June 2020 News Archive

Merrill College: Embracing individuality and cultural identities

Merrill College values diversity, inclusion, and experiential

Ahyesha Russell: The road to success

Ahyesha Russell (Merrill ’20, technology and information management) is headed to a well-paid job with Capgemini in Seattle as a technical consultant—something she hadn't thought was possible in her wildest dreams.

Three interdisciplinary projects receive seed funding from UCSC Foundation

Three interdisciplinary projects have received seed funding from the UC Santa Cruz Foundation following a campuswide call for proposals issued by the Office of Research.

Campus budget update

As we near the end of the fiscal year, I want to update you on what we know at this time about the University of California system and the UC Santa Cruz campus budget outlooks and what that means for our faculty and staff.

UCSC / METRO Update

We are pleased to announce that an extension of the service agreement between UCSC and METRO has been reached.

Wildfire near Wilder Ranch

Campus officials are monitoring a grassfire near Wilder Ranch.

UCSC collaborates with Santa Cruz Shakespeare for virtual Shakespeare Summer Series

The Humanities Institute and Shakespeare Workshop at UC Santa Cruz are joining forces with Santa Cruz Shakespeare to present their first virtual Shakespeare Summer

Seymour Center director to retire

During Julie Barrett Heffington’s 21-year term as director, the center has established widely appreciated public programs and served nearly 1.5 million

Announcing the newest members of the Staff Advisory Board

The Staff Advisory Board is delighted to report a record-setting election! Not only did we have the largest pool of nominees in recent history, but we had more than 450 people cast votes, more than doubling last year's election participation.

Hellman Fellows Program and UC announce $125 million commitment to faculty research

The Hellman Fellows Program and the University of California announced a plan to permanently support the Hellman Fellows Program on all 10 campuses in the UC system.

Michael Soulé, father of conservation biology, dies at 84

Michael Soulé, a professor emeritus of environmental studies at UC Santa Cruz who was widely considered the "father of conservation biology," died on June 17. He was

California Whistleblower Protection Act, Annual Notice

The University of California is committed to maintaining the highest standards of conduct in the fulfillment of its education, research, public service and patient-care mission.

Racist messages sent to campus email accounts

Campus leaders denounce the racist, hateful emails sent to some UC Santa Cruz email accounts this past weekend.

Evidence supports ‘hot start’ scenario and early ocean formation on Pluto

A new study suggests that Pluto and other large Kuiper belt objects started out with liquid oceans which have been slowly freezing over

A new challenge for engineering students’ capstone projects—COVID-19

Engineering students always face obstacles in completing their senior capstone projects, but the pandemic created unique challenges for this year’s

On-site Employees Required to Participate in COVID-19 Daily Symptom Check

As part of our continued campus COVID-19 operational in-person resumption activities and in alignment with University of California Consensus Standards for Operation and other state and county guidance, UC Santa Cruz will provide a mechanism for daily COVID-19 symptom screening for all employees who will be working on-site at a UCSC owned or leased property.

Raising a glass (and funds) for research

The father and uncle of the virologist Rebecca DuBois, UC Santa Cruz Cruz associate professor of biomolecular engineering, are honoring and helping to fund her research through sales

Raising a glass (and funds) for research

The father and uncle of the virologist Rebecca DuBois, UC Santa Cruz Cruz associate professor of biomolecular engineering, are honoring and helping to fund her research through sales

DACA Decision and Our Ongoing Commitment to Our Undocumented Community

Today, the Supreme Court ruled not to rescind protections for nearly 700,000 people under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. This decision reflects the hard work and dedication of so many people, and we are proud that the University of California led the fight to preserve this crucial policy.

Parking Permit Requirement and Renewal/Application Update

Beginning July 1, 2020, all parking on campus will require the display of an appropriate, valid permit or placard, or a virtual permit payment.

New Dean of Humanities, best wishes to Tyler Stovall, interim dean named

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jasmine Alinder as dean of our Humanities Division. Alinder will begin Aug. 15.

Planning for Academic Year 2020–2021

I write to update you about our plans to welcome students back to the campus for fall, as county and state public health guidelines permit. Through all of our planning efforts, our goals are to strengthen our community connections, prioritize public health and wellbeing, promote equitable access to education, and commit to high quality instruction and student support.

In Memoriam: Allison Endert

Steck Award recipient helps discover protein involved with circadian clock timing

Afred Freeberg assisted the Partch lab in studying the molecular basis for circadian rhythms - biological processes that occur naturally in line with the Earth’s 24-hour daily rotation

Building bridges out of prison walls

Student Alyssa Tamboura began a student-run, volunteer program called Walls to Bridges that mediates meetings between those jailed and their families as a way to work their way

Springer Nature open access agreement and Elsevier update

In the midst of what have been difficult times, I am pleased to share some very good news. The University of California has reached a transformative open access agreement with Springer Nature, the world’s second-largest academic publisher.

Campus to celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

UCSC’s SocDoc graduate documentary films to be screened online June 15 to August 31

UC Santa Cruz will present the premiere of thesis films by nine graduating M.F.A. students in the field of social documentation this year—in a special online presentation from

A commencement like no other at UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz students, faculty, and staff couldn't gather in mass on campus for this year's commencement celebrations. But they still managed to celebrate their achievement and mark

Committee on Teaching recognizes innovative, dedicated instructors

The UC Santa Cruz Committee on Teaching has announced the eight recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award.

