Chair's Communications & Events

Senate Chair Rebecca Jo Plant and Vice Chair Akos Rona-Tas are hosting quarterly lunches at the Faculty Club for Senate faculty. The Spring lunch is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Please click the link to access the form to sign up.

With Spring Quarter now well underway, the following update highlights upcoming activities for your calendar.

Senate Chair Rebecca Jo Plant and Vice Chair Akos Rona-Tas are hosting quarterly coffee chats with Senate faculty at the Academic Senate Office (third floor of Center Hall, Room 315) to discuss current issues under discussion by the Academic Senate. The Spring quarter chat is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Click the link above for more information on the Spring coffee chat.

Senate Chair Rebecca Jo Plant and Vice Chair Akos Rona-Tas plan to be at the Faculty Club Happy Hours from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. once per quarter. The Spring date is Thursday, May 7. We encourage all Senate faculty to drop in and join us! No sign up required.

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

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.

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

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.