Chancellor Gillman to speak at UC #SpeechMatters conference tomorrow

UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman is among several leading scholars appearing in the University of California’s #SpeechMatters 2023: Fighting for our Democratic Freedoms conference, which will be held online Thursday at 9 a.m. Other speakers include Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley School of Law and former dean of the UCI law school, and University of California President (and former UCI Chancellor) Michael V. Drake.

The 30x30 initiative: gender diversity in police recruiting

The UCI Police Department, led by Chief Liz Griffin (above), has joined law enforcement agencies nationwide in committing to the 30×30 Pledge, a collection of low- and no-cost actions to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. These actions can help policing agencies assess their gender equity; identify factors that may be driving disparities; and develop strategies to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. The ultimate goal of the 30×30 Initiative is to have police recruit classes be 30% women by 2030 and to ensure that policing agencies are truly representative of the jurisdiction being served. 

UCI study links teen cannabis use to fertility problems

In a new study, UCI researchers found that exposure to the compound tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive component of cannabis, at a young age could lead to a 50% depletion of ovarian follicles and matured eggs in adulthood. The study, which was published online in the journal Toxicological Sciences, shows that the use of cannabis earlier in a female’s life could have long-term effects on her ability to conceive. Roughly 3.3 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 and 4.8 million people aged 12 and older reported using cannabis in a 2019 survey. Up to this point, very few studies have been conducted that demonstrate the long-term negative health impacts of cannabis use, and even more unclear are the reproductive health implications on women.

What to know about returning from spring break

Students returning from spring break will not be required to test for COVID-19 upon arrival to campus; however, they are strongly encouraged to test before returning. Students who test positive on a laboratory or home test should call or email Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services and not return to campus until they meet criteria for release from isolation. While off-campus, students who have met the criteria to be released from isolation may self-clear. Please call Contact Tracing before returning to assure you have met the criteria. Commuter students who have met the criteria to be released from isolation may self-clear. You do not need to send in proof of a negative test, and you do not need to wait to be contacted by Student Health. Residential students in campus-provided isolation housing will need to coordinate with Campus Housing for release from isolation once they have met criteria for release. Through spring quarter, UCI will continue with student (and employee) case reporting and investigation, and isolation housing for on-campus students. UCI will also continue to have antigen test kits and face coverings available to all students and employees.

UC regents seek next staff adviser

The University of California Regents are accepting applications for their next staff adviser. Applicants may be non-represented or represented staff or non-Senate academic employees who have at least five years of UC service. Applications are due Friday, March 24. More information is available on the staff adviser website.

Highlighting groundbreaking research by UCI women

Claudia Benavente is an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her area of specialization is cancer biology and her research is focused on solid tumors, primarily childhood cancers; however, she is also researching two very aggressive forms of adult solid tumors: triple-negative breast cancer and small cell lung cancer. Benavente’s lab is investigating the therapeutic potential of a novel inhibitor for the most aggressive form of breast cancer: triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for approximately 12% of breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. and disproportionally affects Black women and carriers of hereditary forms of breast cancer.

#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.

Upload your vaccine and booster records

Daily COVID-19 symptom check

By coming to campus each day, students and employees are attesting they are free of COVID-19 symptoms and are not COVID-19 positive. If you currently have symptoms of COVID-19 or recently tested positive, do not come to campus, or if you currently live on campus stay in your residence, and follow instructions for reporting your case or assessing symptoms on the UCI Forward page. Close contacts to a COVID-19 case are not required to stay home or quarantine, but should follow guidance for close contact instructions for masking and testing on the UCI Forward page.

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.

UCI Forward – information on campus status and operational updates

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

Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services – assistance with COVID questions including vaccines and vaccine uploads or to report a case, available at contacttracing@uci.edu or 949-824-2300

Employee Experience Center – employee information on COVID benefits

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