasing the various mentorship opportunities that are available to UC San Diego students.

Tabling: Become a Mentor and Be Part of the Impact
Thursday, January 12 & 19, 2023 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Library Walk
Representatives from the Mentoring for All initiative will set up a table on Library Walk to showcase the various mentoring programs available to UC San Diego students. Stop by our table to learn more about how to become a mentor or mentee.

Mentoring for All Luncheon: Make a High Impact
Thursday, January 26, 2023 from Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Dolores Huerta - Philip Vera Cruz Room at Student Center
Mentors and mentees who are part of a mentoring program are invited to attend. The luncheon will encourage connections between current mentors and mentees, and help facilitate a sense of belonging. Please RSVP by January 20, 2023.

 Lastly, if you are hosting a program for National Mentoring Month, we would love to hear about it so that we may list it on our calendar of events. Please submit your program details via this Google Form.

Western Regional Outdoor Leadership Conference

This weekend – from Jan. 13-15 – Recreation and Outback Adventures are proud to serve as hosts for the Western Regional Outdoor Leadership Conference (WROLC). WROLC was developed more than 30 years ago on the principles of providing an inexpensive, professional level conference where students can develop beneficial skills and relationships for future careers in experiential education or the outdoor industry. Over the years, it has also become a place where outdoor professionals and recreationalists can network and share some of the latest and greatest tricks of the trade. Visit the WROLC website to learn more about how you can participate!

Training Sessions: Supporting Students in Distress

Case Management Services will be facilitating three upcoming training sessions for “Creating a Culture of Care: Supporting Students in Distress” in Winter Quarter 2023 – on Jan. 19, Feb. 16, and March 16.

These free and interactive trainings are designed to assist faculty and staff in recognizing and supporting students in distress. To complete the training, individuals only need to attend one of the scheduled dates. To register for one of these sessions, visit this link on UC Learning.

Join Us!

Student Well Fest - Jan. 24-25, 2023

Previously known as the Wellness Symposium, the Student Well Fest is a collaborative, engaging festival that will take place on Jan. 24-25 in the Price Center. The Student Well Fest is centered around the eight dimensions of well-being, and will provide students with opportunities to engage with each other, learn wellness skills, and discover resources on campus.

 UC San Diego Fulbright Day - March 9, 2023

This March, Global Initiatives will host the 6th Annual UC San Diego Fulbright Day, which highlights the impact and opportunities of the Fulbright Program for our campus community. The Fulbright Program is a prestigious fellowship that provides funding to graduating seniors, graduate students, early career academics, faculty, and higher education administrators to teach English, study, work or conduct research abroad in support of intercultural exchange. Fulbright Day brings together current and former US and international grantees comprising faculty, students, and staff and introduces the dynamic opportunities that Fulbright can bring to future applicants.

Global Initiatives is also partnering with Global TIES to pilot a Spring Quarter course for Fulbright applicants that will provide guided preparation, support, and academic credit for the rigorous Fulbright application process. More information will be available at Fulbright.ucsd.edu.

Save the Dates

Triton Days - April 8 and May 6, 2023

Triton Days provide admitted UC San Diego students with an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and connect with fellow Tritons. For many students and their families, Triton Days will be their first chance to explore our dynamic campus in-person – and your participation may serve as a vital part of sharing the spirit of our Triton community. Please visit Triton Days on Blink to learn more about how you can take part.

Sun God Festival - May 13, 2023

2023 marks the 39th annual Sun God Festival – UC San Diego’s student-curated, daytime music and arts festival. Named as one of Live Nation's Top 5 College Concerts That Should Be Actual Festivals, the Sun God Festival is continuously reimagined to deliver students with thrilling moments and life-long memories from live performances by national touring artists, diverse food vendors, vibrant art and décor, and interactive brand activations.

If I don’t see you at one of the above events and programs, just let me know if you would like to connect on campus one day this quarter – please email me at VCSA@ucsd.edu and we’ll schedule some time together.

Thank you for all you do at UC San Diego.

Be Well,

Alysson