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Budget allocations, convocation and celebration — 9.28.12

UC Davis FRIDAY UPDATE

9.28.2012

News and information for faculty and staff


Spotlight on…

Convocation and celebrationPhoto: Taiko drummer

Fall Convocation this week honored the arts as an integral part of UC Davis, allowing everyone to experience the full emotions of life and build a better civilization. The next day, close to 4,500 freshmen and transfers cheered and texted their way through the New Student Celebration, featuring lion dancers, professors, hip-hoppers, a capella singers, Olympians, taiko drummers and a Bollywood dance troupe. [ More, with multimedia… ]

NEWS SUMMARY

More stories at Dateline UC Davis and UC Davis News and Information

Budget allocations letter for 2012-13

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter says the budget reflects a modest increase over prior years, "demonstrating the successes we continue to experience even as we grapple with fiscal challenges." Indeed, this fall is marked by "significant uncertainty" — pending the outcome of Proposition 30 on the Nov. 6 ballot. "In the meantime, it is important to communicate baseline allocations." [ More… ]

Proposed settlement in pepper-spray lawsuit

The UC system would pay $30,000 to each of 21 plaintiffs who were pepper-sprayed by police officers on the UC Davis Quad last November, according to a proposed nearly $1 million legal settlement announced earlier this week. [ More… ]

Dean Ko: Agent for change in math-physical sciences

Winston Ko, dean of the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, has announced that he will retire in June after four decades at the university. "From his visionary research on particle physics to his leadership for our university, Ko's 40 years here have given us unparalleled advancements," Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said. [ More… ]

Annual giving tops $132 million

Donors committed $132.4 million to UC Davis during the 2011-12 fiscal year, surpassing the previous year's total of $117.6 million and marking the sixth consecutive year that philanthropic gifts exceeded $100 million. The latest commitments bring the university more than 80 percent of the way toward the $1 billion goal set for its first comprehensive fundraising campaign, launched publicly in October 2010. [ More… ]

ONWARD CALIFORNIA: UC tour heads to Davis

UC's Onward California tour comes to Davis — the city and the campus — next week, to show how the university is changing lives for the better, in ways that many people might not realize. The brightly colored truck comes with a honey of a treat. [ More, with video… ]

California wine industry on upswing

Despite a grape shortage and economic pressures that are putting the squeeze on profit margins, California wine industry leaders are cautiously optimistic about the future, according to the annual survey conducted by Robert Smiley, an emeritus professor and former dean of the Graduate School of Management. … Meanwhile, wine chemist Andrew Waterhouse is helping winemakers determine the best closures for their wine bottles. [ More… ]

LAURELS: Pomeroy named chair of academic health centers board

Claire Pomeroy, chief executive officer of the UC Davis Health System, has been elected chair of the board of directors of the Association of Academic Health Centers. … Pulitzer Prize winner Gary Snyder, professor emeritus in the Department of English, wins a $100,000 award from the Academy of American Poets. [ More… ]

UC Davis launches search for new head football coach

The campus is looking for a new head football coach for the first time in 20 years — someone to lead the Aggies in the more competitive Big Sky Conference while remaining committed to the teacher-coach model of the "Davis Way." [ More… ]

NEWS BRIEFS: South campus's new outdoor social hub

Food trucks and outdoor music are coming to the south campus, the former every weekday and the latter on an intermittent basis in the Mondavi Center's new Corin Courtyard Concerts series (which starts tonight). … The lesson from a fire this week is bigger than the fire itself: Do not go back into a building until emergency personnel give the "all clear." … The campus dedicates Peter A. Rock Hall (formerly Chem 194). … UC Davis veterinarians warn pet owners to be careful about using rat poisons and similar compounds. … Try Before You Buy week starts Sunday at the ARC. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES and ANNOUNCEMENTS

No directives or announcements were issued this week.

EVENTS

FOOD, ETC.: Farmers market, wine tasting return

Wednesday, Oct. 3

The UC Davis Farmers Market opens its fall season next week — hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday on the Silo Patio. … The First Wednesday Wine Flight returns on — what else? — the first Wednesday of the new academic year, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Gunrock Pub on the south side of the Silo. [ More… ]

THE ARTS: Readings by creative writing faculty

Thursday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m., Wyatt Deck, arboretum

One week after the opening day of school comes Opening Night: Readings by Creative Writing Faculty. … Plus, the first Noon Concert of the quarter (Oct. 4), auditions for fall theatre productions (Oct. 1 and 2) and the second annual Alan Templeton Colloquium: Japanese Art and Its Contexts (Oct. 5). [ More… ]

Homecoming: 100th anniversary of Pajamarino

Friday, Oct. 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Amtrak Station, 840 Second St.

Free, family-friendly celebration featuring the Cal Aggie Marching Band-Uh! and other student performances. The Homecoming game against Montana State kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 6), with tailgating and a special wine tasting event beginning at 1 p.m. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…