Turning UC’s finances around is “a work in progress,” President Mark G. Yudof said this week in ruling out a systemwide salary increase this fiscal year, 2012-13, for nonrepresented staff, including chancellors and other senior leadership.

He made the announcement with regret in a letter posted Feb. 19 in UC’s online newsroom.

After nearly $1 billion in state funding cuts since 2008, UC appears to be headed on the path to financial stability — but is not there yet, Yudof said. Measures that helped UC survive the last few budget cycles will continue, he said.

“I remain committed to implementing a systemwide salary program for staff as soon as the UC budget can support one,” he said.

Last year UC provided a general salary increase for nonrepresented employees last year, and, Yudof said, "it is my hope that we will be able to offer a salary-merit program for the 2013-14 fiscal year.”

“I am dedicated to doing everything we can to achieve this,” he added.

Staff Assembly puts bylaws revisions to a vote

A Staff Assembly election is under way through Friday, March 1, on revisions to the bylaws. Emails went out this week inviting staff members to record their votes on SmartSite.

Chair Rob Kerner described the changes as mostly technical, such as to flip-flop the names of the “board” and the “executive committee” to make the board the larger panel. The executive committee (including the chairs of all Staff Assembly subcommittees, along with Staff Assembly representatives to campus committees) would elect the executive committee (chair, vice chair, secretary, communications chair, membership chair and two members-at-large).

“We are trying to ensure the bylaws make sense based on our experience participating in Staff Assembly,” Kerner said. “Ultimately what we tried to do was eliminate things we thought did not belong in bylaws, but not change the work that Staff Assembly does.”

The Staff Assembly home page includes links for the existing bylaws, the proposed bylaws and a red-lined version of the changes — a PDF that shows the proposed additions in red and the proposed deletions in strikethrough red type. (Look for the link “Proposed Bylaws – Redlined” near the top of the page.)

When you are ready to vote, open your SmartSite account (or create one), click on the “SASurveySite” in the menu bar across the top of the page, then click “Polls” in the left-hand menu. The deadline is March 1.

Search on for next staff adviser to regents

They made sure the university understood the value of a traditional pension plan at a time when there was talk of shifting to a defined contribution plan. One of them served on the Study Group on UC Diversity, out of which came the climate survey that is now under way.

They are staff advisers to the Board of Regents, offering input to help shape policies and programs. They are nonvoting board members and serve on several board committees.

Now the search is on for the next adviser, one who is likely to be involved in talks about the university’s ongoing financial struggle and the move to a systemwide shared service center, UCPath. The term is two years, the first as staff adviser-designate, the second as staff adviser. Applications are due by Friday, March 1.

Read about the program’s history and what former advisers have to say about their experiences. And get the application details.

ASAP wants you to get a good night’s sleep

The Academic Staff and Assistance Program is rolling out UC Davis’ newest management program: Sleep Management, a brown-bag presentation for faculty and staff.

“Bring your lunch and relax as we discuss healthier ways to obtain a good night’s sleep,” the flier declares.

The facilitator, Christine Jerusik, a doctoral intern at ASAP, said the program will cover the basics needed to fight insomnia at night and feel more energized during the day, including:

• Habits that harm vs. habits that help
• Relaxation techniques
• Tips to increase energy during the day
• The psychoneurobiology of sleep

The free program is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in 126 Voorhies Hall. Questions? Contact ASAP’s Sharon Ree,(530) 752-2727 or slree@ucdavis.edu.

Queer resource guide in the works

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center announced that it is preparing a guide to queer resources on campus, and is asking faculty, staff and administrators who identify as LGBTQQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer, questioning, intersex or asexual) if they would like to be included.

If so, send your name, position and contact information to Chucha Marquez, jdmarquez@ucdavis.edu.

The resource guide, primarily targeted at undergraduates, is due out in spring quarter, and will be available, free of charge, at the LGBT Resource Center (in the Student Community Center).

Follow Dateline UC Davis on Twitter.