The UC Davis Academic Senate will announce the winners of its Distinguished Public Service Awards on May 4 during its quarterly Representative Assembly meeting, set for 3 to 5 p.m. in MU II in the Memorial Union.

The senate makes the public service awards annually to recognize significant contributions to the world, nation, state and community.

The Senate also will receive remarks from Zackary O'Donnell, chair of the UC Davis Staff Assembly, and Catherine Vandevort, chair of the UC Davis Academic Federation.

O'Donnell says he will talk to the Senate about working more closely together on common goals such as parking, housing and campus lactation centers.

Senate chair Bruce Madewell noted that the incoming chair of the Senate, Dan Simmons, will begin his duties in September, subject to the approval of the Representative Assembly at its June meeting. Simmons is a law school professor.

In other business, the Senate will discuss a proposed change to allow finals for online courses to take place on "dead days" rather than the last hour of the last day of finals as they do now; a bylaw amendment to formalize the management of the Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award; and an another bylaw amendment to clarify the role of faculty members in curriculum matters.