UC Davis’ path to self-improvement takes an important new turn next week with two forums on the possibility of establishing a campus community police review board.

The forums come on top of the Strengthening Campus Community forum series that began last week and the Campus Community Survey that is winding up. Also starting next week: a series of workshops on how to have “crucial conversations.”

• Campus Community Police Review Board Forums — 9:30-noon and 1:30-4 p.m. Monday (March 11) in Meeting Room D at the Student Community Center. Rahim Reed, associate executive vice chancellor of Campus Community Relations, and Matt Carmichael, police chief, have invited the campus community to offer comments on whether and how a campus police review board should operate.

Few universities have such review boards, said Barbara Attard, a police practices consultant who is working with UC Davis and will participate in the forums. “I applaud UC Davis for this historic and bold move,” she said.

Chief Carmichael said: "I support our community going down this road, but to get there we need people to help us mold a review system that fits our campus."

• Strengthening Campus Community Forums — The first was held March 5 and two more are on the schedule, with everyone invited to offer ideas on how to make the campus community stronger, more resilient, inclusive and vibrant.

The forums include “conversations about our strengths as community assets and steps we can take to support one another, improve our deliberations and be more open to new ideas.”

Here is the remaining schedule:

• Friday, March 15 — noon-2 p.m., MU II, Memorial Union
• Thursday, April 11 — noon-2 p.m., multipurpose room, Student Community Center

• Crucial Conversations workshops — Emotions run high, opinions vary and much is at stake. Sound familiar for your work, home or community? This three-hour workshop covers key concepts and vital tools from conflict resolution, neuroscience and organizational leadership to increase your capacity to have successful, difficult conversations. Open to faculty, other academics, staff, graduate and undergraduate students, the workshops cover such topics as why crucial conversations may veer into unproductive conflict, how to prepare for a crucial conversation, and tools to use in an effective difficult conversation. 

The workshops are free, but space is limited — therefore, participants are asked to RSVP and commit to engage fully for the entire workshop. Reply to Loraine Hernandez-Covello, lcovello@ucdavis.edu

The schedule:

• Monday, March 11 — 1-4 p.m., Ballroom B, Activities and Recreation Center
• Thursday, March 14 — 9 a.m.-noon, Meeting Room D, Student Community Center
• Tuesday, April 9 — 1-4 p.m., MU II, Memorial Union

Campus Community Survey

This survey takes in all staff, faculty and students on the Davis and Sacramento campuses — and, as of today, the combined response rate for both campuses stood at 34.5 percent. The survey began in late February and is scheduled to end Friday, March 15.

The survey is being administered systemwide, and UC Davis is in the last group of UC locations to participate. When it’s all done, the UC Office of the President will award a number of prizes in a random drawing — choosing the winners from among everyone who responded.

The systemwide prizes include two $5,000 faculty research grants and five $2,000 grants for staff professional development, and a pair of iPads for each UC location. See the entire list of prizes here.

The Davis campus has been awarding its own set of prizes, in three rounds so far, giving away three iPads and 105 gift cards. One more prize round remains, with one more iPad and 35 more gift cards. The winners’ names will be posted here when available.

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