With 41 alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers, UC Davis maintained its fifth-place ranking among large California colleges and universities and top-25 ranking in the nation.

UC Davis tied with UC Santa Cruz for the fifth-place spot in California, and with UC Santa Cruz and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for 19th place nationwide among large college and universities.

UC Davis has been ranked in the top 25 of the nation’s large universities for 12 consecutive years.

Since the first days of the Peace Corps, 1,429 alumni from UC Davis have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers, making it the No.16 all-time volunteer-producing school.

The rankings are calculated on data for the federal government’s fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2013, and include only those volunteers who self-reported their alma maters.

At Your Service transforms into UCnet

For faculty, staff and retirees, the UC Office of the President is still “At Your Service,” providing information about policies and pay and benefits, but as of Feb. 6 the service comes with a whole lot more, including an improved search function, on a new internal website.

It’s called UCnet, incorporating At Your Service and designed to build a stronger sense of community in the UC system. UCnet’s “Working at UC” section, for example, includes links to campus stories (about UC Davis Wears Red Day, for example), and system and campus interest groups.

“Working at UC” also includes information on career development (for faculty and staff), wellness and work-life balance. Other sections include “News” from around the UC system, and “Tools and Services,” with links to policies and systemwide data.

The “Compensation and Benefits” section presents general information and button links to “AYS Online” and “Fidelity” for your personal accounts. The password-protected At Your Service Online has not changed. (“AYS Online” and “Fidelity” buttons also appear on the UCnet landing page.)

Read more about UCnet. UC’s main website has a new look, too.

Fire at vet hospital under review

The Feb. 6 fire that claimed the life of a canine patient in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital remained under review by campus officials today.

“We are heartsick over the loss of this dog and extend our deepest sympathies to the client family,” said Jane Sykes, a veterinarian and director of the hospital’s Small Animal Clinic.

Campus firefighters responded to the hospital’s call at about 7 a.m., and, upon arrival, found that hospital personnel had put out the fire, using extinguishers.

Three staff members were treated for minor injuries.

Register for Principles of Community Week staff event

Principles of Community Week is coming, Feb. 24-28, and while most events are open to everyone, with no advance registration, there is a staff program for which space is limited and advance signups are required.

It’s called “How Can We Build Greater Campus and Workplace Community?” — scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, with lunch provided.

The Staff Diversity Administrative Advisory Committee is sponsoring this event, described as “an opportunity for staff to meet colleagues from across campus and make connections by engaging in meaningful conversations and guided activities on building campus community.”

“Come and share ideas and recommendations about how to implement the Principles of Community. Representatives from various interest and constituency groups will be present to share information and welcome new members.”

RSVPs are due by Wednesday, Feb. 19, by email.

Napolitano promotes donations to cancer research

UC President Janet Napolitano has asked employees to consider using their state tax returns to make donations to help UC researchers and others around California in the fight against cancer.

California’s tax form 540 includes lines for donations to a pair of UC-administered cancer research projects: the California Breast Cancer Research Fund (Line 405) and the California Cancer Research Fund (Line 413), administered by UC's Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program.

“These programs are having a real impact on a disease that touches far too many of us,” Napolitano wrote in a systemwide email last week.

Band-uh to march in SF parade

The Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh is celebrating the Year of the Horse as a participant in San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, named by the International Festivals and Events Association as one of the top 10 parades in the world.

The 2014 parade is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 15).

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