Digest: ✅ Staff perks + FOA's leadership in campus decisions

Dear Colleagues,

The UC Regents recently approved the next component of the Big Shift, an important step forward in our transition away from fossil fuels.

What stands out most to me is everything that goes into a decision like this.

Bringing an item forward through multiple levels of campus approvals and ultimately to the Regents takes an extraordinary amount of work. It means detailed financial models, careful documentation and time spent making sure every number, every assumption and every data point holds up.

Teams across Facilities Management, Design and Construction Management and Budget and Institutional Analysis worked through the details together, asking hard questions, pressure-testing ideas and looking for gaps.

Read the rest of Clare’s message.

Clare Shinnerl 
FOA Vice Chancellor

/to-do list

• ⚪ Review performance appraisal tips

• Find updated templates, guides and eLearning modules to answer your questions and improve your annual performance appraisal. Explore training resources.
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• ⚪ Add a new emergency contact

• UCPath now lets employees designate a contact to be notified if you are ever arrested or detained at work. See how to add this new contact.
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• ⚪ Plan around closures and detours

• Spring detours related to Big Shift construction have expanded this week, to include portions of Orchard Park Drive and Kleiber Hall Drive in addition to the existing closures along Sprocket Bikeway and California Avenue. See an interactive detour map and closure dates.

/perks

• 🌻  Explore a native plant garden

• Join a guided tour of the Mary Wattis Brown Garden to learn about California native plants and get ideas for water-wise gardening at home. Attend this Friday during lunchtime.
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• 🎷  Attend jazz concert at a discount

• Get discounted tickets to Coltrane100, a John Coltrane tribute, through the monthly employee well-being ticket deal. Secure your tickets for the April 16 event.
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• 📈  Get free investment guidance

• Attend the UC Retirement webinar "Insights for Millennials and Gen Z Millennials" to learn how to set and achieve financial goals through investing. Sign up for the April 16 event.
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• 👦  Bring kids to campus

• Employees are invited to bring children to work to enjoy open-house events and lottery activities like gymnastics, bee watching and bike maintenance. Register for Take Our Children to Work Day on April 26.
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• 🚲  Claim incentives before bike month

• Employees can get reimbursements of up to $400 for an e-bike, $300 for a bike or $150 for repairs and gear ahead of May is Bike Month. Learn how to redeem incentives. 

/features

Big step for Big Shift

The UC Board of Regents approved a $55 million component of Big Shift Phase 2, positioning UC Davis for a roughly 40% reduction in fossil fuel emissions once completed. Learn about how the university is funding this massive sustainable infrastructure project.

FOA employee wins UC staff award

Lina Layiktez, director of Conference and Event Services, was awarded the Council of UC Staff Assemblies' Alumni Award for 32 years of service dedicated to improving the employee experience. Read more about her advocacy for staff.

Learn how campus projects take shape

Employees are invited to a Design and Construction Management town hall to get updates on planning and construction efforts, capital funding context, and connect with the DCM team. Register for the April 29 event. 

/fyi

• ▶️  See why digital accessibility is critical

• Watch a short demonstration of a screen reader to learn more about digital accessibility best practices and why they matter, as we approach new digital accessibility requirements. Watch the video and see takeaways for FOA website editors.
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• 🏅  Celebrate UC Davis biking leadership

• UC Davis is now one of only two universities in the nation to hold Platinum status as both a Bicycle Friendly University and a Bicycle Friendly Business, for our achievements in biking infrastructure, education and engagement programs. Learn more about the university's commitment to micromobility.
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• 🌎  Celebrate Earth Month

• Check out sustainability-related events at UC Davis, including volunteer opportunities and campus symposiums, held throughout the month. Browse the calendar.
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• 🏌️  Challenge yourself to be active daily

• Join the Journey Through Japan challenge, solo or on a team, to track your daily activities and compete against colleagues. Sign up and start tracking.
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• 🪴  Shop climate-ready plants

• Browse attractive, low-water plants and get expert advice at the Arboretum and Public Garden's split-start plant sale where Members shop one hour early. Attend this Saturday.
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• 📟  Clear out your e-clutter

• Dispose of your outdated university-owned electronics at Supply Chain's free e-waste event. Bring your waste to the April 22 event.
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• 💬  Apply for an advisory committee

• Administrative Advisory Committees give staff and other campus groups a chance to advise leaders on issues affecting UC Davis. Review the committees and apply by May 8.
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• 🌱  See students restore native habitat

• Arboretum and Public Garden interns led a restoration project funded by The Green Initiative Fund, gaining hands-on skills while transforming Russell Ranch from pastures into a thriving native habitat. Read more about the restoration project.