Feb. 28 - Masking guidance, 2022 Emergency Paid Sick Leave
Section 1
Something catches the attention of a pair of aligned cactus wrens at the UCI Ecological Preserve. Photo by Ian Parker
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
UCI masking guidance is not changing at this time
Universal masking, regardless of vaccination status, is required for anyone who is indoors in a public space on university-controlled property. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its criteria for identifying COVID-19 risk in communities, impacting mask guidance. In addition to CDC guidance, UCI follows California Department of Public Health, Orange County Health Care Agency and Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards guidance and regulations, which we expect to see updated as a result of the recent CDC change. UCI will evaluate state and local guidance as they are updated and will announce when updates to campus requirements are implemented. The current policy is detailed in the campus Executive Directive on Face Coverings and UCI Environmental Health & Safety’s Face Coverings guidance. For more information, see the EHS FAQ. Direct questions to safety@uci.edu.
2022 COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave program announced
All campus employees are eligible for up to 80 hours of 2022 Emergency Paid Sick Leave through Sept. 30, the UC Office of the President announced. The program went into effect Feb. 19, but hours can be used retroactively to Jan. 1 for qualifying events. The EPSL is for full-time employees, and a prorated amount is available for part-time workers. Employees who did not use all of their EPSL in 2021 may use their remaining hours from last year through Sept. 30. To see a chart detailing qualifying situations, FAQs and the EPSL request form:
For staff: UCI's COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Web Page
For faculty and other academic appointees: https://ap.uci.edu/2022-emergency-paid-sick-leave-epsl/
Questions and requests for support:
For staff: UCI Employee Experience Center at eec@uci.edu or 949-824-0500 Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For faculty and other academic appointees: Academic Personnel at acadpers@uci.edu.
‘Understanding the Russia-Ukraine Crisis’ recordings available
On Friday, UCI social scientists offered expert perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine crisis:
- Jeffrey Kopstein, political science professor, on politics and history of Russia and Ukraine, authoritarianism, NATO and the transatlantic alliance and European Union policy
- Erin Lockwood, political science assistant professor, on economic sanctions, financial sanctions/financial infrastructure and the prospect of cutting off Russian access to the SWIFT financial communications system
- David Meyer, sociology professor, on the difficulties and importance of trying to promote human rights and democracy from abroad, and on the prospects of a powerful anti-war movement in Russia
- Heidi Hardt, political science associate professor, on Russia's demands, NATO’s response and international law
Video and podcast recordings of the discussion are now available.
New nursing school dean fascinated by intersection of medical and spiritual care
Mark Lazenby grew up as “a spiritual kid” in Blythe, Calif., before becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy of religion and join a college faculty as an associate professor of philosophy on the East Coast. But after a family tragedy brought Lazenby back home in 2004, the career path changed for the new dean of the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing.
Taylor Fagins gets the ‘American Idol’ Golden Ticket to Hollywood
On the “American Idol” season 20 auditions premiere episode Sunday night, Taylor Fagins, a 2017 drama alum, wowed judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. After singing his moving song “we need more,” which he dedicated to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the countless others who have died through violence, Fagins got three yeses from the judges to go to Hollywood and compete to become the next American Idol. Longtime host Ryan Seacrest called it “one of the most powerful moments in ‘Idol’ history.” Fagins spoke with Claire Trevor School of the Arts in 2020 about the making of “we need more.”
Reminder: Princeton Review survey deadline is Friday
Undergraduate student insights on academics, student life, campus organizations, professor/student interaction, housing, dining and more provide invaluable guidance for college-bound students searching for their best-fit schools. Complete The Princeton Review’s anonymous online survey about your experiences at UCI, and you will be automatically entered in a $50 Amazon gift-card giveaway. Important links:
Complete details and official rules of the giveaway
Gift card terms and conditions
The Princeton Review’s privacy policy
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
California to lift school mask mandate after March 11
As reported in UCI News and Announcements above, campus masking guidance is not changing at this time. Indoor masking will no longer be mandatory at California K-12 schools and childcare facilities after March 11, state officials announced today. They added that masks will be strongly recommended, but no longer required, for unvaccinated individuals in most indoor settings starting Tuesday.
Poll shows pandemic fears are fading along with omicron
As coronavirus pandemic case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths continue to plummet, fewer Americans now than in January expressed concern that they will be infected after the rise and fall of the wildly contagious virus variant, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Just 24% said they were “extremely” or “very” worried about themselves or a family member contracting COVID-19, down from 36% in both December and January, when omicron caused a massive spike in infections and taxed public health systems.
What is long COVID? Current understanding about risks, symptoms and recovery
The condition known as long COVID continues to frustrate its sufferers, baffle scientists and alarm people who are concerned about being infected by the coronavirus. Technically known as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, PASC is also referred to colloquially as “long-haul COVID,” “long-term COVID,” “post-COVID conditions” and “post-COVID syndrome,” among other names. Understanding PASC at the chemical level remains elusive, experts say.
EVENTS
Pathway to Retirement
Wednesday, 2 p.m. (sponsored by Human Resources)
Graduate Student Mixer
Wednesday, 5 p.m. (sponsored by UCI DREAM Center)
UCI Winter Jazz Concert
Wednesday, 8 p.m. (sponsored by Claire Trevor School of the Arts)
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 Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Facebook, Apple and Other Tech Giants Face Rising Pressure Over Ukraine
The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 27
Cited: David Kaye, clinical professor of law, director, International Justice Clinic, and co-director, Fair Elections and Free Speech Center
CDC: Many healthy Americans can take a break from masks
AP, Feb. 25
Cited: Andrew Noymer, associate professor of public health
‘They were fooled by Putin’: Chinese historians speak out against Russian invasion
The Guardian, Feb. 27
Cited: Jeff Wasserstrom, Chancellor’s Professor of history
#UCICONNECTED
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