[Msoadm] Central Human Resources Newsletter | May 2026
Puja Pannu
puja.pathak at ucr.edu
Fri May 15 11:36:36 PDT 2026
Central Human Resources Newsletter
May 2026
[image: Alex Najera]
Prioritizing Well-being and Summer Success
A message from Alex Nájera, Associate Vice Chancellor, CHRO
Dear Campus Partners,
As the spring semester concludes and we look toward summer, I want to thank
you for your ongoing commitment to UCR’s mission.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a vital time to focus on our
emotional well-being. Our well-being is the foundation of our success, and
I urge you to take advantage of the UCR resources available, including the
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program and the various programs offered
through the Faculty and Staff Wellness Program.
I also want to remind everyone about two key administrative areas this
month. First, please ensure you complete your performance appraisal process
by adhering to the deadlines. Please check in with your HR Business Partner
or HR team to confirm your organization's deadlines. Second, as you plan
your summer time off, review the time-off policy reminders for requesting
vacation and observing the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.
Finally, the May 1 launch of the Avanti R'Employee Service Portal
represents an exciting step forward in streamlining our HR systems,
allowing us to serve you more efficiently. This centralized hub provides
all UCR staff with direct self-service access to initiate key HR actions,
such as submitting Leave of Absence requests, requesting retirement
counseling, and tracking cases in one unified platform.
We are dedicated to supporting your professional and personal success as we
prepare to transition into the summer months. This implementation is
important to us and for our campus users. We will host Office Hours once a
week through August. Please visit the Avanti website page
<https://hr.ucr.edu/avanti> to find a day and time that works best for you.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Resources and Support
Mental health and emotional well-being are important because they help
people manage stress, face challenges, and build positive relationships.
When someone has strong mental wellness, they can better understand their
feelings, handle stress in healthy ways, and stay positive during difficult
times. This can improve overall happiness and even support better physical
health. Taking care of your mental health by practicing self-care, reaching
out for support, and using healthy coping skills can help you stay
balanced, strong, and ready for everyday life.
UCR offers many resources and support services as part of its wellness
culture:
-
The Faculty and Staff Wellness Program
<https://hr.ucr.edu/faculty-staff-and-wellness-program/live-well-pillar>
provides helpful information about mental and emotional well-being,
including ways to find support and connect with care providers both on and
off campus.
-
The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
<https://hr.ucr.edu/employee-resources/faculty-and-staff-assistance-program>
offers confidential support, resources, and guidance for personal and
work-related concerns for employees and their household members.
-
The Well <https://well.ucr.edu/> at UCR also supports the campus
community by offering training, resources, and programs on topics such as
mental health, physical activity, nutrition, and overall well-being, led by
professionals and trained peer educators.
Bloom Wellness Challenge | May 4 – 31, 2026
Celebrate Spring with Bloom
<https://ucmoves.bloomspringchallenge.com/welcome>, a 4-week physical
activity challenge designed to boost your well-being and connect you with
stunning landscapes across the globe.
Spotlights
[image: image]
HR Employee Spotlight
Emma Geach is a Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant who has been a vital
part of the university community since March 2013. While her primary focus
remains on Talent Acquisition, she has also lent her expertise to the
Compensation team during key assignments in 2015 and 2025.
With over 30 years of recruiting experience, Emma is particularly
passionate about guiding students and recent graduates toward their ideal
career paths. She is a forward-thinking professional who thrives on
streamlining and elevating recruitment processes. Emma holds master’s
degrees from both Claremont Graduate University (Human Resources) and CSU
Fullerton (Communication), alongside a bachelor’s degree from Loyola
Marymount University.
A dual-certified professional (SHRM-SCP and SPHR), she also shares her
knowledge as a part-time instructor for the Human Resources Management
Certificate program at UCR Extension. When she isn't shaping the future of
the workforce, you can find her enjoying the campus scenery—specifically
anywhere she can find Scotty Bear. Emma also enjoys spending time at
baseball and hockey games throughout the year.
