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End-of-Academic-Year Updates

June 26, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

I am intruding on your summer for a moment with some timely updates.

State budget
Within days, Governor Newsom will sign the state budget. You will hear competing accounts, with the state reporting a 7% increase to the UC, and the UC itself claiming an effective 10% increase. The 3% difference consists of “old money” that the state previously promised but had not yet delivered. In truth, the system remains nearly $700M short of the total funds expected under the 2022-27 Compact. Nonetheless, we have landed in a very good place for FY27, exceeding the expectations of pretty much everyone I consulted over the course of the year.

Federal funding and proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rules
The federal funding landscape remains unpredictable and worrisome. The most recent threat to scientific research, however, is even more fundamental than the push to cap F&A rates and reduce agency funding. In late May, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed new rules that, if adopted, would undermine the whole research enterprise. Among other things, they would:
  • Require political appointees to sign off on grant funding decisions to ensure that proposals “demonstrably advance the President’s policy priorities.”
  • Demote the role of independent peer review in funding decisions to the status of “advisory.”
  • Allow agencies to suspend or terminate federal awards without scientific cause.
  • Tightly restrict international collaboration.
  • Disallow routine research costs associated with publication and require agency pre-approval for conference travel.
  • Favor institutions with lower IDC rates over those with higher rates.

While I know it may feel futile, I urge everyone to review the proposed rules and submit a public comment before July 13, 2026.

Launching of Triton Student System (TSS) in July
If you have been tuning out campus messages about the transition to the new Triton Student System (TSS), now is the time to pay attention. This will be one of the largest operational and technological changes our University has undertaken in recent years, affecting many aspects of the student and academic experience across campus. The existing system, which dates back to the 1980s, can no longer be supported, and TSS will ultimately provide a more integrated and sustainable student system. But there will be bumps in the road. Please keep in mind that the initial launch this summer will not represent a polished end state; the TSS team will continue to make adjustments and improvements based on user experience and input.

Some of the changes you will notice include:
  • Updated terminology and navigation within student systems
  • New processes for viewing class and student information and entering grades
  • Different ways of accessing course scheduling, waitlist, and roster information
  • Changes to enrollment-related workflows and timelines; enrollment for Fall 2026 this year has shifted from May to July
  • Temporary process workarounds while additional functionality continues to mature after launch

The University is preparing support materials and guidance for faculty, including concise written resources focused on common faculty tasks and key activities needed to prepare for instruction. Additional communications and support opportunities will be shared in the coming months.

Faculty can assist by sharing constructive feedback and extending grace to overstretched staff, who will need time to master the new system. I encourage faculty to raise questions, voice concerns, and share ideas as we move through this transition. If you experience technical issues, pleasesubmit as a ticket through established ITS Service Desk support channels to ensure timely review. Broader feedback and suggestions can be shared by writing to esr-student@ucsd.edu or by attendingTSS Office Hours.

Finally, I want to thank the staff, faculty, advisors, trainers, and implementation team members who have devoted immense effort to preparing for this transition, often working under tight deadlines while continuing to support the University’s day-to-day mission.

Triton One : June 30 deadline
There are only a few more days to enroll in Triton One, an important new program designed to allow students to gain access to course materials from day one of the quarter for a flat rate of $199 (per quarter, covering all their courses). The deadline to submit course material adoptions to participate in this program is June 30. The course materials you select are delivered in a digital-first format via Canvas or available for student pick-up by the first day of classes. Please consult the above website and check your email for a message from akademos-ucsd@verbasoftware.com for further information.

AI Symposium
For those who were unable to attend the AI Symposium co-hosted by the Academic Senate and the Chancellor’s Office on May 29, recordings of the panel discussions and the use case presentations, along with additional materials, are now posted online. You can read my opening remarks here.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

All best,

Rebecca Jo Plant
Chair, Academic Senate, San Diego Division