Tips for new students; media training for academics

Oct. 10, 2023

Sunlight reflects off of the Social & Behavioral Sciences building’s dichroic glass facade. (Photo: Steve Zylius/UCI)

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

Tips for new and first-gen students

For first-year and transfer students, coming to a large university can be both exciting and daunting, especially for those who are the first in their family to attend college. To help them fit in and navigate the challenges, five professors from the School of Social Sciences who experienced the same first-gen fun and fears offer sage strategies for succeeding in the academy and beyond. Their advice is sensible for non-first-generation students, as well.

UCI Strategic Communications offers media training for academics

Take your media interviewing skills to the next level with “Media Training for Academics, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Spotlight.” It’s a Canvas-based, self-paced course driven by a series of short videos and exercises covering such topics as: what makes news; how to identify, develop and deliver your messages for the media; what to do when a reporter calls; how to prepare for on-camera interviews; how to write and pitch your own op-ed piece; and how to set up professional-style video-call interviews (i.e., how to look good on Zoom). Learn more and get a link to the course registration page on the UCI Communications website or by clicking Enroll in Course (UCINetID required). Once enrolled, you can navigate the Module 1, 2, 3, 4 links at the top of each course page.

Google storage limits for undergrads begin Nov. 1

To comply with Google's decision to end unlimited storage for education accounts, undergrads are now allotted 20GB across Gmail, Google Drive and all GWE applications. Most students are well within this limit and should experience no disruptions, but everyone should check their current usage and abide by digital hygiene best practices. UCI will turn on this storage limit for undergrads on Nov. 1. Limits for faculty, staff and grad students are being turned on progressively through the rest of the year. For more details on Google Storage Tiers visit OIT’s workspace storage page.

Chancellor Gillman issues statement on Mideast violence

This afternoon, UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman released a statement condemning the terrorist attacks in Israel that have taken place in the last few days. “The horrific massacre of innocent individuals in Israel by Hamas is not another international event or policy debate,” Gillman writes. “It is the largest one-day slaughter of Jews anywhere in the world since the end of the Nazi holocaust. There is no notion of ‘freedom fighting’ or anti-Zionism that justifies or can rationalize the targeted murder and kidnapping of more than a thousand civilians.”

UC NEWS

UC statement on Middle East attack

UC Board of Regents Chair Richard Leib and UC President Michael V. Drake issued a statement Monday about the “horrific attack on Israel,” calling it “an act of terrorism” and expressing hope for “a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict that has left so many people grieving, suffering, wounded or killed.” The statement added, “We are grateful that all known UC students, faculty and staff currently in the region are accounted for and safe. UC officials are in contact with them, and they are receiving guidance and following local security recommendations.”

EVENTS

UCI Wellness: Nourishing Your Mind and Body Webinar Series

Nourishing Your Mind and Body Webinar Series
On-demand webcasts (sponsored by Kaiser Permanente)

Webinar for Employees and Dependents: Happiness: A Key to Life’s Satisfaction
Thursday, noon (sponsored by HR Wellness)

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.

#UCICONNECTED

Alum explains how he became a go-to business expert

Since earning his master’s degree in 2008 from The Paul Merage School of Business, Ryan Patel has made numerous media appearances, spoken at the World Economic Forum, interfaced with international leaders and attracted thousands of social media followers. “Ryan has made a massive mark in the business world since he’s left the Merage School,” Dean Ian O. Williamson said. “He’s leveraged his diverse background in multiple industries to become a trusted voice on many important subjects. We are proud of the work he has done at the global level to inform and improve the business community.” Patel recently shared his story and discussed how he hopes to use his influence to increase inclusivity in the business world.

#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.

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.