Administrative advisory committees

Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi is encouraging staff, faculty and students “to become involved in issues affecting the UC Davis community” by applying for membership on administrative advisory committees.

The committees, which deal with such subjects as arts and lectures, chemical and laboratory safety, child care, and Transportation and Parking Services, are now being formed for the 2011-12 academic year.

“As a member of an administrative advisory committee, you can ensure that your constituency’s perspectives are well represented in the committee's recommendations to the administration.” Katehi said in a letter to the campus community. “You can also help representatives from other constituencies understand your interests and concerns and, in turn, learn more about their views of campus issues.”

In accordance with the Principles of Community, Katehi said she hopes for an applicant pool that represents the campus’s wide range of diversity: gender, ethnicity, academic discipline, areas of knowledge.

More information, including the application form, is available online. The website includes a list of the committees and a brief description of each committee. Applications are due by March 7.

‘Investment in management talent’

UC Davis is seeking applications for the systemwide Management Skills Assessment Program, which UC describes as “an investment in management talent.”

The northern California MSAP is scheduled from May 2 to 6 at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove.

Officials said the unique residential program assesses the current skills of new managers, supervisors, project managers and those aspiring to these roles in the context of complexities facing UC managers.

“MSAP offers participants insights into their managerial competencies and potential by providing feedback on critical skills for successful management at UC.”

UC Davis’ Karen Hull, associate vice chancellor for Human Resources, said: “Of the many fine programs that UC offers, the MSAP program continues to receive the highest praise. MSAP serves as an important investment in the mission of UC and the careers of our dedicated staff.”

More information, including application materials, is available online. Applications are due by noon March 1

For more information, contact Nan Long, UC Davis’ MSAP coordinator, at (530) 752-9682 or malong@ucdavis.edu.

Nominations due for ‘Soaring’ awards

With Soaring to New Heights approaching, the organizers are seeking nominations for the awards that go with it: the Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Recognition Awards, and the Calvin E. Handy Leadership Award.

Soaring to New Heights is the Davis campus’s annual celebration of diversity. This year’s event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19.

Nominations for the Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Recognition Awards are due by Feb. 18. These awards are given in three categories:

• Individual — Recognizing staff members for contributions to affirmative action/equal employment opportunity, or heightened awareness and sensitivity to diversity. Nominations received for contributions made by faculty, executives, student employees or community members will be considered for special citations.

• Deanna Falge Award — The criteria are consistent with the criteria for individual awards, with the added element of recognizing someone for ongoing (five years or more) contributions toward the furthering of UC Davis's affirmative action/equal opportunity or diversity objectives.

• Department-Unit-Team Award — Recognizing department, units and teams whose members, through personal or group efforts, have made significant contributions to affirmative action/equal employment opportunity or heightened awareness and sensitivity to diversity.

The Calvin E. Handy Leadership Award, named after the retired campus police chief, recognizes contributions in the area of public safety and security to the campus or medical center community — by individual community member, group or organization. Nominations for this award are due by Feb. 28.

The nomination forms, with more information about the awards, is available online.

Nash prize deadline extended

The Charles P. Nash Prize Selection Committee announced a deadline extension for nominations. The Nash prize is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of his or her commitment to promoting shared governance, and advocating for faculty interests and welfare.

“In the spirit of Charlie Nash, such activity must be above and beyond normal committee assignments or academic obligations, typically, spanning a period of time or one’s career,” the committee said in calling for nominations.

Nash died in 2007 at the age of 75. The chemistry professor served two terms as chair of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, and also worked on behalf of the Academic Federation and the Davis Faculty Association.

The three faculty groups and the Nash family co-sponsor the Nash prize, which comes with a $1,000 honorarium. Eligibility extends to members of all three groups, with the exception that the award cannot be given to someone who has already won it.

Nominations are sought from faculty, staff, students, alumni, departments and units.

The new deadline is 5 p.m. Feb. 18. More information, including the nomination process, is available online: academicsenate.ucdavis.edu (click on “Charles P. Nash Prize,” under Awards in the menu on the left-hand side of the page).

