Ticket sales begin Monday (March 12) for Soaring to New Heights, the Davis campus’s annual staff and faculty celebration of diversity. Only 500 tickets will be sold; they will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis 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.

Partners for Research

The Office of Research is inviting the campus research community to an event called Partners for Research, showcasing how the office is "transforming the way we support you."

The organizers said information will be presented on streamlined processes, and quick and easy ways to find funding sources and collaborators. At the same time, researchers will have the opportunity to meet staff members who deal with proposals, grants and regulations.

Partners for Research is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 22, in the Conference Center Ballroom. Refreshments will be served. More information, including the program, exhibitors and a link for RSVPs.

Student room reservation fee suspended

Assistant Vice Chancellor Bob Segar announced March 8 that a newly proposed $10 room reservation fee for students had been suspended.

In a statement, Segar said Conference and Event Services estimated $28,000 in revenue from the fee, to go toward the unit's overall budget reduction of $497,000.

"Having been made aware of the effect that this fee will have on study groups led by TAs and events hosted by student organizations, we will suspend the fee while a representative group of students is convened to consider this matter," Segar said.

Read his complete statement.

Robotics competition next week

The Sacramento Regional FIRST Robotics competition returns to UC Davis next week, Thursday through Saturday, March 15-17: three days of intense mechanical competition among high school teams from around the region and across the country.

This year’s challenge is “Rebound Rumble,” with the teams directing their robots to shoot basketballs in hoops at different heights.

Team 1648 (Citrus Circuits from Davis) is back this year, after having emerged from last year's event as a first-time qualifier for the national competition, and subsequently going to that event in Atlanta.

The regional event in The Pavilion at the ARC is free and open to the public. More information, including the schedule.

Registration continues for staff town hall

Registration continues for the staff town hall on Thursday, March 22, with the chancellor and provost. The town hall is scheduled from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Activities and Recreation Center Ballroom, and also will be streamed live on the Web (look for the link on the UC Davis home page, the day of the town hall).

"This meeting is to provide staff with an opportunity to ask questions, express concerns and provide feedback about the campus," reads the invitation from Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter.

People wishing to attend are asked to register by next Friday, March 16, via the UC Learning Center (search for "staff town hall"). Release time with supervisor approval is appropriate.

2012 olive oils hit the shelves

The Olive Center’s 2012 olive oils are here! The Silo and Gunrock extra-virgin blends are available at the main UC Davis Store in the Memorial Union, plus these other UC Davis Stores: South Silo, Veterinary (Medical Science Building 1B) and Pro Shop (Activities and Recreation Center) on the main campus, Downtown (630 Second St., at F Street) and Sacramento (2270 Stockton Blvd.).

Passport Day at the ARC Business Center

Campus Recreation is celebrating Passport Day in the U.S.A. at the ARC Business Center, where passport services are available year-round.

Passport Day in the U.S.A., designated by the Department of State, is Saturday (March 10). "This event is a national outreach event to inform the public about changes to U.S. travel document requirements, and offer passport information," according to a news release from Campus Rec.

The Business Center, on the first floor of the Activities and Recreation Center, will have extended hours on Passport Day in the U.S.A., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mini-Medical School in Spanish

The UC Davis Health System is taking sign-ups for its fifth annual Spanish Mini-Medical School, scheduled for Saturday, April 7, on the Sacramento campus.

The one-day school, for middle-aged and older adults, along with caregivers, is unique in the nation in addressing participants in their native language. The organizers said this year’s topics will include depression, organ transplantation and strategies to maintain the brain.

Attendance is limited to 100 people; preregistration is required, though other people will be admitted at the door if there is room, the organizers said. To register in Spanish or English, call (916) 734-5243.

Read the complete news release.