Winter holidays will be observed this year on Dec. 24 and 25, and New Year holidays will be observed on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, but UCOP offices will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 24, through Sunday, Jan. 3.

UCOP offices will be closed for Thanksgiving (Nov. 26-27). Over winter break, offices will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 3.

UC policy prohibits mail services at any university location from sending or receiving personal packages, just as it prohibits personal use of any UC resource. Don't worry — we have some alternatives for you.

When UCPath goes live for UCOP on Nov. 30, employees will go to a new UCPath website for many pay and benefits-related activities currently performed on At Your Service Online. A self-guided preview of the site, including step-by-step instructions for common tasks, is now available.

The UCOP Mentorship Program pairs experienced professionals from across OP departments with staff who seek to develop themselves professionally. Come to a brown bag on July 16, 17 or 20 to learn more about it.

If you’ve been putting off your performance reviews, now would be a good time to get started! There are just a few days left before the deadline for employee self-appraisals.

The Service Award Milestone Achievement and Innovation and Impact Award Celebration will be held 2 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 29 at the Elihu Harris State Office Building Auditorium.

Information on student diversity, graduation rates and how UC’s affordability stacks up against its peer institutions is just some of the information that is now easily explored through the university’s new Information Center. The online

UCOPAlert delivers alerts to your home phone, personal cell phone and/or personal email outside normal business hours when you’re not in the office but need to know about a situation that affects your workplace or your ability to perform your work.

Natalie Baszile, author of "Queen Sugar," speaks at UCOP. Plus, a screening of the documentary "Hidden Colors."

Dorothy Lazard, who manages the Oakland History Room at the Oakland Public Library's Main Branch, and Natalie Baszile, author of "Queen Sugar," are the featured speakers for Black History Month. Both are UC alumnae.

UC Santa Barbara is the fourth campus in the UC system to be named a Hispanic-Serving Institution, joining Riverside, Santa Cruz and Merced.