Inside UCR

UCR launches Provost’s Lecture Series with renowned engineer

Sarah Nightingale — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800

UC Riverside will welcome Tsu-Jae King Liu, president of the National Academy of Engineering, for a public lecture set for Friday, Feb. 6. Liu’s talk is the inaugural event in the Provost’s Lecture Series, an annual program hosting prominent scholars in the fall, winter, and spring quarters.

BCOE dean steps down

Elizabeth Watkins — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Campus Community,  I am writing to share news that Chris Lynch has informed me of his decision to step down as Dean of the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE). Dean Lynch has agreed to remain in the dean position while we conduct an international search for our next BCOE leader; that search will commence in spring with the goal of making an appointment by the end of 2026.

Provost's fall campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Campus Community, The results of the “third week census” are in: we have 27,633 students (undergraduate and graduate) enrolled at UCR, a new record for the campus. Here is a chart by enrollment type: Enrollment Type                                            Fall 2024     Fall 2025          %Change     

FY26 budget update

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Colleagues, We are writing with a quick update on the campus budget, now that the state budget has been signed by the governor. Although our state allocation was cut by $1 million, we will NOT impose an across-the-board budget cut at UCR for FY25-26. That said, each organization at UCR is in a unique financial position, so senior leaders are examining their budgets to ensure they have sufficient resources to cover expenditures within their organizations. For some, this alignment may necessitate some organization-specific reductions in personnel and/or programs. 

Fall 2025 enrollment

Elizabeth Watkins — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Colleagues, This fall, we are expecting the largest first-year class in UCR’s history. This is good news—not only for our mission to expand access to world-class education but also for our financial stability. As you have heard me say before, nearly 90% of our core operating budget comes from tuition and enrollment-based state allocations. In the current climate of adverse federal actions, sustaining strong enrollment has become even more critical.

Interim librarian appointed

Elizabeth Watkins — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

I am pleased to share that Tiffany Moxham, UCR’s Deputy University Librarian, will serve as Interim University Librarian, effective June 28, upon the retirement of Steven Mandeville-Gamble.

Provost's spring campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Campus Community, My spring update is mostly a “save-the-date” notification for several upcoming opportunities to attend in-person discussions. For Senate faculty members, there are three upcoming events.

Campus response to systemwide hiring freeze

Dan Jeske, Alex Najera, and Elizabeth Watkins — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Faculty and Staff, Last week University of California President Michael Drake announced a systemwide hiring freeze and directed all UC locations to develop workforce management plans to address potential budget shortfalls. Each campus has the discretion to implement this directive in a way that is most appropriate to their local context. As such we are providing an overview of the implementation at UC Riverside.  <strong>Approvals to Proceed</strong>

Provost's winter campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Campus Community, For this quarterly campus update, I want to focus on a scary topic: emergencies. This fall, I asked the XCITE Center for Teaching and Learning and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to partner on developing a suite of resources for faculty to help them to be better prepared in the event of an emergency in or near their classrooms. Staff and students are also invited to review the information on the websites listed below.

Provost's fall campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Campus Community, It seems like when it comes to information technology, the only constant is change. I realize that it can be hard to keep up with and adapt to the new systems, policies, and practices that we’ve been rolling out in rapid succession at UCR. Please know that these changes are not undertaken lightly. Each one is necessary to improve functionality, or to replace outdated software, or to ensure cybersecurity, or to provide critical upgrades to meet the needs of research and teaching, or all of the above. Here are three more to expect in 2024-25.

University Librarian Steven Mandeville-Gamble announces retirement

Elizabeth Watkins — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700

After more than 12 years as University Librarian, Steven Mandeville-Gamble will be retiring at the end of the academic year. Since his appointment in 2013, Steven has played a pivotal role in aligning UCR Library services with the evolving needs of our growing campus community and fostering a culture of creativity and innovation.

Regents Policy 4408: Policy on Public and Discretionary Statements

Elizabeth Watkins — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700

As we prepare to begin the new academic year, we find ourselves navigating national and international issues that have a profound and personal impact on many members of our university community. Free speech and academic freedom are cornerstone values of UC Riverside and the University of California system.

Budget update for fiscal year 2025

Elizabeth Watkins and Gerry Bomotti — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

On March 15, we wrote to you about knowns and unknowns regarding the FY25 budget. Now that Governor Newsom has signed the Budget Act of 2024, we have more information to guide our plans for UCR’s FY25 budget.

Provost's spring campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700

One year ago, I wrote to announce the official launch of our campus strategic plan, UCR 2030. Today, I’m pleased to announce that we have completed the annual update to UCR 2030.

