Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for all the work you’ve done to get fall quarter off to a great start! This summer, UC Davis employees have been sprucing, polishing and updating campus in myriad ways to get us ready for fall. It’s understandable if you might have missed some of these updates.

To bring you up to speed, we’re sharing a two-minute highlight reel — and seven key reminders below to get you all caught up. If you’d like to scroll for a few more minutes, you’ll find even more useful tips, campus stats and Aggie benefits below.

Clare Shinnerl

FOA Vice Chancellor

P.S. As always, we welcome your feedback on this newsletter, so we can better meet your needs.

/campus updates

• 1. Try renting an e-bike or scooter for a quick trip - New short-term rentals of electric scooters and bikes make it easy to glide across campus for a meeting, lunch or class — while following campus safety rules and parking requirements. Get started with Spin using $10 promo code GoAggs2023.
• 2. Where to call for care to prevent a crisis - Help share a new phone number (530-754-3434) that connects any campus caller with Health 34’s rapid response team from the UC Davis Fire Department, who will respond around-the-clock to minor medical issues, mental health and crisis prevention. What to expect when you call Health 34.
• 3. Comment on how UC Davis can go fossil-free - A draft version of the UC Davis Fossil Fuel Free Pathway Plan was released this summer, outlining how to eliminate 95% of fossil fuel use from university operations. Read the plan and submit your comments through Oct. 27.
• 4. Take five to understand our budget situation - This summer, campus leaders analyzed thousands of ideas submitted by faculty, academics and staff members to solve long-term university budget problems, and the provost shared a 5-minute video to explain the core funds deficit. Watch to understand the UC Davis budget.
• 5. Explore Native American art in new location - The new location of the Gorman Museum opened last weekend, dramatically expanding the footprint of contemporary Native American art on campus, with ongoing exhibits and new collections. Visit the museum Wednesday through Sunday.
• 6. Use AggiePark to pay for daily parking - Thousands of students and employees already use AggiePark via the AMP Park app to pay for daily parking on campus, and starting next week ParkMobile will no longer be an option. Catch up with AMP Park instructions and FAQs.
• 7. Understand maintenance request delays - Find out how the Facilities Management team prioritizes repairs and maintenance from work orders — including data analysis to shorten response times and even anticipate the need to change lightbulbs. Read more.

/work tips

• Stay current with vaccine policy - Consistent with last year, UC vaccine policy requires UC Davis employees (and students) get vaccinated for both flu and COVID-19 by Dec. 1 (Nov. 1 for UC Davis Health) or opt out with a declination form. Get directions for uploading your vaccine information or declination form.
• Update your driver safety training - All employees who drive on university business must complete safe driver training online, every three years. Check the policy, assign the training to subordinates, or take the 20-minute module.
• Be aware of Zoom AI features - UC employees are urged to be cautious about new artificial intelligence features when joining Zoom meetings hosted externally — including leaving events that use the new “Meeting Summary” tool. Read more about Zoom AI tools and UC best practices.
• Update your emergency contact info - While all @ucdavis.edu email addresses receive emergency warnings sent by campus, now is a good time to update your info in the system with additional contact information, specific buildings and other UC Davis locations around the state. Log in to update now, before the Oct. 25 test of WarnMe.
• Prepare for Aggie Enterprise launch - Aggie Enterprise is the new financial, planning and business operations system going live in January, so now is a good time to access training and hands-on experience opportunities with the system. Explore the new Aggie Enterprise website.
• Get purchasing updates - Meet campus vendors and learn how to use the new Aggie Enterprise catalog at the upcoming Supplier Showcase, geared for employees involved in purchasing at UC Davis. Find out more about the Oct. 26 event.

/campus stats

• Recognized as top employer for inclusivity - UC Davis has once again been named by Forbes among “America’s Best Employers” for diversity and for women — and now you can share the word with Zoom backgrounds and email signatures. Find out more and get the toolkit.
• No. 6 among top public universities - U.S. News and World Report published its 2024 Best Colleges rankings, moving UC Davis up to sixth place among the nation’s top public universities, after multiple years in the top 10. See more ranking details.
• New campus housing met growth goals - Construction on Orchard Park was completed in time to welcome students and their families to 1,500 new beds on campus — and surpassing the student housing milestone UC Davis agreed to with the city of Davis. Peek inside Orchard Park.
• Celebrate gold sustainability rating - UC Davis earned its third gold STARS rating, a recognition of its comprehensive sustainability efforts and achievements. Read more and see the full STARS report.
• Explore campus service ratings - An interactive dashboard displays scores from the Academic and Staff Satisfaction Survey, after employees offered feedback on campus service lines earlier this year. Check scores for the services you use most.
• Investing in sustainable infrastructure - UC Davis leaders endorsed an investment of over $55 million to the next phase of the Big Shift, a massive project shifting the campus away from a fossil fuel-dependent heating system. Find out about this project’s impact on decarbonization efforts.

/more benefits

• Shop plants perfect for our region - Tomorrow is the first of three plant sales this fall from the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, for your chance to buy attractive, low-water plants. Get fall plant sale details.
• Sign up for Craft Center classes - Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. is when non-students can register for a class this quarter at the Craft Center. Follow directions for online registration and browse available classes.
• Stay fit with free classes - Faculty, academics and staff are invited to drop in for free Active Aggies fitness classes, presented by UC Living Fit Forever instructors at various locations on the Davis campus. Make plans for pilates, kickboxing, yoga, strength training and more.
• Climbing wall now free for ARC members - Beginning this week, any visitor to the ARC can now use the rock wall for free — along with climbing shoes, harnesses and belay devices. Start climbing.
• Learn about new retirement program enhancements - UC employees have a new Roth after-tax contribution option for 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans. Find the details.
• Practice mindfulness - Attend sessions for a mindful pause, mindfulness meditation or heartfulness meditation offered weekly throughout the quarter. Find times and other mindfulness resources.
• Buy local produce on campus - The UC Davis Farmers Market is starting up again next week on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., outside the Student Community Center. Get market details.
• Spend time outside - Get outside to connect with the healing power of nature, through a slate of upcoming events on campus including digging into the Good Life Garden. Find more Nature Rx events on campus.
• Get discounted Mondavi tickets - Faculty, academics, staff and retirees are invited to enjoy the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 19, through the $10 Well-being Ticket Deal in October. Buy your tickets next week.
• Take a creative break - Drop by the Manetti Shrem Museum for new fall exhibits featuring artists dedicated to changing the world, including Deborah Butterfield and Malaquias Montoya. Visit the museum Thursday through Monday, starting Oct. 1.