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�ٺ���Ƶ has set in motion a plan to streamline and improve the funding process for graduate students, in response to students’ concerns about the highly decentralized financial support system.

Ralph J. Hexter, provost and executive vice chancellor, first met with the Graduate Studies dean and two vice chancellors — Student Affairs, and Administrative and Resource Management — to discuss and understand the broad issues. Then the provost outlined steps to be taken immediately and additional, longer-term measures to improve the coordination and communication regarding the financial support system for graduate students.

For starters, a graduate student support options specialist, or grad SOS, has been developed as a limited-term position in the Office of Graduate Studies; and a service window for graduate students has been opened at the Financial Aid Office in Duton Hall.

Other actions include mapping administrative processes from the graduate student perspective and identifying ways to streamline and automate them, as well as recommending a model that will ensure that administrative processes work effectively for students, staff and faculty.

Lab welcomes meteorite fragments

People who find fragments from the recent meteorite explosion over El Dorado County should consider turning them over to scientists, a �ٺ���Ƶ geologist says.

"We want to realize the scientific value of this event," said Qing-Zhu Yin, associate professor. "It can't be measured in dollars."

Fragments collected so far have attracted high prices from collectors, and some have gone out of state. Yin said he has access to some pieces, and encourages anyone finding a fragment meteorite to donate it to his laboratory — one of a few in the country equipped to make the most accurate measurements of the age and composition of meteorites.

The April 22 meteorite, about the size of a minivan, was the rarest type to hit the Earth — a "carbonaceous chondrite" containing dust and grains, thrown from nearby stars, that went on to form the planets of our solar system billions of years ago, Yin said.

By studying fragments of the meteorite, Yin said he hopes to learn more about exactly how and when the Earth, Mars and other planets formed.

Studying the meteorite could also give insight into the origins of life on Earth, as this type of meteorite is known to contain amino acids, sugars and other organic molecules that are the basic building blocks of life.

Webinar on 'rules of the road' for electioneering

is under way for a webinar next week on “UC Participation in Ballot Initiative Campaigns: Legal Guidelines.” 

The webinar is scheduled from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday (May 31), with Ellen R. Auriti, senior counsel in the UC Office of the President, as the presenter.

“This will be an overview of the that apply to the university’s participation in certain political activities, specifically ballot initiative campaigns,” Auriti said. “As many of you know, there are legal restrictions on the university’s ability to expend public-university resources advocating for or against ballot initiatives that are before the electorate for a vote."

The June 5 ballot includes two initiatives: Proposition 28, which would adjust legislative term limits; and Proposition 29, which would impose an additional tax on cigarettes to fund research for cancer and other tobacco-related diseases.

Auriti said she will provide a refresher on the applicable rules, and highlight the distinction between communications that are “informational” and those that are “promotional/campaign advocacy” in nature. UC can uses its staff, facilities and other resources on the former, but not the latter.

The webinar description states: “This presentation is relevant to UC administrators, staff and faculty who may be involved in communications related to ballot measures, and can help attendees make sure that their communications comport with rules applicable to the university.”

IET warns of phishing scams

�ٺ���Ƶ’ computer watchdogs have issued warnings on two phishing scams, one involving and the other asking you to

Both seek to trick you into providing your personal information to unauthorized parties.

“Do not click on the Web link or reply to the message,” Information and Educational Technology declared in a TechNews alert. “Instead, delete the message immediately.”

If you have already given your �ٺ���Ƶ user name and passphrase, your account has been compromised, and you need to change your passphrase and challenge questions immediately. The instructions are , or you can receive telephone assistance from the IT Express Computing Services Help Desk.

IET reminds: �ٺ���Ƶ will never ask you to disclose your passphrase via e-mail or telephone. If you ever doubt the authenticity of a message that claims to come from �ٺ���Ƶ, call IT Express for guidance.

: (530) 754-HELP (4357). Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, except holidays.

about phishing scams, including tips on how to recognize them.

Europe Research Funding Workshop June 4

Sign-ups are being taken for a Europe Research Funding Workshop scheduled for Monday, June 4.

The organizers said the workshop will provide an introduction to the major research funding programs available from the European Union, as well as an overview of opportunities with Germany through the DAAD program, the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation and the German Research Foundation.

The workshop is a brown bag event, noon to 1:30 p.m. in 360 Shields Library.

People who plan to attend are asked to register by Wednesday, May 30, with Jennie Konsella-Norene, jknorene@ucdavis.edu.

Gas leak at �ٺ���Ƶ West Village

A construction crew accidentally severed a 2-inch natural-gas line at �ٺ���Ƶ West Village the morning of May 22, setting off a scare that ended without incident after about two hours.

The gas leak began at about 8:45 a.m., after which the campus Fire Department issued an evacuation order as a precautionary measure. The order affected about 30 residents of the northernmost section of the Ramble apartments, off Sage Street.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. stopped the leak at about 10:30 a.m. Fire Chief Nate Trauernicht gave the "all clear" at 11 a.m., when the power came back on and the air checked out clear.