April 2017 News Archive

Alumni Weekend 2017: Glorious weather, vibrant events bring Slugs home

Revelers took a Fun Run, got a crash course in activism, rekindled old friendships, let their hair down, and paid tribute to Sammy the Slug at UC Santa

Community and UCSC police town hall

Over the past several weeks, the UC Santa Cruz Police Department met with various student, staff, and faculty groups to hear and gather feedback regarding security and community concerns.

Cultivating potential: How UC Santa Cruz is helping undocumented students thrive

Thanks to more than a half-dozen programs, undocumented students on campus have been able to get support, assistance, and encouragement—and the campus benefits from nurturing their passion and

Ripples in cosmic web measured using rare double quasars

Astronomers have made the first measurements of small-scale ripples in the primeval hydrogen gas left over from the Big

UC entrepreneurs invited to meet with venture capitalists

UC entrepreneurs will meet with leading venture capitalists next month at a special lunch hosted by UC President Janet

Controlled burn at the Arboretum

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum is conducting a controlled agricultural burn today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Inspiring young students to branch into STEM

This spring, an enterprising group of Watsonville High School students put on lab coats and safety goggles and got a behind-the-scenes look at the labs of UC Santa

Sikina Jinnah named a 2017 Andrew Carnegie Fellow

Sikina Jinnah, associate professor of politics, was awarded a 2017 Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards available to scholars in the social sciences and

Social psychologist Phil Hammack studies well-being of LGBTQ youth

Phil Hammack is only partway through an ambitious study of the physical and psychological well-being of LGBTQ youth, and he is already surprised by his

From founding farmer to champion of the fair food movement

Oran Hesterman, author of Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All and president and founder of Fair Food Network, talks about his roots on the

Possible protest activities planned for May 1

UC Santa Cruz is anticipating potential protest activities on Monday, May 1. Organizers are calling for a range of actions on campus and in the nearby area. This is an advisory to be prepared and to stay informed.

Input sought on environmental review of proposed land-use change

Staff, faculty discount for Alumni Weekend keynote by Carmen Perez

ITS Security Alert: Email Scam from @lists.ucsc.edu - April 25

This morning many of you received an email scam asking you to click on a secure "staff enrollment portal" link to enroll your employment data.

Community Supported Agriculture season is about to begin

Join the campus’s 2017 Community Support Agriculture program and get a fresh-picked box of organic produce from the UCSC Farm each week--at a 5 percent discount if you

Lyme disease researchers seek consensus as number of cases grows

Reported cases of Lyme disease in the United States have tripled in the past 20

Pioneering biologist Robert L. Sinsheimer dies at age 97

Sinsheimer served as chancellor of UC Santa Cruz from 1977 to

Sad news regarding Chancellor Emeritus Robert Sinsheimer

It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Emeritus Robert Sinsheimer.

Students to consider sustainable funding model for intercollegiate athletics

The Office of Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports is proposing a $38.50 -per-quarter fee, which if approved would provide the NCAA Division III program with approximately $1.1 million

Planet hunting alumna Natalie Batalha among Time's 100 most influential people

Natalie Batalha, a NASA scientist who earned her Ph.D. in astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, has been named to Time magazine's annual list of the "100 most influential

Ninja Press to publish new book by award-winning UC Santa Cruz poet Gary Young

"In Japan" is the title of an elegant new collection of poems from UCSC humanities lecturer and alumnus Gary Young that will soon be published by Ninja Press.

UC launches climate video series featuring UCSC alumnus M. Sanjayan

Climate Lab is an innovative six-part video series on climate change solutions produced in partnership with

Planet hunting citizen scientists produce quick results for astronomers

The Exoplanet Explorer project led by UCSC astronomer Ian Crossfield got a big boost from a live television broadcast in Australia

In Memoriam: Karen Fry (1948–2017)

Karen Fry, a UCSC staff member for 29 years, passed away on April 2 in Paradise,

Nominations for Student Volunteer Center's annual service recognition awards

Students, faculty, and staff — have you been a helping hand this quarter through service work? See if you qualify for the Student Volunteer Center's Service Recognition Ceremony!

Star Party slated for Alumni Weekend

UC Observatories/Lick Observatory and the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics are joining forces to put on a Star Party, replete with jazz, informative talks from foremost experts on

Group looks at shifting culture to focus on accountability

The meeting, the latest event in the Beyond Compliance initiative, offered overviews of employment law and Title IX investigations, updates on policy revisions and education and training efforts, and previews into possible changes to policy and procedures.

Hearst Foundations grant supports UCSC Science Communication Program

Two-year grant will help fund instructional costs, multimedia training, and recruitment

Farm & Garden’s plant sale April 29-30 highlights 50th anniversary

The UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden’s annual Spring Plant Sale will have a 50th Anniversary flavor this year, featuring some of legendary gardener Alan Chadwick's favorite plants.

Undergrad wins prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Physics major Andrea Antoni has been named a 2017 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education

April 20 DUI checkpoint and law enforcement efforts

Members of the UC Santa Cruz community and campus neighbors, please be advised there is the potential for traffic disruptions and hazards during the afternoon of Thursday, April 20 because of the unsanctioned gathering known as “4–20”.

Draft sustainability plan open for feedback

The draft Campus Sustainability Plan is available for review and input. The deadline to submit feedback is April 30, 2017.

Staff Mentor Program 2017

Do you know an experienced staff member who would make a good mentor for a newer UCSC staff member?

