UCOP Tableau User Group Meeting
2025-05-15 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Yang Yang from Institutional Research and Academic Planning will share her process to create a selection of features in her soon to be published undergraduate advising dashboard, which utilizes UC Undergraduate Student Experience Survey (UCUES) data.
Devin Smith from the UC System’s California Digital Library will share his process for making a Gantt chart. He will be using an example from his own work where he visualized the typical turnaround of publications, from submission à acceptance/editing à publication

AI & the Future of Work with a Fabulous Twist
2025-05-16 11:00 - 12:00
Are you and your institution ready for the AI revolution? Join us for an eye-opening exploration of how artificial intelligence is reshaping procurement—and what that means for higher education. From automating routine tasks to enabling predictive purchasing and ethical oversight, AI is no longer a distant concept—it’s here, it’s accelerating, and it’s transforming the very structure of how work gets done.

Working Parents: Strategies for Resilience and Avoiding Burnout
2025-05-16 12:00 - 13:00
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the UCSF & UCOP Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is offering a four-part webinar series throughout the month of May. Each session is designed to support emotional well-being, foster resilience, and encourage meaningful conversations around mental health in the workplace and beyond. Registration links below:

Thursday May 8 (12-1pm): Breaking the Taboo: Talking about Suicide and Seeking to Understand When Someone is Having Thoughts of Suicide
Friday May 16 (12-1pm): Working Parents: Strategies for Resilience and Avoiding Burnout
Friday May 23 (12-1pm): Move into Stillness: African & Middle Eastern Beats Meet Meditation
Thursday May 29 (12-1pm): Sensory Tools for Stress Relief: Strategies for Calming the Nervous System
Tuesday, June 3 (11:05–11:30 AM) for Restoring the Caregiver’s Heart: A Meditation for Those Walking the Path of Elder Care

Red Cross Blood Drive
2025-05-20 09:00 - 15:00 | Franklin Lobby 1
All employees are invited to participate in an American Red Cross blood drive. To schedule an appointment or for questions, please contact Jan Kehoe at 510-987-9692, jkehoe.blood@yahoo.com , or carlos.arias@ucop.edu.

Mastering the Logistics of Hybrid Meetings
2025-05-20 11:00 - 12:00
Effectively facilitating hybrid meetings can be technically challenging. Come learn how to set up hybrid meetings to fully engage both remote and in-person attendees. In this training, we will walk through how to prepare effectively and set up all technical components including audio, camera, and the use of Zoom features.
This is part 1 of a two-part training series is designed to equip you with the essential tools and techniques to master both the logistics and facilitation of hybrid collaboration. Each session stands alone and you’re welcome to attend one or both.
Register in the UC Learning Center: Part 1: Mastering the Logistics of Hybrid Meetings and Part 2: Brainstorming & Decision-Making in Hybrid Meetings
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu

Difficult Conversations
2025-05-21 10:00 - 12:00
Ever had a disagreement with someone where the conversation didn’t go quite the way you wanted it to? As conflict is inevitable, join us in exploring strategies for navigating difficult conversations in both your personal and professional life. In this highly interactive course, you will learn Core Principles to successfully navigate disagreements and apply them through practice role-playing. By the end of the workshop, you’ll feel more confident in approaching difficult conversations with anyone in your life.
Register in the UC Learning Center
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu

BRC - Procure to Pay Office Hours
2025-05-21 10:30 - 11:30 | https://link.ucop.edu/event/brc-procure-to-pay-office-hours-2/2025-05-21/
Ask questions about purchase requisitions, purchase orders, invoices, and payments to suppliers.
Meeting ID: 933 5346 8546

Generative AI and the Art of the Possible: Upskilling for the Future
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
As AI reshapes education, faculty must move beyond the hype to understand its real-world impact in the classroom. This webinar explores AI’s promise and challenges, offering practical strategies for integrating AI effectively. Educators will gain insights from real-world case studies, learning best practices and actionable takeaways to launch AI-driven classroom initiatives, from training custom models to leveraging existing tools. Register online here: https://ucop.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_epmDF-o1R9C-pEY347CnPg#/registration

Project Charters: UCOP Operational Excellence Community of Practices Meeting
2025-05-22 11:00 - 12:00 | https://UCOP.zoom.us/my/operational.excellence
Are you looking to bring more clarity and alignment to your projects? Join the UCOP OE Community of Practice for our next interactive session on Project Charters! We’ll explore what makes a strong charter, hear real examples from colleagues, and discuss how to use this tool to set your projects up for success. Templates and practical tips will be provided.
All are invited to attend a no-host lunch after the meeting at Bocca Nova, 1111 Broadway.
Join the Operational Excellence Community of Practice email list!

