Dan Mitchell's blog about UCLA and UC. The original goes back to 2009 at uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com. Daniel J.B. Mitchell is a Professor-Emeritus in the Anderson and Luskin Schools at UCLA.
Friday, October 23, 2026
Cautionary Note for UC Emeriti/Retirees
If you are a resident of LA County eligible for Medicare, you may have received a mailer advertising the UCLA Medicare Advantage Plan. NOTE THAT UCLA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IS NOT AMONG THE OFFERINGS OF THE UC RETIREMENT SYSTEM'S HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS. If you are eligible for UC retiree health insurance, there is a Medicare Advantage option included, but it is NOT the UCLA Medicare Advantage Plan. Were you to enroll in the UCLA Medicare Advantage Plan, bad things will happen. Yes, it is confusing that the UCLA plan pops up in your mailbox at around the time that UC has its open enrollment period. But just ignore it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Online UC Retirement Program - Part 2
Your UC Retirement System
Description: The Your UC Retirement System class offers an overview of retirement benefits offered by UC.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN? This class covers UC’s primary retirement benefits that provide a foundation for retirement income, and voluntary retirement benefits that offer additional saving opportunities in UC’s 403(b), 457(b) and DC plans.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Employees who want to learn about the benefits offered through the primary and voluntary retirement programs and how they work together to help prepare for a financially secure retirement.
DATE AND TIME: August 27, Noon
Sign up for Online Program at:
https://fmr.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ijclrx04Q7mPZlMcKN-2Yw#/registration.
Sunday, August 23, 2026
The Pay and Benefits Man
From UCNet:
UC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rachael Nava made the following announcement:
Dear Colleagues,
Following an extensive nationwide search, I am pleased to announce that Calvin W. Turner has been selected as the vice president of Systemwide Shared Services (VP SWSS), effective August 10.
This is a critical role on my senior leadership team and an important next step in the evolution of UC Operations. It reflects our continued work to build a more integrated, strategic approach to serving UC employees and retirees.
In September 2025, I announced the formation of SWSS, uniting UCPath and the UC Retirement Administration Services Center (RASC) under one leader. This was an intentional step toward strengthening coordination across these critical functions, creating greater alignment in how we deliver services, and building a shared-services organization positioned to meet the evolving needs of the university.
With approximately 600 dedicated UCOP employees supporting employees and retirees across the UC system, strong and sustained leadership for this organization is essential. I am very pleased that Calvin will lead this next phase of our work.
Calvin brings deep expertise in shared services, operational leadership and organizational transformation to this role. He started his UC career in 2021 as the executive director of UCPath. Since October 2025, he has also served as the interim VP of SWSS.
Before UC, he was the director of the National Finance Center (NFC), a leading federal shared-services provider supporting payroll, human resources, financial, insurance and administrative services. NFC provides payroll, HR, financial and administrative services to more than 650,000 employees in 170 agencies, and health insurance services on behalf of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to the entire federal civilian workforce and tribal organizations.
As NFC Director, Calvin successfully ensured continuity of business operations through natural disasters and unprecedented government shutdowns, while simultaneously growing NFC’s customer base, implementing operational improvements and launching organizational transformation initiatives to improve transparency and customer service.
Prior to joining NFC, Calvin had more than 20 years of banking leadership experience at Hancock Whitney Bank, Hibernia National Bank (now CapitalOne) and the Federal Reserve Bank, and he was also previously an associate instructor with the University of Phoenix at the New Orleans campus. Calvin has a master’s degree in public administration and an undergraduate degree in business management and communication. Calvin will continue to be based in Riverside, California, and will travel to Oakland and all UC locations periodically.
Over the coming months, Calvin will continue engaging leaders and staff across UCPath, RASC, UCOP and the broader UC system to further develop a strategic roadmap for SWSS, advancing our vision for a more connected and effective service experience for UC employees and retirees across the full journey from “hire” through “retire.” This work will also focus on strengthening operational excellence, accountability and service across UC Operations. Calvin will also launch a search for the executive director of UCPath.
I would like to thank the search advisory committee for their tremendous effort and helpful insights during this process:
- Ahmet Palazoglu, Chair, Systemwide Academic Senate and Distinguished Professor, UC Davis
- Erin Gore, Senior Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, UCSF
- Kurt Schnier, Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer, UC Merced
- Dianna Henderson, Vice President of Human Resources, UCOP
- Van Williams, Vice President of Digital Innovation and Technology, UCOP
- Christine Lovely, Chief Human Resources Officer, UCLA
- Caín Díaz, Associate Vice President, Budget Analysis and Planning, UCOP
- Marisa McAuliffe, Chief Policy Advisor, President’s Executive Office
In addition, my thanks to several other colleagues who advised on this search:
- Amy Block Joy, Professor Emerita and Chair-Elect, Council of UC Emeriti Associations
- Susan Abeles, Chair, Council of UC Retiree Associations
- Jenny Kao, Vice President and Chief of Staff to the President
- Nathan Brostrom, UC Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
I also want to share my gratitude for the executive search team from Isaacson, Miller, as well as Pamela Wu and Quincy Kinsey in Systemwide HR’s Executive Search and Recruitment Team, who provided support for this search.
Please join me in congratulating Calvin on this well-deserved appointment. I look forward to working with him and all of you as we continue building a stronger, more integrated UC Operations organization that serves the university with excellence.
Sincerely,
Rachael Nava
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
University of California
===
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Online UC Retirement Program
Your UC Retirement System
Description: The Your UC Retirement System class offers an overview of retirement benefits offered by UC.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN? This class covers UC’s primary retirement benefits that provide a foundation for retirement income, and voluntary retirement benefits that offer additional saving opportunities in UC’s 403(b), 457(b) and DC plans.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Employees who want to learn about the benefits offered through the primary and voluntary retirement programs and how they work together to help prepare for a financially secure retirement.
DATE AND TIME: August 19, 9 AM
Sign up for Online Program at:
https://fmr.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ijclrx04Q7mPZlMcKN-2Yw#/registration.
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Noon and 5 PM Tomorrow
The 2026 UCLA Journey Toward Retirement Series Tomorrow, July 30
Noon registration: https://fmr.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Wm31fp4DSv2vY-X0zC-DZg#/registration --- 5 PM registration: https://fmr.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iT6UvUHnTfixeqCENvFN3g#/registration |
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