Focus
Global warming is "the greatest environmental challenge the world has ever faced."
—Severin Borenstein, director, UC Energy Institute
UC tackling global warming – key issue for California’s future
California gained international attention recently when Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature adopted landmark legislation calling for a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in California by the year 2020.
The University of California will play a large role in helping the state reach that goal. UC has long been involved in studying climate change and exploring ways to curb global warming, and today the university is home to many of the world’s top experts on greenhouse gases and environmental sustainability.
UC Irvine and UC San Diego are home to Nobel Prize-winning scientists responsible for discovering that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) damage the ozone layer. UCLA researchers are working with private industry to develop hydrogen-based transportation alternatives. The San Diego Supercomputer Center and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are bringing their high-powered number-crunching expertise to climate modeling. UC Berkeley research has concluded that reducing California greenhouse gas emissions can boost the state's economy and create thousands of new jobs.
And that’s just the beginning.
Learn more about UC research contributing to the understanding and control of global warming at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/everyday/globalwarming/.
Student mental health in spotlight
The Board of Regents in September received the report of an advisory group convened to review and make recommendations for improving mental health services to UC students. The advisory group’s plan would restore critical services lost to budget cuts, implement targeted intervention programs for the most vulnerable students, and put into place a comprehensive institutional approach to creating healthier learning environments.
Proposition 1D has impact for UC
Proposition 1D, the education bond measure on the November ballot, would provide UC with $345 million per year for the next two years for construction and renovation of facilities to address enrollment growth, seismic and life safety needs, and renewal of outdated infrastructure. The measure also would provide $200 million over the two-year period to expand UC's medical schools and enhance its telemedicine programs throughout the state.
For more information, including projects proposed to receive bond funding, lists of supporters and opponents, and ballot arguments for and against the bond, please visit http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/prop1d/.
Update on employee compensation and benefits
UC received some very welcome news over the summer with a final state budget that provided an overall 4% increase in salary funding for the next year – 1% more than the 3% expected under the budget compact with Gov. Schwarzenegger – which helps move UC toward the goal of achieving market-competitive salaries and benefits. At the same time, health care costs continue to rise steadily. Fortunately, through a lot of hard work and tough negotiating with medical plans, UC has been able to maintain access to a range of affordable health plans for employees – without reducing benefits. Additionally, UC's salary-based rate structure means that lower-paid employees will continue to pay lower monthly premiums. Read more at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/news/general/
employee_communications.pdf
Systemwide News
George F. Smoot
California shines in Nobel Prizes
California further cemented its reputation as a center of intellectual achievement and scientific contribution with the recent announcement of the 2006 Nobel Prizes.
George F. Smoot of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley won the Nobel Prize in physics. Smoot was recognized for his landmark research on the Big Bang theory and the origins of galaxies and stars.
Smoot shared the prize with John C. Mather of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center – who earned his Ph.D. at Berkeley. Andrew Z. Fire of Stanford – who attended Cal as an undergraduate – won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. And Stanford’s Roger Kornberg won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
University of California researchers have won 50 Nobel Prizes, including 18 since 1995.
What is it about the culture of California and its universities that leads to such honors? The San Francisco Chronicle wrote about it here. "This is an environment where people are constantly intellectually stimulated," President Dynes told the paper.
In brief...
Lasker Award winner Elizabeth Blackburn
- New honors in the UC community
- UC web site on diversity unveiled
- Compensation reforms move ahead; Regents expand public actions
- Regents vote to compete for Livermore Lab contract
- "Calisphere" web resource for educators launched
- Enhancing memory … the perils of multi-tasking … rice that withstands floods … and more! Read some of the latest UC research highlights
Dynes' Desk
Dynes' Desk is a way for anyone to email a comment, idea, or suggestion to President Dynes. While he is not able to respond personally in most instances, President Dynes does read each email submitted. In each edition of "Our University," he will respond to a couple of Dynes' Desk emails addressing issues of broad interest to the UC community.
Submit an email to Dynes' Desk
Comment:
President Dynes, I am highly worried about being accepted into a college of my choice. I am a senior in high school. I am very determined, and I will do whatever it takes to reach my goal of college…
Read the president's response...
Comment:
I am among the millions who just heard about the cooperative agreements between various hi-tech companies such as Google and Yahoo and the U of C regarding scanning of books for making them available digitally. Please do not allow any pressure group to reverse or slow down this initiative...
Read the president's response...
Profile
"What I like most about working at UCI is the gratification I receive by providing services that help meet the health care needs of our patients and their families"
Arturo Ochoa
Senior stores supervisor
Distribution services, UCI Medical Center
Art recently received a citation from the systemwide Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) for his outstanding leadership. A 20-year veteran of UC Irvine, Art was cited for his listening skills, ethics, and genuine concern for his staff. "Art’s approach to staff and his sense of humor are seen as calming and reassuring when things get hectic," said Stephanie-Jean Hinojosa of UCI facilities management, who presented the CUCSA award. "He is not bunkered in his office. He's out interacting with staff, and they notice."
Q
What do you do for the University?
A
My primary job duties involve working with all Medical Center departments, primarily Nursing, to provide required materials and services which enable them to support our patient care mission.
Q
What is the key to being a good manager?
A
Developing and maintaining open communications with staff and customers so they feel they can come to you with any issue they might have.
Q
Who has been most important in helping you develop your skills as a manager?
A
My first manager at UCI Medical Center, Mamdouh Awad, and my second and current management team, Fred Feezell and Kerby Mellott.
Q
What’s the most enjoyable part of your work day?
A
Any time we have solved a problem or done something for the customer or staff that makes their job easier.
Did You Know...
- UC campuses top comparable universities around the country in the percentage of low-income students they enroll. Nearly one-third of all UC undergraduates are eligible for federal Pell Grants.
- Roughly two-thirds of the medical students in California get their training at UC.
- Patents? We got patents. For 12 consecutive years, UC has been the leader among the nation's universities in developing new patents — 390 last year.
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