Interim guidance in addressing discrimination and offering support

Elizabeth Watkins, Kiersten Boyce, and Alex Nájera — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0800

We are writing to communicate that the University of California and UC Riverside non-discrimination policies protect against discriminatory conduct that occurs on campus, in connection with UC employment, or denies access to UCR programs and activities.

Provost's winter campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Campus Community, I write this quarter with an update on investments being made to support our research mission at UCR. The campus will make two significant investments in 2024: 1) recurring central funding for a new campus interdisciplinary research center and 2) the purchase of a web-based platform that displays publicly available information about faculty in a searchable database.

UCR Budget Update for Fiscal Year 2023-24

Elizabeth Watkins and Gerry Bomotti — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

We are writing to give you an update on the final outcome of the fiscal year 2023-24 UC Riverside operating budget.

Provost's fall campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

As we start another academic year, I’ve been thinking a lot about student success. Last week I sent out a communication about new investments in PhD and MFA student funding, as a first step towards achieving our desired growth, which includes not only a larger number of students enrolled at UCR, but also improved outcomes for those students in terms of graduation rates, time to degree, and career placements.

PhD/MFA student funding at UCR for 2023-24 and 2024-25

Elizabeth Watkins and Lidia Kos — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Colleagues: Graduate education is at the core of our mission as an AAU member university. It is our express ambition, as affirmed in the UCR 2030 strategic plan, to grow our doctoral programs. This growth includes not only a larger number of students enrolled at UCR, but also improved outcomes for those students in terms of graduation rates, time to degree, and career placements.

Resources at UCR amid violence in Israel and Palestine

Elizabeth Watkins — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Campus Community, We were heartbroken to watch as violence broke out in Israel and Palestine this past weekend.

Campus operations continuing as normal

Elizabeth Watkins — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Campus Community, I am writing to confirm that classes will continue as scheduled tomorrow, Monday, August 21. However, we encourage instructors to practice maximum flexibility and utilize remote options if needed, and to communicate those options to their students.  Similarly, though campus operations will continue tomorrow, we encourage supervisors to exercise maximum flexibility in allowing staff to work remotely.

CNAS dean stepping down

Elizabeth Watkins — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Campus Community,    Kathryn Uhrich, the longest serving Dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) in 40 years, is stepping down effective September 1, 2023.    Dean Uhrich was appointed in January 2016.  For the past seven and a half years, she has remained steadfastly committed to the pursuit of equity and excellence in research, science education, outreach, and public service.   

Provost's spring campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Campus Community, I am pleased to announce the official launch of our campus strategic plan, UCR 2030. The website is now live! I encourage you to explore the site, which includes links to the strategic plans of our academic and administrative units as well. Progress on initiatives and action items will be updated annually in the spring.

UAW Contracts Updates

Elizabeth Watkins — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Colleagues, As I noted in my winter campus update, the new union contracts with our academic researchers, postdoctoral scholars, graduate student researchers, and teaching assistants provide important salary increases and expanded benefits to these essential members of our academic workforce.

Provost’s winter campus update

Elizabeth Watkins — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Campus Community, We start this new year with signed union contracts with our academic researchers, postdoctoral scholars, graduate student researchers, and teaching assistants. The contracts provide important salary increases and expanded benefits to these essential members of our academic workforce, and we all look forward to working together in support of our mission here at UCR.

UCR budget update for fiscal year 2022-23

Elizabeth Watkins and Gerry Bomotti — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0800

Dear UCR Colleagues, We are writing to give you an update on the final outcome of the fiscal year 2022-23 UC Riverside operating budget. As we noted in last year’s letter, we once again have a lot of information to share, which makes this email a lengthy read.   

“Compassionate clause” concluding at the end of this quarter

Elizabeth Watkins and Gerry Bomotti — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Colleagues: This fall the UC Riverside campus has successfully returned to our most expansive in-person operations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.   With the wide availability of vaccines and boosters to Californians of all ages, high vaccination rates among employees and students, more COVID-19 treatment options, and continued availability of testing on campus, UCR will continue to pivot from an emergency response mode to more standard campus operations. 

Provost's Fall Campus Update

Elizabeth Watkins — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Campus Community, Each September, campus leadership kicks off the academic year with a day-long on-site retreat. The group consists of the chancellor’s cabinet and the provost’s cabinet, plus leaders from the Academic Senate and Staff Assembly.   

Compassionate clause to continue fall quarter

Elizabeth Watkins and Gerry Bomotti — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Colleagues:  As we look forward to the start of the fall quarter, we would like to confirm that the compassionate clause will remain in effect. 

New School of Education dean appointed

Elizabeth Watkins — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Dear campus community, I am excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Joi Spencer as Dean of the School of Education. Her first day will be January 1, 2023.