The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Hispanic Serving Institution Task Force are inviting faculty, staff, students and alumni as well as members of the public to a forum on the topic, “What Does It Mean for UC Davis to Be Hispanic-Serving?”

The forum is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Conference Center. Refreshments will be served. RSVPs are requested by Oct. 29 and can be arranged online. Note: Seating is limited.

Earlier this year UC Davis met the requirements to be eligible for the federal government’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation. As defined by the government, HSI-eligible means that among the population of domestic undergraduate students, a minimum 25 percent come from economically disadvantaged populations. The campus now has the opportunity to outline a broader vision for serving students in the Hispanic/Chicanx/Latinx community and beyond — to empower them to thrive.

Chancellor Gary S. May formed the HSI Task Force in June to help UC Davis define what success should mean for a research-intensive, public land-grant, Hispanic Serving Institution in California. More information about the task force and its activities is available here.

Organized by the task force, the forum will comprise a brief program followed by small-group discussions designed to identify opportunities for UC Davis as one of only nine R1 universities with the HSI designation (R1 refers to universities with the highest level of research activities for undergraduate and graduate students). Five of the nine R1-HSI universities are UCs.

A record 13 student Fulbrights

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program this year selected a record 13 UC Davis students and alumni for fellowships that will see Aggie footprints stretching from Mexico to Malaysia and from Iceland to Taiwan.

The fellowships support individually designed study/research projects or for English teaching assistant programs. 

“As UC Davis is connecting more and more with the world, these Fulbright experiences bring tremendous opportunities for our students and alumni — and for the communities with which they’re working,” said Joanna Regulska, vice provost and associate chancellor of Global Affairs. “This exchange of culture, of knowledge and of perspectives benefits us all.” 

Read more on the Global Affairs website.

Water-line flushing operation

Last week it was a natural-gas release, on purpose. This week it’s a water release, on purpose, to flush a new underground water line that feeds fire-suppression equipment in the Chem Annex building.

The flushing operation was scheduled for this afternoon (Oct. 23), likely starting around 3 p.m., with the water flowing onto the lawn area south of Chem Annex.

“The contractor will be flushing the new fire water line to clear it of debris before placing it in operation,” said Christine Vargas, senior project manager with Design and Construction Management. 

The university is in the midst of upgrading and expanding the fire-suppression systems in Chem Annex and the Chemistry Building.

SUGGESTED DONATIONS

• Canned meat, fish and soups
• Canned ready-to-eat meals
• Canned vegetables and tomato products
• Peanut butter (plastic container)
• Iron-rich cereal (45 percent or more of daily value)
• Fruit juice (100 percent in 48-ounces or less plastic bottles)
• Canned fruit (in juice)
• Dry beans (any type)
• Enriched rice or pasta
• Powdered milk
• Ramen
• Boxed macaroni and cheese
• Powdered milk formula
• Similac baby food

Food drive starts Nov. 1

Mail Services’ 13th annual Holiday Food Drive begins next week on the Davis and Sacramento campuses. From Nov. 1 to 16, mail personnel will pick up nonperishable food left at department mail stops, for delivery to Yolo County and Sacramento food banks.

“We modeled our program after the U.S. Postal Service’s ‘Every Can Counts’ food drive that takes place every spring. The idea is genius,” said Jen Carmichael, general manager of Supply Chain Management’s Distribution Services, which includes Mail Services. “If everyone can bring in just a few items, the impact is huge. This coupled with the convenience of leaving the items with your outgoing campus mail helps everyone do a small part to benefit our communities in a large way.”

Since its inception in 2005, the food drive has brought in nearly 13 tons of food. Davis campus donations go to the Yolo Food Bank and Sacramento campus donations go to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Carmichael said the drive is an easy way for UC Davis employees to give back. “It is easy and affordable for all of us to take part. Instead of buying one can, why not buy a few? You can also donate items out of your own pantry as long as they have not reached their expiration dates.”

Freeway work planned near campus

The California Department of Transportation, or Cal Trans, announced that it will begin renovation work this week, at night, to overpasses along Interstate 80 and Highway 113 in the vicinity of UC Davis. The work is scheduled from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through November, and could result in partial or full closures of the freeway and ramps. Motorists may be directed to detours.

Repro Graphics’ calendar deadline: Oct. 31

If you have one of Repro Graphics’ free, personalized calendars for 2018, you should circle “Oct. 31” — because it’s the last day to order a calendar for next year. Everyone else is invited to get one, too, just remember the deadline!

Repro Graphics has been offering free calendars since 2010 to show the print shop’s variable-data capabilities. This is what allows Repro Graphics to customize each calendar to highlight four dates per month — whichever four dates the customer chooses — and to add a campus image of the customer’s choice.

Photo choices for 2019 calendar include the two winning images from a recent contest in which photographers were invited to showcase the beauty of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden.

The calendars are available to all staff and faculty, limit one per person. Calendars will be delivered to mail stops on the Davis and Sacramento campuses.

Place your order here. Any requests for calendars after Oct. 31 may be accommodated for an additional charge. Repro Graphics also wants you to know it can produce custom calendars for your department or unit, starting at just $1 each (based on minimum quantity of 300). Contact Repro Graphics by email or phone, 530-752-COPY (2679).

Reminder on political activity

With two weeks to go until the Nov. 6 general election, the lawn signs are out and the campaign ads are filling the airways. But what political actions are university employees permitted to take while on the clock? Click here to read a previous news brief outlining the University of California's policy — which has been updated to include information on political buttons and T-shirts.

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