UCI Forward

UCI Forward is our commitment to the well-being of our community as we ramp up campus operations. Working together, each of us doing our part, we can move UCI Forward.


Nov. 18 - Homebuying help for employees; predicting Sierra Nevada wildfires

Section 1

<strong>Anteater Time Machine:</strong> In April 1984, this large Anteater float was created for Celebrate UCI.

Anteater Time Machine: In April 1984, this large Anteater float was created for Celebrate UCI.

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

Wildfires and the Sierra Nevada

Wildfires have scorched parts of the Sierra Nevada, such as this spot south of Yosemite National Park, and UCI scientists expect the situation to get worse. Photo by Brian Bell/UCI

Sierra Nevada wildfires likely to grow in frequency, UCI study says

By the 2040s, as climate change raises summer temperatures across the mountain range, the number of wildfires in the Sierra is projected to increase by about 50 percent, according to a new UCI study. The research was picked up by The New York Times and other media.

Homebuying help for employees

UCI has partnered with Landed, a company that covers part of an employee’s down payment on a house in exchange for a cut of the profits when the property is eventually sold. Landed has worked with health and education employees around the nation.

UCI Police Department launches annual toy drive

The department is requesting donations of new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0 to 14. Because of COVID-19, only items packaged by the manufacturer can be accepted. The gifts will go to infants, toddlers and youths receiving care at UCI Health and other Orange County children’s organizations. Items should be dropped off by Dec. 20.

UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS

8 COVID precautions you can drop this holiday season

“It’s time for a reset on our COVID-19 worry-meter,” says the Los Angeles Times. Although the pandemic isn’t over, and it’s still important to follow CDC guidelines, health experts say some previously verboten activities are no longer deemed unsafe. The list includes handshakes, sharing food and swimming.

When does the pandemic end?

An array of experts, including some of the most cautious, say the time for most of life to return to normal is...now. In some cities, the hospitalization rate for COVID-19 is half that of the flu, according to The New York Times, which adds, “The virus now presents the sort of risk to most vaccinated people that we unthinkingly accept in other parts of life. And there is not going to be a day when we wake up to headlines proclaiming that Covid is defeated. In many ways, the future of the virus has arrived.”

EVENTS

Environmental Racism and Injustice in the 21st Century: The Role of Community-Engaged Science for a Greener, More Equitable Future
Monday, 2 p.m. (sponsored by Program in Public Health)

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

Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York TimesThe Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.

The world of ‘Minecraft’ is getting taller (and deeper) with its latest update

The Washington Post, Nov. 17, 2021
Cited: Kurt Squire, professor of informatics

A chemical firm bought out these Black and white US homeowners – with a significant disparity

The Guardian, Nov. 17
Cited: Edward Telles, Distinguished Professor of sociology

What Will Change When COVID Becomes Endemic?

Healthline - Nov. 17
Cited: Karen Edwards, professor of epidemiology & biostatistics

#UCICONNECTED

Alltruism - #1 Treat yo self-Peter

A haiku for you!
Mid of the quarter?
I do not know about you,
But I’ll treat myself.

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.

COVID-19 NOTIFICATION AND RESOURCES

Six new campus cases

Two employees and four students tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. For more information, visit the UCI COVID-19 dashboard.

Remember to upload your vaccine record

Student Record Upload

Employee Record Upload

Potential workplace exposure

UCI provides this notification of a potential workplace COVID-19 exposure. Employees and subcontractors who were in these locations on the dates listed may have been exposed to the coronavirus. You may be entitled to various benefits under applicable federal and state laws and University-specific policies and agreements. The full notification is available on the UCI Forward site. If you have been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case, the UCI Contact Tracing Program will contact you and provide additional direction.

For COVID-19 questions

UCI Forward - information on campus status and operational updates

UCI Health COVID-19 Updates - important information related to UCI Health

UCI Health COVID-19 FAQs

UCI Coronavirus Response Center - available at covid19@uci.edu or via phone at (949) 824-9918

Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services - assistance with vaccines and vaccine uploads; available at contacttracing@uci.edu or via phone at (949) 824-2300

Program in Public Health chatline - answers to questions about COVID-19

For questions specific to your personal health situation, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider.