<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large"><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline">Dear DUE Colleagues,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Over the last couple of weeks, the new federal leadership introduced a series of executive orders challenging federal support for many parts of higher education. These orders have created a climate of uncertainty, confusion, and questions for many of us. I am writing to you to share some thoughts about our work in the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) to specifically serve the nearly 23,000 undergraduates at UCR. Below are three points to consider. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><b><span style="color:black">1)</span></b><span style="color:black">     </span><b><u><span style="color:black">Stay informed:</span></u></b><b><span style="color:black">  </span></b><span style="color:black">There have been several official communications from campus, there was a townhall last week, and </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-president-michael-v-drakes-message-federal-funding-freeze?utm_source=Inside+UCR+Weekly+Test&utm_campaign=34b260b1f4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_29_06_52&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-34b260b1f4-92866107" target="_blank"><span style="color:black">ongoing communications from UCOP</span></a></span><span style="color:black">. I encourage you to stay informed. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><b><span style="color:black">2)</span></b><span style="color:black">     </span><b><u><span style="color:black">Take care of yourself</span></u></b><b><span style="color:black">:  </span></b><span style="color:black">I know this climate can be difficult to navigate. I encourage you to take care of yourselves and take advantage of the many resources available at UCR. I often find it helpful to take a break from the computer when needed, get out of the office for a bit, go for a walk, listen to your favorite music, find a quiet space, or do whatever helps you re-center when needed.  Our new Wellness Committee will be reaching out over the coming month with a focus on well-being.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">3)</span><span style="color:black">     </span><b><u><span style="color:black">Do your best</span></u></b><span style="color:black">:  In this environment, I encourage you to draw upon the energy, the will, and the purpose that drives you to serve our students every single day.  When I think of the vital importance of the DUE’s work and specifically the staff—you—the people who engage in this work everyday, several words come to mind: collaboration, leading, supporting, advising, advocating, assisting, storytelling, innovating, passion, hope, and striving for our students. Much of our work is driven with care, heart, and determination. These are the things that continuously remind us why we do the work we do to serve our students and communities.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">I remain grateful to work alongside you as we continue on this journey together.  I look forward to our meeting next week. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Warmly,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Louie</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:18.4px;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"> </span></p></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a name="m_-262093349371718161_SignatureSanitizer__MailAutoSig"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">Louie F. Rodriguez </span></b></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">Vice Provost and Dean </span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">Division of Undergraduate Education </span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">Professor of Education</span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">University of California, Riverside</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="mailto:Louie.rodriguez@ucr.edu" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(5,99,193)">Louie.rodriguez@ucr.edu</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="https://ue.ucr.edu/" title="https://ue.ucr.edu/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,120,215)">ue.ucr.edu</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"> </span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">Executive Assistant: Mona Nelson </span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="mailto:mona.nelson@ucr.edu" title="mailto:mona.nelson@ucr.edu" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,120,215)">mona.nelson@ucr.edu</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"> (951) 827-7750 </span></i></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">

<p class="MsoNormal"></p></div></div></div>