The campus is recruiting students, staff and faculty for the annual exterior lighting safety walk this Thursday night (Jan. 26). The organizers will assemble teams — comprising volunteers, police and electricians — to walk some of the campus’s most heavily traveled corridors, in particular, those connecting the core campus and residence halls.

Teams will document any lights that are not working properly or areas that could benefit from additional lighting.

“We’ve got over 18,000 exterior lights on campus, and our maintenance crews are appreciative when someone lets us know one isn’t working properly,” said Mike Fan, director of Utilities. “Every time we hold these walks, we get a lot of great input.”

That information leads to simple and quick bulb fixes, and helps in prioritizing bigger jobs, like last fall’s lighting improvement project on Storer Mall. Project manager George Stone has made the bold claim that “there will definitely not be any lighting complaints about Storer Mall at this upcoming walk.” Come on out and help confirm he is right!

Meet-up time for the safety walk is 5 p.m. at the flagpole on the Memorial Union’s South Patio. Each participating student will receive a Coffee House pizza voucher and a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Wear comfortable shoes. For more information, contact Joe Carbahal, superintendent, power and lights, 530-681-2241 or jcarbahal@ucdavis.edu; or Jeff Rott, security specialist, Police Department, 530-752-6589 or jhrott@ucdavis.edu.

All members of the campus community are encouraged to immediately report any lights that are malfunctioning, and any areas that might need better lighting. Call the Facilities Management Customer Support Center, 530-752-1655.

Open house on campus plan’s EIR

UC Davis hosts an open house Wednesday night (Jan. 25) to address the scope and content of the environmental impact report to be prepared for the campus’s new Long Range Development Plan.

The meeting will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Ballroom A at the Conference Center. Campus planners will be available to discuss the EIR process, and the university will accept written comments during the open house.

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the university has released a formal “Notice of Preparation” of the EIR, and that notice is available for review online and on paper. Comments are welcome until Feb. 17, providing more than the 30-day minimum public review period.

Health and Well-Being offers sleep class …

“Something Keeping You Awake?” Then come to this program where the goal is to send you home to a good night’s sleep. This free program is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, sponsored by the Staff and Faculty Health and Well-Being Program and the Academic and Staff Assistance Program, or ASAP.

Rachael Davenport, an ASAP intern who is completing her doctorate in clinical health psychology, will present an overview of the current literature on sleep, highlighting what happens to the mind and body during sleep, and discuss steps you can take to improve your sleep environment and the quality of your sleep — so that, hopefully, you can stop counting sheep.

“Something Keeping You Awake?” will be held in the Emergency Operations Center (in the Transportation and Parking Services Building). Registration can be arranged through the UC Learning Center (search for “awake”).

Questions? Contact Staff and Faculty Health and Well-Being by email or phone, 530-752-6051.

More Staff and Faculty Health and Well-Being offerings:

• Mindfulness Meditation — This free class for beginner and advanced meditators will meet on four consecutive Tuesdays, Jan. 31 to Feb. 21, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. Register through the UC Learning Center (search for “Mindfulness Meditation”). You should register for all four sessions, even if you cannot make every class.
• Lunchtime Gentle Yoga — A “relaxing series” catering to all levels and abilities. This free class filled up quickly, so the Staff and Faculty Health and Well-Being Program arranged for a second section, 1:10 to 2 p.m. It began last week and continues for three more Wednesdays, Jan. 26, and Feb. 1 and 8, in the Community Education Room at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. Bring a yoga mat, blanket or towel, and dress comfortably. Send an email to wellbeing@ucdavis.edu to inquire about joining the class.

ADMAN Conference: March 1

From new systems to new buildings, change — and how we deal with it — is the overarching theme for this year’s ADMAN Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, March 1.

The Administrative Management Group, or ADMAN, presents the conference annually to address current topics of interest, find ways to improve and simplify business operations at all levels, promote professional growth, and encourage work-life enrichment through training and understanding.

The organizers announced the conference theme for 2017 as “Finding Joy Amid Change.” The program will include a keynote by Britt Andreatta, author, consultant and leadership coach, sharing the latest discoveries about the brain, and how to harness human biology to reduce resistance to change and change fatigue. Other speakers and sessions will focus on the many changes underway or coming to UC Davis.

ADMAN Conference registration will open Monday, Feb. 6. The conference is open to all staff of any level — and this year, the organizers said, a limited number of scholarships are available, in response to feedback that departmental funding constraints kept some people from attending. If your supervisor concurs, apply for a scholarship here.

Held at the Conference Center, the program will start with breakfast and registration at 7:30 a.m., and run until 4:30 p.m. Co-sponsors: Staff Development and Professional Services, Office of Campus Community Relations, and Reprographics.

More information.

Volunteers needed for tech-topic focus groups

IET Client Services is seeking staff volunteers to participate in tech-topic focus groups from noon to 1 p.m. the next two Fridays, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3. Lunch and prize drawings are included, the organizers said.

If you’re interested, please fill out this survey. Each group can accommodate six to eight people, and, as of this morning (Jan. 24), a few spots remained in each group. Questions? Send an email to itsm@ucdavis.edu.

Application period opens for staff advisor to regents

The application period opened Monday (Jan. 23) for staff advisor to the Board of Regents.

Appointees serve for two years, in staggered terms. In your first year, you are the staff advisor designate, working with the staff advisor. In your second year, you move up to staff advisor.

Staff across the UC system who are interested in public policy, advocacy and the future direction of the university are encouraged to apply. The application period runs through March 10.

Staff advisors bring the employee voice and perspective to Board of Regents deliberations and to decision-makers at the Office of the President. Staff advisors participate in open sessions and designated committees of the board. 

Eligibility extends to all staff or non-Academic Senate academic employees, represented or nonrepresented, who have at least five years of UC service.

Look for the “Apply Now!” link and more information on the Staff Advisors to the Regents website.

Read more on UCnet.

Picnic Day board seeks exhibit applications

The Picnic Day board announced that the exhibit application form for next year’s event is ready and waiting for departments and department-affiliated organizations wishing to participate. Here’s the link.

“Growing Together” is the theme for 103rd Picnic Day, to be held Saturday, April 22. More information.

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