[image: image]
HR Team Spotlight
The CHASS HR team includes Erika Leon, HR Director, Alisha French, Senior
HR Generalist, Loren Bacallo, Senior HR Generalist, and our HR Student,
Tatyana Nava. The team works collaboratively to create an engaging and
positive environment for staff. Grounded in empathy, fairness, and open
communication, they prioritize employee well-being while ensuring processes
run smoothly and effectively.
Each team member adds a personal touch that strengthens connection across
the college. Alisha builds meaningful relationships through her
approachable, supportive presence, actively engaging with staff across
campus and contributing to initiatives that enhance the employee
experience. Loren ensures structure and accountability through her
compliance expertise while keeping the atmosphere light with her sense of
humor and knack for sharing local favorites. Erika fosters community
through thoughtful leadership and brings people together with events like
the annual CHASS Halloween celebration.
Together, they create a workplace that feels both supportive and
engaging—blending professionalism with personality. Through events, daily
interactions, and continuous improvements, they cultivate a culture where
employees feel valued, connected, and empowered to thrive.
HR Reminders
Avanti: R'Employee Service Portal Launch
UCR HR and ITS launched the R’Employee Service Portal on May 1st, a portal
designed to modernize HR operations and the employee experience. Features &
Access include:
Staff can visit hr.ucr.edu/portal to manage: Leave of Absence (Medical,
Personal, or Catastrophic), Retirement Counseling & HR Service Requests
HR Partner Tools: The HR Agent Workspace centralizes workflows for HR
Partners, including Class & Comp, ELR, and LOA processing.
Support: The Avanti website <https://hr.ucr.edu/avanti> offers
instructional videos, May workshops, and virtual office hours. Contact
hrpolicy at ucr.edu with questions.
_________________________________________
Planning Your Summer Vacation: Time-Off Policy Reminders
As you plan for time off this summer, please remember to follow your
department’s steps for asking for and approving vacation time. This
includes time off around summer holidays like Memorial Day, Juneteenth,
Independence Day, and Labor Day. If you have extra vacation hours, be sure
to ask about extending your time off so you don’t lose those hours.
Also, keep in mind that some departments may have limits on when time off
can be taken. This is often during busy times, like late June and early
July for year-end work, or late August and early September when getting
ready for the fall semester.
_________________________________________
Checklist for Departing Employees (Seasonal or Transfers)
If you’re leaving your job for the summer, moving to a new role, or
finishing a seasonal position, there are key steps to complete to ensure a
smooth and proper transition including:
-
-
Return all university-issued items—such as keys, ID badges, laptops,
and any other equipment—prior to your departure.
-
Submit final timesheets in the Time & Attendance Reporting System
(TARS)
<https://timesheet.ucr.edu/timesheet2/TIMESHEET_MAIN.MAIN_CAS?ticket=ST-300046-Xn3VTrXPfERoU-kdr8fQiK2TjYE-sys-cas-pl21>
and, confirm all time is accurate and recorded.
-
Check that all contact information UCPath
<https://idpproxy-ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu/simplesaml/module.php/ucpathdiscovery/disco.php?entityID=https%3A%2F%2Fucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu&return=https%3A%2F%2Fidpproxy-ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu%2Fsimplesaml%2Fmodule.php%2Fsaml%2Fsp%2FdiscoResponse%3FAuthID%3D_0ee09f4bd77dedfa74e7cde48841968428bd70c187%253Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fidpproxy-ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu%252Fsimplesaml%252Fsaml2%252Fidp%252FSSOService.php%253Fspentityid%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fucphrprdpub.universityofcalifornia.edu%25252Fpsp%25252Fucphrprd%2526cookieTime%253D1777308305&returnIDParam=idpentityid>
is up to date.
