Spotlight on…

Gulf rescuesea turtle

UC Davis veterinarian Michael Ziccardi, a veteran of more than 60 oil spills, leads the sea turtle and marine mammal rescue effort in the gulf. NPR's All Things Considered talked with him for a special report that aired Thursday. Other UC Davis faculty and staff are also offering their expertise in the disaster. [ More… ]

NEWS

UC fights $1 million increase in license fee for Nature and affiliated journals

UC library leaders and faculty are talking about a possible systemwide boycott of the Nature Publishing Group over a 400-percent increase in the license fee for UC's online access to 67 journals — an increase that would cost UC an additional $1 million a year. The NPG fires back in return. [ More… ]

Organizational Excellence: Shared service center pilot due by winter quarter

Chancellor Linda Katehi announced an ambitious plan to have a shared service center pilot project in place by winter quarter, as part of the university's Organizational Excellence initiative. The initiative also involves administrative unit reviews and a study of the university's risk management. [ More… ]

Campus closure June 14-15; use or lose your furlough days

As the spring quarter comes to an end, perhaps you need a breather. How about a campus closure? The third and final such closure of the year is scheduled for Monday-Tuesday, June 14-15. Friday Update will go on hiatus next week and will resume publication June 25. [ More… ]

UC Davis professor named one of nation's top young fiction writers

UC Davis English professor Yiyun Li has been named one of the nation's best young fiction writers by editors of The New Yorker. Li, who drew rave reviews for her first novel — The Vagrants, published last year — was among 20 writers under age 40 whom The New Yorker's editors selected as the best and most promising of their generation. [ More… ]

Education leaders break ground for first California community college center on a UC campus

Sacramento City College and UC Davis officials joined at a ceremonial groundbreaking June 10 for the new Sacramento City College Davis Center at UC Davis West Village. The Davis Center will be the first community college extension built on a University of California campus. [ More… ]

UC Davis study finds telecommuting can be hazardous to your career

Working from home has many advantages. By cutting out the commute, employees can save money, boost productivity and reduce their carbon footprint. But there is one significant drawback, two UC Davis professors have discovered: Telecommuting can be hazardous to your career. [ More… ]

In brief: Blood drive, science adviser, MyUCDavis, CAAA awards

An ASUCD blood and marrow drive is set for June 22 and 23 ... Chancellor Katehi is passing along an e-mail from the American Association for the Advancement of Science soliciting nominees to be the next science and technology adviser to the U.S. secretary of state ... Faculty are encouraged to move their course materials from MyUCDavis to SmartSite before the end of summer ... The Cal Aggie Alumni Association is taking nominations for its annual awards, including a brand-new one for "distinguished friend." [ More… ]

State labor commissioner slaps Tercero II framing contractor

The California state labor commissioner this week levied $1.5 million in penalties against a framing contractor for failing to pay the proper wages to 74 employees for their work on the Tercero II student housing project at UC Davis. [ More… ]

Nurses rally but don't strike at UC Davis Medical Center

The California Nurses Association staged a rally — but not a walkout — at the UC Davis Medical Center on June 10. The union had planned a one-day strike at UC hospitals and student health centers, but a judge barred the job action, declaring that it might violate the CNA's contract with the university and could endanger public safety. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES

No directives were issued this week.

EVENTS

Horse Barn's annual production sale next weekend

Saturday, June 19, 3:30 p.m., Horse Barn, La Rue Road

The UC Davis Horse Barn, a unit of the Department of Animal Science, is putting 16 horses and mules up for auction in the 2010 production sale. The event is held annually in support of the Equine Teaching Program. People are invited to preview the sale animals starting at 3:30 p.m. A barbecue is set to begin at 4:30 p.m., and the auction at 6 p.m. [ More… ]

Summertime softball, Ultimate Frisbee

July 6-mid August

Intramural Sports announced a June 21-25 registration period for summer softball and Ultimate Frisbee leagues, open to students and all other university affiliates, including staff, faculty and alumni. The leagues include a co-rec softball league under the auspices of Staff Assembly, in connection with the annual Thank Goodness for Staff celebration. [ More… ]

New summer children's program comes to campus

July 12-16, 19-23 and 26-30

The School of Education is partnering with Campus Recreation on a new summer program in which participating children can enroll in science, technology or creativity "majors." The program is called SEEK: The UC Davis Experience, for children entering grades 3 to 6. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…