In the wake of the Heartbleed bug, Information and Educational Technology is advising UC Davis computer users to change their Kerberos passphrases.

“We have moved swiftly to remediate the risk at UC Davis, to the point that we can now recommend you change your Kerberos passphrase to minimize risks to you and to the community,” Prasant Mohapatra, interim vice provost and chief information officer, wrote in an April 11 email message to the campus. Read more.

More from IET:

• IT status website — It’s been upgraded, as of last Tuesday. The new page is hosted off-campus, so you can get to it even when the UC Davis network or other critical IT services are down (you might need to use a smartphone if your campus computer is offline). You can receive status updates in a variety of ways, via the “Subscribe to Updates” box. Read more.

• IET Virtual Lab — This site, allowing remote access to software in IET’s computer labs after hours, has a new, easier-to-remember URL: virtuallab.ucdavis.edu. Read more.

Soaring to New Heights tickets on sale

Tickets are on sale for Soaring to New Heights, a staff and faculty event held annually in celebration of diversity and the Principles of Community and more.

The program includes entertainment, an international buffet, a resource fair (with representatives from various units and constituent groups) and the following presentations: Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Recognition Awards, Disability Awareness Recognition Awards and the Calvin E. Handy Leadership Award.

Department-unit representation is highly recommended, said Rahim Reed, associate executive vice chancellor, Office of Campus Community Relations. He said release time with supervisory approval is appropriate.

Soaring to New Heights is scheduled from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, in Freeborn Hall.

Tickets: Only 500 are available, and they are being sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, through May 5 or until sold out. None will be sold at the door. Tickets are available by departmental recharge (by email), online (for individuals) and in person at the campus ticket office. More information.

‘New but slightly used kidney’ doing its job

Good news from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where Mike Sheehan, director of Facilitiers Services in Student Housing, donated a kidney last week to his college buddy Brad Vernet.

“The surgeries went very well with Brad having an immediately positive response to his new but slightly used kidney,” Sheehan told Dateline UC Davis by email on April 14. “I was released yesterday and I’m doing well. Brad is expected to be released tomorrow.”

Read the background and see a photo of the kidney-mates.

Lowering the legal ‘tasting’ age to 18

A bill making its way through the state Assembly would set 18 as the legal drinking age, err, tasting age, for winemaking and brewing science students. They’d have to spit after tasting.

Right now, they can’t taste because they’re not 21. Which means they are held back in developing the sensory skills that are critical in the winemaking, brewing and food industries..

Professor Andrew Waterhouse, Department of Viticulture and Enology, said: “Our students need to start learning this skill here, with our guidance. And, they also have to get over the embarrassment of spitting — after every taste.”

Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro authored the legislation, Assembly Bill 1989, which has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations. Chesbro, a Democrat, represents California’s north coast, including Mendocino County and part of Sonoma County.

Chik Brenneman, UC Davis winemaker, said the bill “will allow students to move on to the sensory program a lot sooner, before they’ve finished most of their winemaking classes. Earlier sensory training will help them when they go to work in the industry.”

Read more.

Up for renewal: Supplemental pay for military duty

UC is proposing to extend a policy under which the university provides supplemental pay to eligible academic and staff employees when they go on active duty in the military.

In considering the extension to June 30, 2018, the Office of the President is asking for comment from the university community.

In drafting and revising the policy for renewal, officials did not alter the basic provision: Each eligible employee will receive supplemental payments equal to the difference between his or her base pay from the university and his or her military pay and allowances (provided, of course, that the total of military pay and allowances is less than the employee’s UC pay).

The payments continue until the employee completes his or her tour of active duty, until June 30, 2018, or until his or her date of separation from university appointment, whichever comes first.

In addition, UC continues to pay the employer’s share of costs for medical, dental, vision and life insurance premiums, for employees who are eligible for supplemental pay and for those who are not.

UC’s supplemental pay and benefits coverage is subject to a two-year lifetime limit, retroactive to Dec. 14, 2001, the date the policy took effect — in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Questions and comments on the policy revision and extension should be directed to Sandi Glithero by email no later than May 23.

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