Computer pioneer Harry Huskey dies at age 101

Harry Huskey, professor emeritus of computer science, worked on early computing systems and helped universities around the world establish computer science

Climate experts release latest science on sea level rise projections

A report led by UCSC geologist Gary Griggs addresses how much the ocean will rise along California's coast in coming

Film professor receives California Documentary Project grant from Cal Humanities

UC Santa Cruz associate professor of film and digital media John Jota Leaños is the recipient of a 2017 California Documentary Project grant from California

Five graduate student alumni return for awards

The five honorees will be presented with the first Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni Award and be part of panel discussions where they’ll share their stories on career and

Dancing for joy: Los Mejicas dance troupe provides a home away from home

For 45 years, the Los Mejicas folklorico dance troupe has connected students with their cultural traditions--and each

Start of our 2020 Long-Range Development Plan

We have had many reasons to celebrate recently—the naming of Rachel Carson College, a banner year in fundraising, our 50th anniversary.

Alumni Weekend 2017 promises learning, adventure, reconnection, and revelry

Returning Banana Slugs are in for three solid days of learning, adventure, and mind-expanding fun when they return for UC Santa Cruz’s annual Alumni Weekend festivities from April

SAB Spring Chancellor's Forum Tuesday, April 25, will be webcast only

All staff members are invited to participate in the Staff Advisory Board-sponsored Spring Forum with Chancellor George Blumenthal.

Pay for Performance -- Program Update

This is an update regarding the 2016/17 Pay for Performance Program. SHR and a cross-functional work team continue to work on changes designed to simplify and focus the program.

Theater arts professor Danny Scheie wins Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award

UC Santa Cruz professor of theater arts Danny Scheie has received a 2017 award from The San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, a non-profit organization dedicated to

Lick Observatory's summer series brings a wide variety of musicians and scientists to Mt. Hamilton

Lick's summer program features live music, evening lectures by world-renowned astronomers, and opportunities for the public to view celestial objects through two historic

Improving access to online library resources from off campus

The University Library and Information Technology Services (ITS) have teamed up to improve your access to online library resources from off campus.

Construction set for new Environmental Health and Safety facility

The nearly $20 million Environmental Health and Safety Facility, funded by the state through the UC Office of the President, will help ensure the campus continues to comply with state and federal regulations.

Social Sciences Professor Julie Guthman wins 2017 Guggenheim Fellowship

Julie Guthman, a professor of social sciences and a leading scholar on the history and geography of California agriculture, has been awarded a 2017 Guggenheim

Nominations for UC Santa Cruz's Outstanding Staff Award

This is a reminder that the deadline for Outstanding Staff Award nomination submissions is Friday, April 17, 2017.

Philosopher and three scientists to explore ethics and the language of conservation

The Institute for Humanities Research at UC Santa Cruz will present the inaugural event of its new research group, The Language of Conservation, on Friday afternoon, April 14,

A role model for girls who code

Regine De Guzman, a self-taught coding whiz, wants to close the Silicon Valley gender gap by encouraging girls to pursue tech careers. She will share her words of

Telling our stories, understanding each other

Dear World, an award-winning, international storytelling project, comes to the UC Santa Cruz campus starting on Thursday, April 13 and continuing through Friday, April

Bullying in the workplace

Abusive conduct and bullying in the workplace are completely unacceptable, and I am pleased to share that University of California President Janet Napolitano has issued guidelines regarding UC expectations.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

As all of you hopefully know, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Below is a letter from Kathleen Salvaty, UC’s Systemwide Title IX Coordinator, highlighting the Responsible Employee reporting obligation set forth in the UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. We found the letter informative and worth sharing.

ITS Announcement: Issues with eduroam

You may have noticed this week that your connection to eduroam wireless service has intermittently been disrupted. Thank you to those people who reported the problems!

Growing farmers and the food movement for 50 years

Fifty years after students transformed a brush-covered rocky hillside into a verdant organic garden, UC Santa Cruz is widely regarded as a trailblazing force in sustainable agriculture education

Students take lead on planning Sexual Assault Awareness Month events

The events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), hosted by several campus offices, include nationally acclaimed speakers, yoga, and art workshops, Title IX Office open houses, a community

Alumni to run for fun—and a good cause

UC Santa Cruz’s famous forests and meadows will be the venue for this beautiful and challenging 5K stomp across the campus in support of student scholarships on April

Beyond Compliance town hall on April 13

The event will provide the campus community with information on federal and state laws around personnel cases and privacy rights, proposed and completed reforms to campus policy, insight on Title IX investigations, and our shared responsibility to work toward building a safer community. Half of the evening will be devoted to hearing from attendees.

Three faculty members honored with Dickson Emeriti Professorships

Murray Baumgarten, professor of English & Comparative Literature, E.G. Crichton, professor of art, and Catherine Cooper, professor of psychology, were awarded Dickson Emeriti Professorships in recognition of

Tackling climate change of a different sort

The Office of the Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor is reconstituting the Campus Welfare Committee with a special focus on staff engagement, morales, and wellness.

Deer fawning season alert

Please be aware that spring is the prime birthing season for a wide variety of campus wildlife, including deer.

Alumni Weekend Teach-Ins 2017: stem cell research and standing up to "alternative facts"

This year’s Teach-In lecture series will include eye-opening presentations about the potentials of stem cell research and the role of the humanities in a ‘post-truth

Alums launch video game based on ancient Mesoamerican myth

"Ulama: Arena of the Gods," a collaboration from three Games and Playable Media alums, launched March 28 on the Steam platform.