- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
In light of recent media reports about a letter by 36 University of California executives regarding pension benefits, Board of Regents Chairman Russell Gould and University President Mark Yudof today (Jan. 4, 2011) issued the following statement:
Ten years ago the University of California sought a determination from the IRS that a proposed new method for calculating pension benefits complied with federal tax rules. The new method would have resulted in higher pension payments to certain highly paid University employees. While that determination ultimately was granted, it did not obligate the University in any way to proceed with its proposal. In fact, the initial Regental action required that an implementation plan be developed and submitted by the President of the University and approved by the Chair of the Board and the Chair of the Finance Committee. For reasons of fiscal prudence in a changing economy, this step — necessary for the proposal to become effective — was never taken.
For this reason, and contrary to the arguments presented in the letter, it is our belief that the action taken by the Board 10 years ago was not self-executing and that the pension proposal was never implemented. Months ago, the Board retained counsel to assist the University in the event this position should need to be defended in the courts. While those who signed the letter are without question highly valued employees, we must disagree with them on this particular issue
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The ANR Office of Contracts and Grants will be closed beginning Friday, December 24, and will reopen for business on Monday, January 3.
In order to meet upcoming proposal deadlines, we ask that all proposals whose sponsor deadline falls between December 21 and January 4 be submitted to our office no later than Monday, December 20.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
E-mail and other computing services that are hosted by the UC Davis Campus Data Center will be interrupted the day after Christmas.
The shutdown, to accommodate an upgrade to the Data Center’s power system, is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, and could last up to 48 hours.
Incoming and outgoing e-mail will be stored during the interruption and delivered afterward. This applies to all campus e-mail, even if your particular e-mail server is housed outside the Data Center, which routes all e-mail, regardless of server location on campus.
For more information, see http://www.dateline.ucdavis.edu/dl_detail.lasso?id=13117&fu=120310.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
On Friday, Oct. 22, President Yudof and VP Dooley visited UC Cooperative Extension in Monterey County. County director Sonya Varea Hammond introduced Yudof to local agricultural clientele and the Cooperative Extension advisors who serve Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
A brief video of his visit to a romaine lettuce harvest is posted at http://ucanr.org/sites/news/President_Yudof_in_Salinas/.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
A program that allowed faculty, academics, and staff to voluntarily reduce work hours in exchange for a corresponding pay reduction is scheduled to end. The Staff and Academic Reduction in Time program, or START, was enacted as a temporary measure to help the University of California cope with budget shortfalls will end on Dec. 31, 2010.
John Fox, UCOP director of Human Resource Policies, stated, "Although many employees have appreciated the program and it has helped UC save on salaries, this is the right time for it to end."
In 2009 alone, UC achieved salary savings of roughly $16 million through employee participation in START.
Although many employees have appreciated the program and it has helped UC save on salaries, UC administration will not recommend an extension to the START program.
For more information, contact Robert Martinez at (530) 725-3467, ramartinez@ucdavis.edu, or Karen Ellsworth at (530) 752- 7917, kaellsworth@ucdavis.edu, in the ANR Staff Personnel Unit.
