March 2021
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Update on COVID-19 vaccination distribution
The COVID-19 vaccination distribution model continues to shift throughout the state as Blue Shield implements the new statewide framework
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A little squid and its glowing bacteria yield new clues to symbiotic relationships
A small molecule produced by bioluminescent bacteria as they colonize the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid may play a key role in establishing the symbiosis.
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Sea otters maintain remnants of healthy kelp forest amid sea urchin barrens
While kelp forests have declined dramatically along the California coast, sea otters in Monterey Bay are maintaining patches of healthy kelp forest, according to a new study.
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Return to Rat Island: Conservation strategy leads to ecosystem rebound
Hawadax Island’s birds and seashore ecosystem have returned to a natural balance after the removal of invasive rodents.
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Encouraging Students to Share their Experiences through SETS
The Committee on Teaching (COT) has teamed up with representatives from the Student Union, Online Education, and CITL to encourage students to share their experience in the classroom by filling out the Student Experience of Teaching Surveys (SETS) at the end of each quarter.
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Announcing New Undocumented Student Support Initiative
I am pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative, an 18-month campus program to enhance structural supports for undocumented students to thrive on campus and beyond, and to strengthen relationships between undocumented students, staff, and faculty at UC Santa Cruz.
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Focused on student success and equity, UC Santa Cruz seeks reapproval to build more housing and child-care facilities
In an effort to provide students with more housing security amid an unrelenting housing crisis, UC Santa Cruz will seek reapproval for a project that will significantly increase the number of current students who are able to live on campus.
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The collapse of Northern California kelp forests will be hard to reverse
Most of Northern California’s kelp forest ecosystem is gone, replaced by widespread ‘urchin barrens’ that may persist long into the future, according to a new study.
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More housing for our students, child-care for employees
Later this month, I will seek reapproval from the Board of Regents for a vitally important campus housing and child-care project. Student Housing West, with more than 3,000 beds, a new complex for students with families, and a child-care facility that will be open to all employees, is the largest stand-alone housing project our campus…
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Slugs roll up their sleeves to help make campus a COVID-19 success story
Low positivity rates, zero on-campus transmission, and fast testing turnaround times have made UC Santa Cruz a leader in efficient coronavirus response compared to its university counterparts.
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UCSC leads multicampus initiative on coastal resilience and climate adaptation
A UC-funded initiative will bring together researchers at the Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and San Diego campuses to address pressing issues for California’s coastal communities.
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Yuan Ping wins OpenEye award for outstanding junior faculty
The award from the American Chemical Society identifies junior stars in the area of computational chemistry.