You have until Tuesday, March 13, to participate in the inaugural survey asking employees on both sides of the causeway to evaluate administrative services. 

As of Monday (March 5), nearly 4,000 people had completed the survey and more than 1,100 had started it — for a total participation rate of 20 percent.

More information about the survey is available here (the website includes a link to the survey, for which you need the access code that you should have received by email).

What’s in it for you? First and foremost, the administrative units want your feedback. “It’s a chance for our customers and stakeholders to let our teams and executive leaders know how much they value our services,” according to the survey website. “And, in some cases, it’s a chance to identify where we may have resource gaps or where there are opportunities to enhance our programs,”

And let’s not forgot the gifts and prizes! Everyone who completes the survey will receive a coupon to redeem an appreciation gift (while supplies last) and will be entered in a drawing for a $400 Visa gift card (taxes apply).

Two early-bird survey participants already won $200 gift cards:

• Leesa Ferdig, a medical office service coordinator at the UC Davis Medical Group’s Midtown Family Practice and Specialties
• Kendon Kurzer, a lecturer for the University Writing Program

Showing support in Parkland’s wake

A lecturer in the Department of Psychology is inviting people in the campus community to join her on the Quad at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, as part of the National School Walkout.

The campus walkout and others around the country are expected to last 17 minutes — in recognition of the 17 people who died in the shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and in solidarity with survivors who are protesting Congress’ inaction on gun safety.

The national walkout, organized by the Women’s March Network, is scheduled exactly one month after the Parkland shootings.

“I was surprised to find that there were no other groups planning a walkout on March 14,” Kimberly Russo said. “That is why I created an event for UC Davis. It’s a very simple gesture to show support for the survivors of the Parkland massacre.”

Students, staff and faculty are welcome to participate, said Russo, adding that she has been reaching out to student groups to see if any are interested in getting more involved.

Houlton joins UC’s Climate Leadership Council

UC Davis Professor Ben Houlton has joined UC’s Global Climate Leadership Council, by appointment of UC President Janet Napolitano. The council comprises UC faculty, staff, students and external advisory to work on successfully implementing UC’s plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 and to disseminate campus best practices.

The council works to integrate UC’s range of sustainability goals and policies into the Carbon Neutrality Initiative and into UC’ s teaching, research and public service mission.

Houlton directs the John Muir Institute of the Environment and is a professor in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources at UC Davis.

‘Soar’ as a volunteer

The Soaring to New Heights Coordination Team is looking for volunteers. This year’s event will be from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, in The Pavilion at the ARC. Interested in helping? Please contact Cristina Ramirez, volunteer coordinator, by email.

Applications due for Sautter IT awards

The UC IT Leadership Council has called for applications for the 2018 Larry L. Sautter awards program recognizing technology projects that demonstrate the leadership council’s priorities, including innovation, collaboration and operational efficiency, and that advance UC’s teaching, research, health care and public service missions.

Eligibility extends to all faculty and staff — as teams or individuals — around the UC system, for project implementation in the last three years.

More information is available on the awards program website. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 18.

An information and question-and-answer session will be held online, at noon Thursday, April 12, for people interested in submitting applications. Join by Zoom video conferencing or conference call: 408-638-0968 (Meeting ID 510-987-0638).

UC’s commitment to pay equity

UC is taking steps to align its hiring processes with the provisions of Assembly Bill 168, prohibiting employers from inquiring into applicant’s salary histories.

The bill’s passage last year came amid awareness that asking for salary information from prospective employees, heretofore a common practice, posed a risk of perpetuating pay inequity from one employer and position to another, magnifying the effects of discrimination over the course of a career.

UC may be exempt from the law due to the university’s legal standing and constitutional status. But officials said UC will align its practices with the law anyway, “given the university’s institutional values and commitment to ensuring equal pay.”

“Implementing these changes is part of our commitment to progressive talent management, good diversity and antidiscrimination best practices,” said Dwaine B. Duckett, vice president for systemwide Human Resources. “On top of that, it’s the right thing to do to continue to advance the conversations around equity.”

The UC Office of the President has created a UCnet page, “Salary Inquiry Restrictions,” to assist the many departments that may be affected by the changes.

Questions? Contact UC Davis Human Resources or Academic Affairs.

Commencement regalia for spring

Distribution Services and the bookstore are taking orders for caps, gowns, tassels and hoods, for use by faculty and administrators in spring commencements.

• Distribution Services has a loan program that provides caps, gowns (M.D., Ph.D., master’d and bachelor’s), tassels and UC doctoral hoods at no charge, with individual departments usually doing the ordering for their faculty members.

Loaner regalia can be picked up at the Central Storehouse (615 Hopkins Road). Departments can arrange for delivery at a nominal charge.

Orders can be placed online. If you require a hard-copy order form, need to arrange for delivery or have questions, call Albert Miller, 530-752-9309. Orders are due at the Central Storehouse by Friday, April 28, for commencements in May and June. Here’s the commencement calendar.

• The bookstore rents non-UC doctoral hoods and UC hoods for any degree other than a Ph.D. Faculty members and administrators are advised to order through their departments. Orders can be placed online.

For May ceremonies, order by March 23 at the standard rental fee of $26. Add rush-shipping charge of $20 or more for orders after March 23.

For June commencements, order by April 16 at the standard rental fee of $26. Add rush-shipping charge of $20 or more for orders after April 16.

Questions about ordering a hood? Send an email to gradsupplies@ucdavis.edu.

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