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©2004
The Regents of the University of California
 

campus briefs

HOLIDAY CLOSURE

After receiving feedback from the campus community, officials expect to finalize plans by Dec. 10 for UCLA’s first-ever holiday closure, from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. The closure would save the campus more than $200,000 in energy costs. On Dec. 26, 29 and 30 — weekdays during the closure that are not paid university holidays — employees may use accrued vacation time, compensatory time off (if applicable) or leave without pay. Sick leave cannot be used in lieu of vacation leave for purposes of the holiday closure, although existing policies on sick leave usage apply. All campus libraries will be closed. Several programs and departments will have limited operations, and the UCLA hospital system will remain open. Payroll Services in 620 Wilshire Center will be open Dec. 26, 29 and 30 for distribution of biweekly paychecks. Monthly paychecks will be distributed on Jan. 2, 2004, as scheduled. Some ASUCLA eateries in Ackerman Union and the Gonda Building will be open Dec. 29 and 30; Café Synapse also will be open Dec. 26. The UCLA Stores in Ackerman, LuValle Commons and the Center for Health Sciences will be open Dec. 29 and 30; the Health Sciences store also will be open Dec. 26-28. The Fowler Museum will be open Dec. 26-28, with campus parking available. The Hammer Museum will be open Dec. 26-28 and Dec. 30-31. Questions? Go to www.chr.ucla.edu/chr/closureqa.htm for details.

AFTERMATH

The UCLA Conference Center at Lake Arrowhead is up and running more than a month after a wildfire threatened the area. “From the conference center, you can’t even see there ever was a fire,” said Jim Turner, director of the center. The 41-acre property was untouched by the blaze. Also, none of the center’s 97 employees lost their homes, according to Turner. All the roads are open. “We’re in great shape,” he said. Residents were allowed to return on Nov. 11. Eight days later, the center’s first post-fire conference was held. To find out more about the facility, go to www.uclaconferencecenter.com.

NEW DEADLINE

The Legislative Assembly of the Academic Senate recently approved the Council on Research’s (COR) request to change the submission deadline for the Faculty Grants Program from the first Thursday in March to the first Thursday in February. The change was made to ensure that applicants learn of award decisions well before the academic year has ended and to allow more time for the review process. This year, COR expects online applications will be available on Dec. 15. Senate faculty will soon be notified via e-mail of the call for proposals, along with application instructions.

DISPUTE SETTLED

The University of California’s 11,000 teaching assistants, tutors and other academic student employees represented by the United Auto Workers have approved a new three-year contract, UC officials said Dec. 6. “Our instructional assistants play a very important role in helping UC faculty meet the university’s teaching needs, and we are pleased to have reached an agreement with the union that acknowledges their many contributions,” said Judith W. Boyette, UC associate vice president, human resources and benefits. The new agreement will be effective from the date of union ratification through Sept. 30, 2006. Highlights of the agreement include: Wages: Effective Jan. 1, 2004, academic student employees will receive a 1.5% wage increase, including lump sum payments for those employed on the date of ratification. During the life of the contract, academic student employees will also receive a 1.5% general wage increase in the fall of 2004 and fall of 2005 if Academic Senate faculty receive merit increases; Health benefits: Maintains UC's current practice of paying 100% of the health insurance premiums for any graduate student teaching assistant working a minimum of 25% time ($685-$1,600 per year, depending on location); Fees: Maintains UC’s current practice of paying 100% of the education and registration fees for any graduate student teaching assistant working a minimum of 25% time (approximately $5,200 each academic year); Systemwide bargaining unit: UC and the United Auto Workers (UAW) agree to jointly petition the Public Employment Relations Board to consolidate the current eight campus bargaining units into one systemwide unit, which UC believes will benefit future negotiations. For more information about some of the benefits UC employees enjoy, go to: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/forms_pubs/misc/bensofbelong.pdf.