Move into Stillness: African & Middle Eastern Beats Meet Meditation
2025-05-23 12:00 - 13:00 | fsap@ucsf.edu

Memorial Day
2025-05-26
UCOP Holiday

Navigating Tech Careers at UC – Fireside Chat
2025-05-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Oakland, Broadway 5031 and Zoom, 1111 Broadway, Room 5031, Oakland, CA, 94607
Careers that focus on and/or require technical skills are fast-evolving. There are many questions about the types of skills that are important to success (managerial vs technical), and where one can find/create opportunities to thrive professionally in a complex landscape, where situtational factors liks new technologies, economic, political and societal forces reshape the playing field on an on-going basis. UC Tech community members Charron Andrus, UC Berkeley and Dennis McIver and Emily Weaver, UC Office of the President, will share their wisdom and techniques on navigating careers at UC with event moderator, Beena Albert, UC Office of the President. Register now to hear about the experiences of UC Tech community peers and their reflections and creative approaches to a range of questions. You will have the chance to inclue your own questions and reflections as well. This event is open to all with UC email exchanges.
EVENT: Navigating Tech Careers at UC – Fireside Chat May 27 – REGISTER NOW

UCOP.edu Editor Working Group meeting
2025-05-27 14:30 - 15:00
The UCOP.edu Editor Working Group is an advisory body of Cascade CMS editors that provide ucop.edu product stakeholders with direction, scope and feedback regarding website improvements and support. Discussion topics for this group include:

Cascade CMS support resources and live tutorials
Website accessibility, brand and editorial best practices
Google Analytics and Siteimprove reports
Questions from the group and much, much more!

All UCOP.edu Cascade editors are invited to attend our Zoom meeting every fourth Tuesday of the month from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. To receive the Zoom information or to hear about future events, please email Michael.Aires@ucop.edu and Gerlando.Termini@ucop.edu.

Brainstorming & Decision-Making in Hybrid Meetings
2025-05-28 10:00 - 12:00
It’s critical to ensure all team members have a voice when it comes to collaborative processes like brainstorming and decision-making.  Facilitating these types of collaborative meetings is especially challenging in a hybrid environment.  In this workshop, we will learn protocols designed for the hybrid environment that lead to high participation, engagement, and include all voices.  In this session, participants will learn and try step by step protocols for productive brainstorming and decision-making in hybrid meetings.
This is Part 2 in the two-part training series designed to equip you with the essential tools and techniques to master both the logistics and facilitation of hybrid collaboration. Each session stands alone and you’re welcome to attend one or both.
Register in the UC Learning Center: Part 1: Mastering the Logistics of Hybrid Meetings and Part 2: Brainstorming & Decision-Making in Hybrid Meetings
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu

BRC - Procure to Pay Office Hours
2025-05-28 10:30 - 11:30 | https://link.ucop.edu/event/brc-procure-to-pay-office-hours-2/2025-05-28/

GROW Plus: Accountability Conversations for Managers
2025-05-28 13:00 - 15:30
GROW Plus: Accountability Conversations for Managers is the second part in the required live training series on manager and employee performance conversations. This training answers the question: What do I do when my coaching is not improving performance? In this virtual, live, and highly interactive workshop, we will cover: providing productive critical feedback, managing emotions, creating efficient documentation, and holding effective accountability conversations. Managers will also practice having role Accountability Conversations using the UCOP GROW Plus framework. This training is part of the STEP training plan developed by the STEP workgroup made up of people from all divisions. The previous STEP trainings are all prerequisites to this training.
Additional Sessions:

Feb 28
Mar 27
Apr 25
May 28
Jun 25

Register in the UC Learning Center
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu

New Employee Orientation (Virtual)
2025-05-29 10:00 - 12:00
Starting a new job or new location can be daunting. The UCOP New Employee Orientation is designed to facilitate a smooth transition to the organization. Topics include:

University of California and our history
Overview of UCOP and the organization
Tools and Resources

All UCOP employees are encouraged to attend a session as soon as possible following their date of hire.
Note: Eligible employees must sign up for health insurance and disability benefits within their period of initial eligibility (PIE), which is thirty-one days from the date of eligibility for benefits, regardless of when they attend the orientation session.
Register in the UC Learning Center
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu

Safe Handling of UC Data in Generative AI Applications
2025-05-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
As generative AI becomes more embedded in everyday applications, ensuring the safe handling of UC data is crucial. This webinar will explore key risks associated with AI tools, particularly those that may process sensitive data without user awareness. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, attendees will gain best practices for protecting institutional data, understanding controlled vs. uncontrolled AI applications, identifying hidden risks in third-party tools, and ensuring compliance with UC’s IS-3 policy. Register online here: https://ucop.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BAFblHxCR92v8lg20A5thw#/registration

Sensory Tools for Stress Relief: Strategies for Calming the Nervous System
2025-05-29 12:00 - 13:00

Procurement Exchange Webinar: 2025 Global Tariffs
2025-05-30 11:00 - 12:00
Dive into our in-depth overview of the 2025 tariff landscape and its implications for product pricing, particularly in global sourcing and supply chain strategies. We’ll explore how import duties and tariffs—especially new 2025 measures—affect the cost of goods, using specific examples such as textile imports.
Join us to learn about:

