The next brown bag update for the shared services project will focus on the IT component, officials said.

The meeting is scheduled for the noon hour Monday (March 26) in the Conference Center Ballroom (a change of location from a previous announcement). All are welcome.

The Shared Services Center officially launched Feb. 14, handling selected transactions in finance, payroll and human resources for administrative units.

Next comes information technology work, but later than expected, due to complexities revealed during data collection and analysis, project officials said.

“In the course of its comprehensive review, the team discovered that there are over 800 IT applications and services in use by the administrative units,” a Shared Services Center spokeswoman said.

The team completed an IT staffing inventory and catalog — and these data sets confirmed the intricacies and high level of decentralization that exist in the current service model.

“When the future state recommendations are approved, the SSC Program Management Office will begin planning the IT SSC implementation and will lead its recruitment efforts."

Windows computers need security patch

UC Davis’ IT security coordinator is urging all Windows computer users in the campus community to immediately apply the Microsoft MS12-020 security patch, released in mid-March.

In a message to the campus, Robert Ono wrote:

"The Microsoft MS12-020 security patch for Windows operating systems corrects a vulnerability that permits remote code execution — without authentication — on a computer that has Windows remote desktop protocol (RDP) services enabled. Exploit code for this vulnerability has been leaked to the Internet. This RDP vulnerability affects current versions of the Windows operating system.

"If you have questions regarding whether MS12-020 has been applied to your university computer, please consult your unit technical support staff. For your home computer, you can run Windows update to apply this security patch.

Read more from IET’s TechNews.

Reynoso report: First week of April

Cruz Reynoso, chair of the task force looking into the Nov. 18 events at UC Davis, is eying the release of the task force report the first week of April, he said in a March 20 letter to UC President Mark G. Yudof.

Reynoso, professor emeritus in the School of Law and a former associate justice of the state Supreme Cort, sent the letter in the wake of a March 16 hearing in Alameda County Superior Court, which is considering a police challenge to the report’s release.

“Considering the court's actions I am proposing to release the Task Force report the first week of April, subject to any further legal action,” Reynoso wrote to Yudof.

Going to press: Economic impact brochure, 2011-12 progress report

University Communications is taking orders for two new publications: an economic impact brochure and the 2011-12 progress report, with envelope.

These publications are useful companions for donor and dignitary visits, conferences, sending to peers, sharing with prospective faculty and staff, and for providing to constituents and stakeholders who are interested in UC Davis' work and impact.

To guarantee quantities and receive earliest delivery, University Communications is asking for preorders by 5 p.m. Wednesday (March 28), via this online site.

The estimated delivery date is April 6. University Communications will maintain the publications in stock for as long as they last. UComm also will provide them online as PDFs and e-books.

Questions should be directed to Angie Malloy, ammalloy@ucdavis.edu.

Student Disability Center closed next week

The Student Disability Center announced that it will closed next week, to allow for the center's move from the South Silo to the old Cowell Student Health Center, now known as the Cowell Building.

The closure will be during spring break: Monday through Friday, March 26 to 30. (March 30 is a university holiday: Cesar E. Chavez Day.)

Then, come 9 a.m. Monday, April 2, the first day of spring instruction, the Student Disability Center will be in its new home, in the midsection of the Cowell Building, west side (facing California Avenue).

The telephone numbers will remain the same:

• Voice — (530) 752-3184
• TTY — (530) 752-6833
• Fax — (530) 752-0161

The Cowell Building near the north edge of the campus already houses Occupational Health Services (in the midsection of the building, east side); and UC Davis Extension classrooms (in the building's south section).

Intercollegiate Athletics has already moved some offices into the Student Affairs Annex, behind the Cowell Building, and soon will move other offices into the two-story, north section of the main building.

‘International’ exchange for ages 12 to 17

UC Davis Extension announced an international exchange program of sorts for ages 12 to 17 this summer. Nobody will be coming to the United States, and no one will be traveling abroad.

Instead, the program for the children of foreign academics who are already here, and for local youths who would like to join with people in their same age group from around the world — learning and interacting with one another.

“We see this as a wonderful opportunity for the children of international scholars and faculty on campus to learn more about life in the United States, and for local teens to gain insight into other cultures and begin to develop as global citizens,” said Beth Greenwood, associate dean of UC Davis Extension’s Center for International Education.

The CIE’s Youth Summer Program comprises three courses, with all instruction in English:

• English and Culture — To build the confidence of non-native English speakers and provide them with the opportunity to experience California culture, via an assortment of field trips and other activities. July 16-Aug. 4 (three weeks).

• Science and Technology — For foreign and local youths. They will explore the latest technology and future technological possibilities, and visit a variety of science and technology-related sites that may include the Intel Computer Museum and a tour of Silicon Valley. July 23-28.

• College Preparation — Laying the foundation for navigating the college search and admission process. The students will get to know UC Davis, of course. But the course as planned also includes visits to UC Berkeley, Stanford and California State University, Sacramento. July 30-Aug. 4.

More information is available online. Or send an e-mail to youth@ucde.ucdavis.edu.

Training and development survey

UC Davis employees are being asked to indicate, via an online survey, their training and development needs.

Staff Development and Professional Services last conducted a survey like this two years ago, drawing some 800 responses. “The survey results were extremely useful in shaping our program,” a spokeswoman said. “We were very pleased to hear comments and ideas for improvement.”

The new survey should take no more than five minutes of your time, “to help us provide you with programs and resources that support your professional and personal development.”
The survey is open until April 6.

500 ticket limit for Soaring to New Heights

Five-hundred tickets — that's all there are for Soaring to New Heights, the Davis campus’s annual staff and faculty celebration of diversity. They are on sale now, at the Freeborn Hall ticket office, first-come, first-serve, through March 30 or until they are gone.

This year’s event, the 22nd annual, is scheduled from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, in Freeborn Hall. The event features an international buffet lunch, plus an information fair and entertainment, and the presentation of the Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Recognition Awards, and the Calvin E. Handy Leadership Award.

Ticket are $5 each, available from the campus ticket office at Freeborn Hall, in person or by telephone, (530) 752-1915.

Complete ticket information.