Spotlight on…

The greening of higher edPhoto: Pressed leaf

They came. They saw. They studied — sustainability. The California Higher Education Sustainability Conference, held at UC Davis for the first time in the event's 11-year history, drew record registration: nearly 1,000 people from 88 institutions. Our Friday Update package includes a slide show and media coverage, plus a video about the campus's new "smart" lighting system, designed to save energy and enhance safety. [ More… ]

NEWS SUMMARY

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

Katehi reaffirms 'unequivocal' commitment to academic freedom; outlines plans for institutional review of health system matter

In a letter to Academic Senate Chair Linda Bisson, Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi has reaffirmed the campus's "unequivocal" commitment to academic freedom and outlined plans for an institutional review of the UC Davis Health System's alleged interference with Professor Michael Wilkes. The campus review follows an Academic Senate investigation that was the subject of a recent Sacramento Bee editorial. [ More… ]

Galindo to oversee Student Affairs temporarily

Associate Vice Chancellor Emily Galindo will oversee Student Affairs during the month of July, as the campus moves to identify an interim vice chancellor who would begin serving Aug. 1 and continue until a permanent appointment is named to replace Vice Chancellor Fred Wood, who has taken a chancellor's post in Minnesota. [ More… ]

UC and employees to pay more into retirement starting July 1

Rates for faculty and staff will rise to 5 percent of pay, up from roughly 3.5 percent. The university will pay 10 percent of pay, up from 7 percent. [ More… ]

The words of a proud 'anonymous mom'

In her commencement speech this year, Chancellor Katehi addressed graduates as an "anonymous mother who sits quietly in the audience, waiting to see her son or daughter coming down the aisle in a cap and gown and looking at the world with so much assurance and anticipation, with so much hope and fear." In a blog post about the last commencement on Sunday, she shares how those words held special meaning for one audience member — her daughter, who graduated from law school a few days earlier. [ More, with video… ]

After 30 years, Coulson retires from home sweet CoHo

We call it the Coffee House, but Sharon Coulson made it a home. Next Thursday (June 28) she retires after nearly 30 years as the director, proud that she kept the essence of the Coffee House as a home away from home for student employees and a place where the coffee is always on and the home-style meals always hit the spot. [ More… ]

Tuesdays with Mara: Conservatory volunteer's academic legacy

During her weekly volunteer shifts at the Botanical Conservatory, Fran Mara had a goal of propagating or transplanting $100 worth of plants, to be sold at conservatory fundraisers. "She did at least that," said Ernesto Sandoval, director of the conservatory. But Mara wanted to do more. So she decided to put in some money of her own: $100,000, as specified in her will. [ More, with slide show… ]

New study explores novel autism treatments for very young children

Researchers at the MIND Institute have received Autism Speaks grants to extend their groundbreaking work toward novel, high-impact treatments for very young children. The funding supports a new study focused on enhancing the effects of parent-implemented interventions for the very youngest children with the disorder. [ More… ]

NEWS BRIEFS: UCLA dean named systemwide provost

UCLA Dean Aimée Dorr has been appointed provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs for the UC system. … Peter M. Siegel announces organizational changes in IET meant to help it "provide the most effective services in a time of extraordinary fiscal constraint." … SmartSite is going offline tonight, for an upgrade. … Campus firefighters really delivered Monday night — delivering a baby boy in a campus apartment. … Roll up your sleeves for a blood drive, Wednesday and Thursday on the Quad. … Summer brown bags start with a Tabata workout. … The Science Café series begins next week with a nice bouquet. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES and ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT: Town halls set for Monday in search for communications leader

Three town hall meetings — one each for students, staff and faculty — will be held Monday (June 25) to gather input on what the campus should be looking for in its search for associate chancellor of Strategic Communications. [ More… ]

EVENTS

Visualizing History, Then and Now: Recent Acquisitions

Opening Monday, June 25, C.N. Gorman Museum

Featuring works that reflect and respond to Native American experiences in the social and political realm. ... Also, new exhibitions at the Craft Center Gallery and Shields Library. [ More… ]

ASUCD Summer Blood and Marrow Drive

Wednesday and Thursday, June 27-28, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., West Quad

Get ready to roll up your sleeves for the summer blood drive, back in its traditional location: Look for the bloodmobiles parked alongside the Quad. Participants will receive a $5 gift card for Togo's sandwich shops. [ More… ]

THE ARTS: Head start on tix for Costello, Sedaris, Pilobulus

Thursday through Saturday, June 28-30, Mondavi Center box office

Staff, faculty and students get a head start next week on ticket purchases for three "just added" shows at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts' 2012-13 season: Elvis Costello, David Sedaris and the Pilobulus Dance Theatre. As always, staff and faculty receive a 10 percent discount on single-event tickets, and students receive a 50 percent discount. … The Davis Shakespeare Ensemble's production of Henry V continues this weekend and June 28-July 1 in the arboretum. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…