Visit the HR Leaving UC webpage
<https://hr.ucr.edu/offboarding/staff-offboarding-roadmap/voluntary-resignation#return-of-university-property>
for additional important steps and information including final paycheck,
direct deposit, and benefits.
_________________________________________
Important Performance Management Deadlines
The 2025/2026 performance appraisal cycle continues, and employees and
supervisors should keep the following upcoming deadlines* in mind:
-
Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 15, 2026: Conduct in-person performance
appraisal sessions.
-
Friday, June 26, 2026: Deadline to finalize the Goal Agreement form for
the next review period.
-
Friday, June 26, 2026: Organizational units must certify performance
appraisal ratings and send the Certification Letter to Central Human
Resources.
*Some departments have revised timelines to ensure timely submission of
documents to central Human Resources. Please refer to your
department/organizational units deadlines.
_________________________________________
UCR Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program - We Need Your Help!
The UCR Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program provides a mechanism for
employees to donate vacation hours to employees who have exhausted all paid
leave balances due to a catastrophic illness or injury. To learn how you
can help by donating hours, please read the full Catastrophic Leave Sharing
Program Request
<https://hr.ucr.edu/benefitsannouncements/2026/02/04/ucr-catastrophic-leave-sharing-program-we-need-your-help>
.
UCR Professional Development News
The Grove, UCR’s Secure AI Platform
UCR Information Technology Solutions announced the soft launch of The Grove
on April 29! Designed exclusively for the UCR community, The Grove is a
secure, campus-connected AI assistant built to help you reclaim your time.
It runs in a private environment using UCR’s data, delivering personalized,
campus-specific responses while keeping information secure. Attendees
should attend the upcoming workshop series to learn more.
2026 UCR Staff Conference - Recordings Available
Registered individuals can now access the session replays online to revisit
or catch up on missed sessions.
LinkedIn Learning
All UCR employees have free, unlimited access to 21,000+ expert-led
courses, available in R'Space <https://rweb.ucr.edu/>.
Upcoming Classes and Workshops
-
Franklin Covey (Welcome to Franklin Covey: May 5 or June 2, 9:30 AM -
10:30 AM, free session)
-
ComPsych Webinars (Faculty Staff Assistance Program) (Learning to Say
"No": May 13 at 9 AM; Responding to Behavior that Makes You Feel
Uncomfortable: May 26 at 12 PM)
-
Mental Health Allies Trainings (May 5 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and May 7
from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, open to all UCR students, staff, and faculty)
-
Disability Ally Workshop (May 19 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM via Zoom, which
facilitates awareness and competency of disability)
National Celebrations
Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month
Celebrated annually in May, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) begins
Friday, May 1, 2026. This month honors over 370 years of Jewish American
history and significant contributions to U.S. culture, science, government,
and the military. Nationwide events and activities recognize these
achievements. Learn more at the Jewish American Heritage Month website.
<https://jewishamericanheritage.org/>
Deaf History Month
Led by the Administration for Community Living, Older Americans Month each
May recognizes older adults' contributions and aging trends. The 2026
theme, Champion Your Health, emphasizes wellness, prevention, and personal
responsibility. This year's focus includes self-care, caregiver support,
and community partnerships to promote healthy lives. Learn more at
Administration
for Community Living website
<https://acl.gov/news-and-events/announcements/older-americans-month-2026-theme-champion-your-health>
.
Upcoming Events
Events Calendar <https://events.ucr.edu/department/human_resources>
HR Office Hours
May 14 - 10am-11am
__________________
R'Employee Launch
May 1
HROG Meeting
May 21 - 11am-12pm
__________________
UCR Walks
May 15
Leave Coordinator Mtg
May 27 11am-12pm
__________________
Staff Pantry
May 15
HROG Training
May 28 - 10am-11am
__________________
Memorial Day Holiday
May 25
hr.ucr.edu | questions: hrpolicy at ucr.edu
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<https://www.youtube.com/@ucrhumanresources>[image: LinkedIn]
<https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/central-human-resources/>
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