In Memoriam: Maria Kerschen (1955–2020)

Maria Kerschen, who retired as assistant dean of planning and resource management from the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences, passed away on May 22 in Eugene,

Seymour Center taking a fresh look at visitor experience

The center was already planning a refresh this year. Now, in the midst of a global pandemic, the center is set to answer even bigger

SAB Elections Open

We are pleased to announce the elections for next year's Staff Advisory Board. There are currently 4 openings for next year, and we have an excellent slate of candidates to pick from.

Announcing the appointment of Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Lori Kletzer as Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. She has served UC Santa Cruz as the interim Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor since July 2019.

Announcing the appointment of Vice Chancellor University Relations

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Delos Reyes Davis as Vice Chancellor for University Relations, effective July 13.

Campus Utility Power Service Interruption Announcement

In an effort to reduce the campus’s carbon footprint, a two-megawatt solar parking canopy will be built at the East Remote Parking Lot.

Anti-Racism and Equity in Academia

Today, many in academia will be taking time to stop and reflect on the structural inequities in our country and within academia led by #Strike4BlackLives, #ShutDownSTEM, and #ShutDownAcademia. In particular, this is a call for the academic community as knowledge producers and as educators to take seriously our ethical obligation to eradicate anti-Black racism and discrimination.

Small fire in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire that is burning in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, just south of Felton.

THI presents acclaimed writer Pico Iyer in conversation with history professor Alan Christy

The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz and Bookshop Santa Cruz will present an online event featuring bestselling author Pico Iyer in conversation with UCSC history professor

A sporting new look for the Banana Slug

Athletics and Recreation has just revealed a brand-new riff on the Sammy Slug character, with a sleek and immediately recognizable design that is meant to evoke the department’s

Statement on deeply troubling social media posts

UC Santa Cruz is aware of the deeply troubling social media allegations against the Sigma Pi fraternity, its members, and other students. As soon as the posts came to light, they were immediately referred to the campus Title IX Office and Dean of Students Office for review.

COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Planning Update

The following serves as an update on the planning approach for the resumption of in-person operations at the residential campus, Westside Research Park, Coastal Science Campus, and the Scotts Valley Center.

Social Sciences recognizes students amid unprecedented times

The Social Sciences Division announced the recipients of its annual student achievement

Royal Geographical Society publishes special COVID-19 issue

A virtual special issue of Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers features Politics Professor Matt Sparke's article, "Contextualizing Coronavirus Geographically," and provides free access to additional articles

UC COVID-19 seed funding supports UCSC coronavirus genome browser

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute’s Genome Browser Team has received UC seed funding for its work on the UCSC Genome Browser for

Reminder: Nominations for UC Santa Cruz’s Outstanding Staff Award

The submission deadline is Monday, June 8, 2020.

Historian Greg O’Malley awarded ACLS grant to expand Intra-American Slave Trade Database

UC Santa Cruz associate history professor Gregory O’Malley has received a 2020 Digital Extension Grant from The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) to expand coverage of the

Campus, Santa Cruz Community Health unite to test underserved community members

As news outlets published stories about celebrities and athletes unnecessarily getting tested for COVID-19, UC Santa Cruz scientists and staff saw an opportunity to provide fast testing for

Tomorrow—Chancellor and Senior Leadership Forum

The SAB wanted to send a quick reminder about tomorrow's Chancellor and Senior Leadership Forum.

Give revolution a chance

History of Consciousness Professor Massimiliano Tomba's prestigious Princeton University fellowship will enable him to spend the next year advancing his reinterpretation of the concept of

New method predicts spin dynamics of materials for quantum computing

A universal first-principles approach will accelerate the identification and design of materials for quantum information science and other spintronics

NOAA funds new Cooperative Institute for Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Systems

CIMEAS supports the ongoing collaboration between UC Santa Cruz and the National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science

UCSC poet, lecturer, and alumnus Gary Young receives Dizikes Teaching Award in Humanities

Literature Department lecturer Gary Young has been selected as the 2019-20 recipient of the John Dizikes Teaching Award in

Results from COVID-19 employee experiences survey

UC Santa Cruz has received the results of the COVID-19 experiences survey that was administered in April.

Alumna Kathy Sullivan embarks on another first, this time to the ocean’s depths

The first American woman to walk in space, Sullivan is now aiming to be the first woman to visit the deepest spot in the

Joaquin Sapien: Holding power accountable

Monica Estrada Arias

Monica Estrada Arias never met the young man. An activist, he was killed during the 2019 protests in Chile. Yet, as part of a team of UC Santa

Two vital buffers against climate change are just offshore

A new study underscores the need to conserve and restore mangroves and coral reefs for coastal

SAB Solidarity; Black Lives Matter

The SAB is saddened and angered by the murder of George Floyd and the unfolding violence against people demanding justice; with disproportionate harm targeting folks of color. We stand in support of all the community members of color at UCSC, and particularly our ABC identifying staff, students, and faculty.

Maia Dupuis

Maia Dupuis started out focusing on computer science but added game design because of her interest in combining the creativity of arts with

Detection of Crab Nebula shows viability of innovative gamma-ray telescope

A new prototype telescope opens doors for future discoveries at the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope

New optical technique provides more efficient probe of nanomagnet dynamics

Data storage devices and other emerging technologies use magnetic elements smaller than 100 nanometers, but studying their magnetization dynamics can be a

Community conversation on celebrating self

Join us this Friday, June 5 for a conversation around self-care, and managing the challenges of Covid-19.