Seeking to foster ongoing dialogue between UC President Robert Dynes and UC faculty and staff members, the Office of the President is employing a variety of tools to communicate with UC's internal audience.

Components of that effort include:

• "Dynes Desk" -- a forum for anonymous (or self-identified) e-mail that allows employees to send President Dynes comments, suggestions, concerns, etc. via his personal Web page: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/president/welcome.html.

While Dynes said he cannot respond to every e-mail or individual issues, he has pledged to read every e-mail. Questions posed or issues of broad interest to the UC community will be addressed via Our University, online chats, and through other means.

• Our University -- a bi-monthly systemwide electronic newsletter founded by Immediate-past President Richard Atkinson. Dynes has continued the forum as a way to address budget-related issues and other noteworthy topics of broad interest to the university community, including admissions and major faculty and staff accomplishments.

• Staff Breakfasts -- quarterly breakfasts with Office of the President staff and with campus staff. The attendees are drawn randomly, and participation is voluntary.

• "Video Letters" -- short (about 10-minute-long) quarterly video "letters" from President Dynes to the UC community. Set to begin this spring, the videos will offer updates and perspectives on major current or emerging issues and will be announced via an e-mail.

• Web Chats -- live, online chats between Dynes and the UC community, about faculty, students, staff and alumni issues to be held one to two times per year. The Web chat forum kicked off in October as Dynes hosted separate chats for students, alumni and staff and faculty members.

In addition, Dynes is continuing the statewide inaugural tour he kicked off in November -- meeting with alumni, students, staff, faculty, elected officials and business leaders. Recent stops have included UC Santa Cruz and the Silicon Valley in late January. He is set to visit UC Davis May 27-28.

Dynes, an avid runner, has included a jogging outing with students, administrators and other campus community members in his Listening Tour activities. Plans call for a run at UC Davis as well.

Also, last month Dynes attended a get-acquainted meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his immediate staff. The meeting focused on the broad message UC representatives have been delivering in many other venues -- UC's extraordinary impact on student opportunity, economic growth and quality of life in California.