New rankings, one from Money magazine and the other published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, tout UC Davis’ affordability and research strength.

• Money magazine ranked UC Davis 17th in the magazine’s 2016 “Best Colleges,” released on Monday (July 11). The magazine ranked 705 colleges and universities on the basis of educational quality, affordability and graduates’ career earnings — and described UC Davis as “an affordable school that produces results.” Read more in this news release.

• PLOS ONE’s May edition carried a study by Robert Swihart and colleagues at Purdue University, ranking the faculty of the UC Davis Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology as No. 1 in the nation for research productivity and impact. “This recognition further reinforces UC Davis’ leading role as a premier institution for research and education in ecology and environmental sciences,” said Professor John Eadie, an avian ecologist and department chair. “My hope is that this will encourage the next generation of students to come to UC Davis to share and build on this richness of expertise.” Read more in this Egghead post.

We're an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University

UC Davis is officially an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University, a designation given by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities to acknowledge public research universities for their work with public and private sector partners in support of economic development through a variety of activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and work force development, and community development.  

“The entire campus community has been working with diligence and creativity in this arena for a number of years now, and it is extremely gratifying to have our efforts recognized in this way,” Acting Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter said.

Read the complete news release.

Explore 360 video at Strat Comm open house

The Office of Strategic Communications announced that it will hold open houses where writers, photographers and videographers, web designers and other team members will share how they are telling the UC Davis story in innovative and exciting new ways.

The first open house, Thursday, July 21, will explore the immersive technology of 360-degree video (also called virtual reality). Strategic Communications personnel will show examples of and talk about their work.

Strategic Communications “invites you to share your ideas with us about stories for 360 video and to connect with our team to talk about university communications.” The first 50 people to arrive will receive Google cardboard 360 video viewers.

The open house will be from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Mrak Hall basement, specifically Room 12, formerly occupied by the University Registrar. (Turn left upon exiting the elevator.)

UC Davis Extension information sessions

UC Davis Extension announced a series of information sessions about its professional education programs in such fields as accounting, fundraising and development, construction management, health informatics, paralegal studies and web development.

The free sessions, some of them in person and some online, are scheduled from Aug. 2 through Oct. 6. Instructors and other representatives will explain their programs and how they can help people advance their careers in particular fields, and discuss the job prospects in each of those fields.

Just for attending, you’ll receive a $100 discount on your first UC Davis Extension course. Here is the schedule of information sessions, by topic:

• Accounting — 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 (in person)
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• Autism Education — 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 (webinar)
• Business Analysis — 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 (in person)
• Construction Management — 11 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Aug. 17 (webinar), and 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 (in person)
• Fundraising and Development — 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2 (in person), and noon-1 p.m. Aug. 3 (webinar)
• Health Informatics and Health Care Analytics — 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 (webinar)
• Human Resources Development and Labor-Management Relations — 4-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18 (webinar)
• Land Use and Natural Resources — 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 (in person)
• Paralegal Studies — 6:15-7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 (in person)
• Personal Financial Planning — 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 (in person)
• Professional Coaching for Life and Work — 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 (in person), and 12:30-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 (webinar)
• Project Management — 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 (in person)
• Supervisory Skills and Management Development — 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 (webinar)
• Web Development — 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 (in person)
• Workplace Health and Safety — noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 (webinar)

More information on each program is available online. Click on any of the programs, and you’ll find an enrollment button. Space is limited.

The in-person sessions will be held at UC Davis Extension offices in the Sutter Square Galleria, 2901 K St., Sacramento (parking provided).

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