Questions? Send an e-mail to the committee co-chairs: Alan Jackman, professor emeritus of chemical engineering and materials science, apjackman@ucdavis.edu; and Robert Rucker, professor emeritus of nutrition, rbrucker@ucdavis.edu.

Outstanding student employees

The Student Employment Center announced that the nomination period for student employee of the year has been extended to Feb. 11. “Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in recognizing and celebrating your department’s student employees,” organizers said.

A five-member committee will select three outstanding undergraduate employees, one in each of three categories: contribution to community, contribution to UC Davis, and displaying the Principles of Community.

Each student will receive a bookstore gift certificate worth $75. Student Employment Center officials said they will visit each student at his or her workplace to present the awards.

From among the top three students, a Student Employment Center administrator will select one of them to put forward for recognition by the Western Association of Student Employment Administrators.

In turn, the association will review nominations from around the region — to select one student to vie for National Student Employee of the Year, in a competition sponsored by the National Student Employment Association.

The process begins with nominations at the campus level. You are eligible to nominate employees whom you directly supervise and interact with during their work. You can nominate only one student per department or unit.

Nominees will be reviewed based on their reliability, initiative, uniqueness of contribution, quality of work, professionalism, and contribution to the community and campus.

The nomination form, and eligibility rules are available for download at jobs.ucdavis.edu (click on “SEOTY Nomination Form” under “Important Announcement”).

More information is available from the Student Employment Center: (530) 752-0520 or sec@ucdavis.edu.

Bail reduced in weapons case

See updated story.

WOODLAND — Nicholas Benson, arrested on weapons charges across the street from campus on Jan. 21, cannot get out of jail without bail, Yolo County Superior Court Judge Timothy L. Fall ruled today (Feb. 4).

But the judge, during a 9 a.m. hearing, cut Benson’s $1 million bail to $100,000. He would need 10 percent, or $10,000, to secure a bail bond. As of 10:30 a.m., he had not bailed out.

Judge Fall scheduled Benson’s preliminary hearing for 10 a.m. March 3. The district attorney’s office has filed a three-count complaint charging Benson with possession of an assault weapon and resisting arrest, both felonies, and carrying a loaded weapon in public, a misdemeanor. The charge of resisting arrest carries an enhancement, namely that he allegedly resisted arrest while in possession of an assault weapon.

The district attorney’s office did not file a charge of making terrorist threats, as alleged at the time of Benson's booking.

City of Davis police took Benson into custody at Fourth and A streets, in the vicinity of Toomey Field at the east edge of the campus. In his nearby truck, police said, they found a loaded rifle with a telescopic sight, and a loaded shotgun. Officers said they also found hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition in Benson’s possession.

Police used a Taser in arresting the 25-year-old Benson. Officers began searching for him around 6 p.m. after hearing from a family member who said Benson was distraught and suicidal, according to a news release from the Police Department.

At Benson’s initial court appearance on Jan. 26, his attorney sought to have his client released to a locked facility where he could be evaluated and treated.

Today, Benson’s attorney sought his client’s release on his own recognizance, that is, without bail. The judge said no.

Steve Sabbadini, Benson’s attorney, said outside court last week: “This was a case where he was more of a danger to himself than to others.

"Essentially (it was) just a meltdown that has to be addressed,” Sabbadini said.

UC Davis officials identified Benson as a senior communication major, and said he had enrolled for the winter quarter. The officials added that Benson first enrolled at UC Davis in the fall of 2005.

Active shooter training

The campus Police Department announced that it will present an active shooter training session on Monday, Feb. 14, with the title referring to armed and dangerous people who may come on the campus.

The 90-minute class offers advice and strategies to increase the likelihood of surviving such an incident. Topics include: how to escape, take cover and hide; how to make effective 911 calls and provide good descriptions of suspects; and how to recognize and take advantage of opportunities to overpower such suspects.

More sessions are planned and will be announced later. Training sessions for smaller or specialist groups can also be arranged.

The Feb. 14 training is scheduled to begin at noon in Ballroom B at the Activities and Recreation Center. No sign-ups are necessary, just show up. For more information, contact Lt. Matt Carmichael, (530) 752-5350 or mecarmichael@ucdavis.edu.