News & Announcements

Senate Chair Akos Rona-Tas, in partnership with the Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Vice Chancellors for Health Sciences and Marines Sciences, is launching a campuswide conversation about AI. Read his call to School Deans and Department Chairs asking departments to discuss how AI is impacting their fields.

Senate Chair Akos Rona-Tas welcomes faculty back for the new academic year, introduces himself and Vice Chair Steve Briggs, and shares a few ways to connect throughout the year.

Senate Chair Akos Rona-Tas and Vice Chair Steve Briggs are hosting quarterly lunches for Senate faculty. The Fall lunch is scheduled for Thursday, November 5 from noon to 1:00 p.m. Please click the link to access the form to sign up.

Senate Chair Akos Rona-Tas and Vice Chair Steve Briggs plan to be at the Faculty Club Happy Hours from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. once per quarter. The Fall date is Thursday, October 22. The Council of Provosts will be joining us. We encourage all Senate faculty to drop in and join us! No sign up required.

The Committee on Senate Awards is accepting nominations for the 2026-27 Donald F. Tuzin Distinguished Service Award, recognizing faculty for outstanding university leadership/governance service or high-impact public service beyond campus.

The General Campus, Health Sciences, and Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Research Grant Committees are pleased to solicit applications for research support for research projects and bridge funding.

Chair Rebecca Jo Plant provided summer updates on the FY27 state budget, proposed federal research funding changes, the July launch of the Triton Student System, the Triton One course materials deadline, and the availability of AI Symposium recordings.

The San Diego Divisional Senate hosted its third and final virtual budget town hall of this academic year on Thursday, May 28 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. with Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla.

The San Diego Divisional Senate hosted a virtual town hall on Wednesday, May 13 to provide an update and guidance to faculty on the new digital accessibility requirements for websites and other online content. Review the resources provided at the Town Hall.

The San Diego Divisional Senate hosted a virtual budget town hall with Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences John Carethers, Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences Meenakshi Wadhwa, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Lawrence Furnstahl, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Budget Operations Mercedes Muñoz.

Since many developments have been unfolding within the system and on campus, it seems a good time to provide some updates.

The report from the Senate-Administration Workgroup on the Academic Peer Review Process submitted for Senate review.

A brief update on improved but still uncertain funding, ongoing political and federal pressures on the UC, key Senate and systemwide developments, a call for faculty advocacy on SB 895, and upcoming opportunities for engagement and events.

The San Diego Divisional Senate hosted a virtual budget town hall with Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences John Carethers, and Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences Meenakshi Wadhwa.

Senate Chair Rebecca Jo Plant shares key updates on Senate initiatives and events in her November newsletter.

The Academic Senate Distinguished Research Award recognizes colleagues whose research has made a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge. We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2025 Distinguished Research Award Lectures.

Senate Chair Rebecca Jo Plant’s 2025–26 goals focus on strengthening transparency, protecting academic freedom, supporting faculty, guiding UCSD through financial and federal challenges, and advancing collaboration, climate action, and shared governance.

Starting Fall 2025, students may not complete 50% or more of their UC San Diego units through distance education unless in an approved program. The Senate also updated its exam policy to recognize the Triton Testing Center and clarify the definition of a final exam.

A notice welcoming all faculty to the 25-26 academic year.

The result of the second ballot for Vice Chair (Chair Designate) in the Spring 2025 Academic Senate election was announced on May 29.

The San Diego Division of the Academic Senate approved three Resolutions at special Representative Assembly meetings on April 15 and 29, 2025.

The statement, “Characteristics of Undergraduate Educational Quality at the University of California” was unanimously endorsed by the UC Assembly of the Academic Senate on December 12, 2024.

The Educational Policy Committee (EPC) approved updates to the Policy on Distance Education Courses effective Fall Quarter 2023.

The Academic Senate will be hosting a Senate Service Reception on Monday, April 24th.

Update from Academic Council Chair Cochran and Vice Chair Steintrager on Evaluating Academic Progress in the Current Term.

Update from the Academic Senate on UAW Strike.

The Academic Senate voted in favor of a proposed Memorial to reduce on-campus fossil fuel combustion.

The UC Systemwide Senate Guidelines and Recommendations for Fall Campus Re-Opening.

Watch the FIS Implementation–Reviewing Key Issues and Assessing Solutions Townhall, held on March 22nd.

Read Senate Council’s response to the proposed graduate student housing rate increases.

A second Senate Summer Town Hall on August 18, 2020 devoted to non-budget issues and plans for Fall quarter 2020, in local, state, and national contexts.

Presentation by the CFO and EVC given at the first Senate Summer Town Hall on Campus Financial Strategy and Budget Issues on August 11, 2020.

Academic Freedom at UCSD