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Provost Pitts postpones campus visit

Updated Nov. 8, 2011: UC Provost Larry Pitts has postponed his planned UC Davis visit Wednesday (Nov. 9), to attend to pressing university matters. Pitts’ visit will be rescheduled.

An open forum with Larry Pitts, provost of the UC system, is scheduled from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 9) in the King Lounge, second floor of the Memorial Union.

Pitts told Dateline �ٺ���Ƶ that he is looking for “an active dialog” with members of the campus community. “I don’t plan on being a talking head,” the UC system’s highest-ranking academic officer said.

The topics might vary a bit depending on who ends up coming to the forum, Pitts said, but could easily include UC’s budget status, student fees (undergraduate and graduate) and UC’s online course initiative.

“I’ll talk briefly about any or all of these topics and have an active dialog with the people who come to listen and/or talk. More fun for me and for them,” he said.

His schedule for his daylong visit to �ٺ���Ƶ also includes meetings with Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter, the Council of Deans, the Academic Senate and the Academic Federation, on such topics as off-scale salaries and �ٺ���Ƶ’ 2020 Initiative.

UCOP announces tentative deal with CUE

The UC Office of the President announced today (Nov. 8) that the university had reached a tentative, five-year labor deal with the Coalition of University Employees, regarding wages, benefits and working conditions for more than 12,500 clerical employees systemwide.

The deal marks the first time in many years that UC had settled multiyear contracts with its major unions, according to a news release from UCOP.

The news release stated that CUE members will vote on the contract proposal this month, and that contract details would be available at a later date.

“We are very pleased that we have a tentative agreement on a five-year deal with CUE and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters,” Dwaine Duckett, UC’s vice president of Human Resources, said in the news release. “This type of long-term thinking by both sides contributes to the stability of the university.”

, including information about UC’s earlier deals with three other unions.

Reservations due for research funding workshop

Reservations are due by Thursday (Nov. 10) for an Asia Research Funding Workshop, offering an overview of research and educational opportunities through the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Chinese consul general’s office.

University Outreach and International Programs, and the Institute of Governmental Affairs are sponsoring the brown bag event, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in the IGA Reading Room, 360 Shields Library. People planning to attend are asked to send RSVPs to Jennie Konsella-Norene, jknorene@ucdavis.edu.

Shared service center update

The campus community is invited to another in a series of brown bag updates on the shared service center project. Question-and-answer sessions are part of each monthly meeting.

The next brown bag is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 10) in the King Lounge on the second floor of the Memorial Union. No preregistration (seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis).

The last brown bag of the year is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15, same time and place.

2 ways to donate food this holiday season

One food drive is under way, and, days after it ends, another will begin.

• Mail Services’ sixth annual holiday food drive began Nov. 1 and runs through Nov. 18. Canned and dry goods are being sought — simply put them with your outgoing mail. Davis campus donations go to the Food Bank of Yolo County, and Sacramento donations go to the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

• Campus Recreation’s third annual food drive is scheduled from Nov. 21 to Dec. 16, with the organizers asking for canned food, peanut butter, low-sugar cereals and 100 percent fruit juice, all for the Food Bank of Yolo County. Collection bins with holiday bows are due to be set up at the Activities and Recreation Center, the Craft Center, the Equestrian Center and Outdoor Adventures.

Learn more about open enrollment

Group presentations and help desk hours are being held on the Davis and Sacramento campuses to help benefits-eligible employees through the open enrollment process.

The next general overview on the Davis campus is scheduled from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday (Nov. 8) in the Mee Room on the second floor of the Memorial Union.

All benefits-eligible employees should have received their open enrollment booklets by now, by mail at home.

You have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, to enroll in or opt out of medical, dental and vision plans, or transfer to different medical or dental plans; or enroll in a tax-saving flexible spending account for health care and/or dependent care.

(including the complete schedule of group presentations and help desk hours).