UC academic freedom statement finalized
After extensive consultations with the faculty and endorsement by the Academic Senate, UC has finalized a new statement on academic freedom for its faculty.
The new statement, supported by a 45-3 vote of the Assembly of the Academic Senate on July 30, went through a period of formal campus review before being issued Sept. 29.
Known as Academic Personnel Policy 010, the statement establishes that faculty have primary responsibility for articulating the professional standards by which academic freedom may be sustained. The policy is intended to be read in conjunction with APM 015, the Faculty Code of Conduct, which includes a delineation of faculty responsibilities to students. The statement does not change the authority of the regents to govern the university, nor the responsibility of the administration to perform its role in governance.
The full statement is at: http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/coordrev/policy/9-29-03.html.
Cosumnes River documentary to air
“Cosumnes: A River’s Song,” a 60-minute documentary co-produced by public television KVIE Channel 6 and UC Davis, airs Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m.
This program documents the findings of UC Davis geologist Jeff Mount and his team as they search for a better understanding of how the Cosumnes River can serve its community and maintain its ecology.
Health care options announced
UC announced last week that monthly premiums for UC medical plans will increase again in 2004, but benefit levels will not decrease as they are elsewhere nationwide.
This month UC faculty, staff and retirees will receive 2004 health benefits information in preparation for Open Enrollment in November.
Open Enrollment information also is available at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/.
Fall graduation ‘03 will see bigger crowd
UC Davis will hold its second fall undergraduate commencement ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 14, in Recreation Hall.
More than 300 students from the four units participated in the inaugural ceremony on Dec. 15, 2002. This year, the number is expected to increase substantially, by at least some 50 percent, said Maddy Rehrman, a campus events coordinator for the College of Letters and Science.
The 10 a.m. ceremony will include students from the colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Engin-eering, and Letters and Science, and the Division of Biological Sciences. The ceremony offers an opportunity for summer and fall graduates to participate in a commencement closer to the completion of their studies. A Web site has been established at http://commencement.ucdavis.edu for details and registration.
For more, contact Rehrman at (530) 754-8477 or rehrman@lsdo.ucdavis.edu.
Trial actors sought
It’s the UC School of Law, not the Department of Theatre and Dance, calling all actors from all over campus this week.
The law school needs volunteers to act as witnesses in a mock trial competition set for Nov. 3, 4, and 17. The case, Rebecca Sherdenraecher vs. Lazarus Jenkins, is a civil matter. Courtroom players will examine whether Jenkins is guilty of stalking Sherdenraecher, and inflicting intentional and negligent emotional distress upon her.
Role-players are needed for: a plaintiff, who is a female elementary school teacher; a defendent, who is a male, middle-aged architect; and a plaintiff’s witness, who is a male or female retired grocery store clerk.
Trials will take place at 7 p.m. in the Moot Courtroon in King Hall. Each trial will last about three hours, with volunteer testimony limited to about 30 minutes. Volunteers also will need to prepare with student attorneys and possibly participation in a short mock deposition.
For details, call Geoffrey Lee, (530) 757-2959, or Laurie Mason, (530) 752-6564.
Review policy lauded
Virtually every measure of academic excellence has grown stronger under the comprehensive review policy that has guided freshman admissions at UC for the past two years, according to a faculty report presented to the UC regents Sept. 18.
In addition, the proportions of students admitted to selective campuses from low-income families, families with no previous experience with college, low-performing schools and rural areas are also higher than they were before comprehensive review was implemented, the report said.
Under comprehensive review, applications from students demonstrating high academic accomplishment are given priority and merit is assessed in terms of academic and personal achievements, taking into consideration opportunities available to students at their schools. No applicants are denied without a comprehensive review.