Nov. 17 - UCI Athletics helps hungry, UC Online registration opens
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Harvest strategy: a fall bounty on display near the Paul Merage School of Business. Photo by Ian Parker
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
UCI Athletics helps the hungry and homeless
Keely O'Donnell-Boyd started working at the FRESH Basic Needs Hub as a student volunteer while also competing as a cross country and track runner for the Anteaters (2016-19). She writes about her experiences now as the full-time food access coordinator at FRESH. Video is courtesy of UCI Athletics, which is marking Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov. 13-21) by collecting non-perishable food items at these home games: women’s volleyball vs. Cal State Fullerton on Friday and men’s basketball vs. Pepperdine on Saturday.
Flu vaccine and masking clarified
The UC issued an executive order that requires all students and employees to get vaccinated against influenza or submit a declination form. The deadline for receiving a flu vaccine or submitting a declination form is Friday. If you decline a vaccination, you will be required to wear a mask while on UCI property through the end of the 2021-22 flu season, the date of which is unknown at this time, although it usually falls in March or April. You will be required to mask even if masking requirements for COVID-19 are modified or revoked prior to the flu season end date.
Engineers’ invention lets you pay for purchases with a high-five
Have you ever frantically searched all your pockets for your car keys? What if you were wearing the car keys? That’s a possibility thanks to an innovative new fabric developed by UCI engineers, whose technology can also be used to wirelessly communicate vital signs, store purchases and more.
UCI Health is first in Orange County to offer new COPD treatment
UCI Health physicians Drs. Javier Longoria and Niral Patel are the first and only providers in Orange County to offer a new procedure for treating severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The minimally invasive endobronchial valve replacement places tiny valves in the airways allowing the healthier part of the lungs to expand, and it lifts pressure off the diaphragm to help patients breathe easier.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
UC lecturer strike that threatened to cancel classes statewide is averted
A statewide strike was called off early today after a tentative agreement was reached with the University Council-American Federation of Teachers, which represents thousands of UC lecturers. Hailing “transformative and groundbreaking improvements in crucial areas, including job stability, workload and compensation,” the union says the new five-year contract includes four weeks of fully paid leave, pay increases, more job security, a $1,500 signing bonus and more transparent workload requirements.
UC Online opens winter quarter, spring semester course registration on Thursday
As students plan to register for classes in their upcoming term, UC Online hopes they consider exploring resources available for enhanced learning and opportunities available for access to more of UC's world-class faculty, regardless of location. Online courses are offered each academic year term to all UC undergraduate students through UC Online, which was formerly the Innovative Learning Technology Initiative and is part of the Educational Innovations and Services unit within Graduate, Undergraduate and Equity Affairs at the UC Office of the President.
White House to buy Pfizer antiviral pills for 10 million people, hoping to transform pandemic
The Biden administration plans to purchase 10 million courses of Pfizer's COVID pill, a $5 billion investment in a treatment that officials think will help change the trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic by reducing severe illness and deaths, sources say. As Pfizer and the White House hammered out the final details on Tuesday, the company asked the FDA to authorize the five-day antiviral pill regimen called Paxlovid.
Biden administration to invest billions to expand coronavirus vaccine manufacturing
The White House said today it is planning to invest billions of dollars to expand U.S. manufacturing capabilities of coronavirus vaccines to increase the supply of doses for poorer nations. The goal is to produce at least 1 billion doses a year through government assistance for mRNA vaccine makers such as Pfizer and Moderna, so they can fund new facilities, equipment staff and training.
EVENTS
Across the Bridge: Diversity Dialogue - “Who Are You?”
Friday, noon (sponsored by International Center)
COVID-19 and Child Maltreatment Incidence
Friday, 12:15 p.m. (sponsored by School of Social Ecology)
Conte Center Seminar: Greg Duncan and Sonya Troller-Renfree
Friday, 4:10 p.m. (sponsored by UCI Brain)
International Film Club: “Minding the Gap”
Friday, 6:30 p.m. (sponsored by UCI Illuminations)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Top Colleges in the West for Diversity
The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 17
Cited: UC Irvine
Half of the World’s Coastal Sewage Pollution Flows from Few Dozen Places
Scientific American, Nov. 12
Cited: Joleah Lamb, assistant professor of ecology & evolutionary biology
Scientists answer our ‘Frequently Asked Questions About the Universe’
Houston Public Media, Nov. 12
Cited: Daniel Whiteson, professor of physics and astronomy
#UCICONNECTED
Hey, Anteaters: It’s getting a little bit cold lately. Just want to remind you to take care and beware of the cold! Don’t go out at night without some extra clothes I guess ;) Spend some time indoors too, just feel the coziness of home.
Alltruism (“all true”) is a project supported by the Barnes & Noble Scholarship that aims to create connections through community, compassion and the creative arts. The initiative was part of The Alltruism Project, and more letters can be found on Instagram.
#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.