The import duty process and HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) classification
Cumulative duty calculations and real-world pricing impact breakdowns
Pre-and post-2025 landed cost and retail pricing comparisons
Practical strategies for mitigating tariffs

UC Systemwide Academic Freedom Congress
2025-06-02 09:00 - 17:00
We invite you to attend the virtual Academic Freedom Congress, co-sponsored by the Office of the UC Provost, the UC Academic Senate’s University Committee on Academic Freedom, and the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement for a full day of discussions on the origins of academic freedom, its enduring presence, and contemporary controversies that surround this foundational concept.
To see the expansive list of speakers and a detailed agenda, please visit our Events page: https://www.ucop.edu/systemwide-academic-congress/
This event is open to all UC staff and faculty members, please share widely with your colleagues.

Restoring the Caregiver’s Heart: A Meditation for Those Walking the Path of Elder Care
2025-06-03 11:00 - 11:30

How Positive Discourse Shapes the Workplace
2025-06-04 10:00 - 12:00
Positive discourse fosters a receptive environment is an incredibly powerful resource and motivator to inspire others to think and act more positively. It is a medium through which we make our intentions, values, and beliefs known to others. As leaders, the language we use can make the difference between a high functioning and positive environment, to high turnover on teams and disgruntlement. When leaders have a greater awareness of their discourse that is aligned to core values, they can impact the changes they desire both individually and as a team. This course will explore the science of gratitude, define discourse and uncover how it affects teams, identify the language of leadership, and steps to shift language for a positive team culture.
Register in the UC Learning Center
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu

BRC - Procure to Pay Office Hours
2025-06-04 10:30 - 11:30 | https://link.ucop.edu/event/brc-procure-to-pay-office-hours-2/2025-06-04/

UCOP Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification
2025-06-05 08:30 - 16:00
This dynamic, interactive training program is designed specifically for UCOP staff. Through a hands-on group simulation, you’ll explore essential process improvement concepts and methodologies that can be directly applied to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in your daily work.
Key Features
• Immersive learning experience using the DMAIC model (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control)
• Practical application of value stream mapping, Lean 5S, and data analysis tools
• Real-time implementation of Lean Six Sigma concepts
This is an all-day in-person training in the Oakland Office.
Additional 2025 Offerings:

April 30
June 5
August 20
November 6

Register in the UC Learning Center
Questions? Email Kristin Kielich (kristin.kielich@ucop.edu)

People Leader Forum: Understanding UCOP Leaves and Accommodations
2025-06-06 13:00 - 14:00
The People Leader Forum is a monthly opportunity for people managers to connect with one another to develop leadership skills, build community, share best practices, swap strategies for navigating current challenges and learn to better support themselves and their teams.

June 6: Understanding UCOP Leaves and Accommodations
August 1: Difficult Conversations
September 5: Steady Leadership in Turbulent Times: Psychological Tools for Navigating Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity l(VUCA)
October 3: Building Effective Teams

Register in the UC Learning Center
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu

Excel Macro/VBA
2025-06-10 09:00 - 12:00
In this two-part series, you will learn how Macros and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) can be used to customize and automate repetitive tasks in Excel. Macros can automate those tasks to be repeated when needed. Where macros are limited, VBA coding can expand a user’s ability to perform those necessary tasks.
Key concepts for parts one and two includes:

Recording and Executing Macros
Editing Macros
Adding Visual Basic to Enhance Macros
Creating Interactive VBA Procedures
Design Decision-Making VBA
Looping VBA Procedures
Debugging and Error Handling VBA Techniques

Note: We strongly recommend that the learner has successfully completed MS Excel Intermediate or have the requisite skills taught in this class before enrolling. Participants must attend both sessions from 9am-12pm on Tuesday June 10 and 17 to receive credit for the course.
Register in the UC Learning Center
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu

Systemwide Faculty Panel Discussion on Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
2025-06-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Online (via Zoom)
Attend a systemwide faculty panel discussion on Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) — a class of cybersecurity software designed to monitor, detect and respond to threats. Join us for this special event, during which we’ll address questions and concerns related to the implementation of EDR at UC, including its intersections with academic work, research and privacy.
Register to attend: https://ucop.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a-5tn6GGQZqGiSUZXtiIQA

BRC - Procure to Pay Office Hours
2025-06-11 10:30 - 11:30 | https://link.ucop.edu/event/brc-procure-to-pay-office-hours-2/2025-06-11/

UCOP Safety: Active Attacker Training
2025-06-11 14:00 - 15:00
Melissa Collins, Program Manager for Security, Risk and Resilience, will facilitate this live virtual class in which participants will learn skills and strategies to respond if exposed to active attacker situations. The course will review real-life incidents and discuss options in the event of potential similar encounters.
Register in the UC Learning Center
Questions? Email ucopld@ucop.edu
