Set for Sept. 28, the 2005 Fall Convocation will carry the title "Stretching the Boundaries of Thought and Experience." The annual gathering for staff, faculty and students will run 11 a.m. to noon in Mondavi Center.

Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef will be joined at the podium by campus community members reading their "My Personal Compass" essays to launch a new year-long initiative designed to encourage reflection and active listening.

Members of the campus community can submit 350-word essays for the My Personal Compass project. The initiative is modeled after National Public Radio's "This I Believe" program and is focused on philosophical, spiritual, political or civic beliefs. For details, see the July 22 edition of Dateline at http://www.dateline.ucdavis.edu. Essays submitted to mypersonalcompass@ucdavis.edu by Sept. 6 will be considered for the convocation.