A steering committee announced the formation of a Women in Technology group for the Davis campus and UC Davis Health.

The volunteer committee members, who work in information technology at UC Davis and UC Davis Health, said they drew inspiration from the popularity of the first-ever “Women in IT” track at the annual UC Computing Services Conference (the track was part of the conference held Aug. 13-15 at UC Davis) and the development of Women in Technology (WIT) groups at other UC campuses.

Committee members said the primary goal of the local WIT is to support the empowerment of women pursuing careers in IT at UC Davis-UC Davis Health. “We hope the WIT group will guide women to achieve success while working in IT,” states the group’s draft charter.

An email announcement stated: “Although the focus is women in technology, men are also invited and encouraged to join us and be our allies/partners.”

STEERING COMMITTEE

Molly Greek, director, Enterprise Applications, UC Davis Health

Vivian Khem, manager, Departmental Systems, UC Davis Health

Emily Marwedel, computer resource specialist, UC Davis

Leslie Olsen, supervisor, Education and Systems Support, Administrative IT-Client Services, UC Davis

Barbara Stanton, director, Business Operations, UC Davis Health

The UC Davis-UC Davis Health WIT group will meet every other month for networking, training and guest speakers; to share resources, identify campus partnerships and outreach opportunities; promote a diverse and inclusive work space; and to help build a collaborative community within the UC IT field/work force. 

Other goals include: build working relationships on campus, engage in professional growth and skill-sharing opportunities, develop mentoring opportunities for employees and students, share resources and help others navigate a complex work environment, develop leadership skills, and help create a pipeline for students to enter IT at UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The WIT group’s first meeting is scheduled as a brown bag — bring your own lunch — from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, on the Davis campus. Interested in attending? Please contact any of the steering committee members, or send an email to Leslie Ramer, to receive an invitation that will include the meeting location. Also contact Ramer if you cannot attend the first meeting but are interested in receiving further invitations via an email list. The group plans to rotate its meetings each time between Davis and Sacramento. People unable to attend will be provided a call-in number.

Policy reminder on political activity

With the Nov. 6 general election just around the corner, the UC Davis Office of Government and Community Relations wants to remind staff and faculty about the University of California’s policy on political activities.



UC staff and faculty are encouraged, as individual citizens, to be engaged and politically active if they so desire. However, such participation and activities cannot be done on behalf of the university nor during working hours. Wearing campaign buttons or political message T-shirts are generally permissible provided that employees don’t have direct, constant and ongoing contact with the general public while wearing these items. The key is to avoid any improper inference that the University endorses/opposes a particular candidate or initiative/proposition.  Click here to learn more about legal guidelines for UC participation in ballot campaigns and political activity.

UC policy prohibits the use of university resources, staffing or funding for activities that might reasonably be viewed as partisan or political in nature.

Examples of university resources that may not be used include, but are not limited to, the use of:

• University telephones or email
• Letterhead or other university-printed materials
• University-linked social media and-or websites
• Wearing UC Davis name badge when attending political events or activities

People who improperly use university resources may be subject to disciplinary actions.

If you have questions, or are not sure about restrictions on political activities within the workplace, please contact Government and Community Relations staff by email or phone, 530-752-9795.

Free e-waste drop-off event

Acceptable items: nonfunctioning, university-owned desktop or smaller items such as computers (desktop and laptop) and monitors; keyboards and mice; phones and personal digital assistants; printers and fax machines; projectors, televisions and VCR-DVD players; and UPS units (uninterrupted power supply, with batteries removed).

Notes: Per Policy and Procedure Manual 310-22, departments are required to wipe all hard drives of sensitive information prior to drop-off. Please remove items from original packaging or small boxes.

Aggie Surplus also has a list of what’s NOT — and options for disposal of those items:

• Contact Aggie Surplus about wood (including wood-encased speakers), household appliances (including vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, washers, dryers and water heaters) and anything with a UC Davis property sticker.
• Leave toner cartridges and household batteries with your outgoing mail, for pickup.
• Contact Environmental Health and Safety Services for lamps/light bulbs; items that require decommissioning (e.g., containing oil or refrigerant, such as refrigerators and air conditioners), or items that contain or once contained other hazardous waste; UPS batteries; pressurized containers such as fire extinguishers and propane tanks; all mercury-containing devices; and all hazardous waste, including paint, pesticides and oil.

What about “techno trash” — CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes? They go in the regular trash, according to Aggie Surplus.

Questions? Contact Aggie Surplus by email or phone, 530-752-2145. The Hopkins Services Complex is at 615 Hopkins Road, across from the University Airport. Take Hutchison Drive west from Highway 113, turn left on Hopkins Road and right on Apiary Drive. Turn left at the second driveway.

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