" UCSF specialist - believes the new COVID Variant ‘Omicron’ variant is already here."

 "New COVID Variant ‘Omicron’ Identified; Here’s What You Need To Know" https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/11/27/new-covid-variant-omicron-identified-dow-stocks-tumble-more-than-900-points/ 

includes: 

" University of California San Francisco infectious disease specialist Dr. Peter Chin-Hong believes the new COVID Variant ‘Omicron’ variant is already here."

 and, 

"Explainer: How worried should we be about the Omicron variant?" https://www.reuters.com/world/how-worried-should-we-be-about-omicron-variant-2021-11-27/ 

 -and another UCSF expert (looks like might be the same one that got in the middle of the Cal football dustup on Covid protocols a couple weeks ago) on the new variant Omicron in:

Munger Hall turkey - The Latest Letters to UCSB's Chancellor Yang, UC-OP and UC Regents on it, more.

see:

"Concerned Faculty Letter to UCSB Chancellor and Senate Chair on Munger Hall"
http://utotherescue.blogspot.com/2021/11/concerned-faculty-letter-to-ucsb.html

and this other important letter :
"Former UC Associate Vice Chancellors, Campus Architects Send Letter Against Munger Hall to UC Regents and President Drake | The Daily Nexus 
"“For The Regents to accept a project that so blatantly ignores clearly established development guidelines calls into question the purpose and value of the entire campus planning enterprise,” the letter read. "'
https://dailynexus.com/2021-11-24/former-uc-associate-vice-chancellors-campus-architects-send-letter-against-munger-hall-to-uc-regents-and-president-drake/
____

"Student Researcher Union Authorizes Strike Due to Lack of Recognition From the UC | The Daily Nexus"
https://dailynexus.com/2021-11-24/student-researcher-union-authorizes-strike-due-to-lack-of-recognition-from-the-uc/
____

"After 50 Years, The University Of California Is Done With The SAT Experiment'
https://www.forbes.com/sites/akilbello/2021/11/24/after-50-years-the-university-of-california-is-done-with-the-sat-experiment/?sh=67ef18495cef
____
On this next, did he really 'urge' or 'convince' or really  just respond to what was already suggested?

"This Cal grad quit her job on the urging of Harry Styles"
https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/Harry-Styles-tells-Cal-grad-to-quit-job-she-did-16616272.php

"Harry Styles convinces Berkeley graduate to quit her pandemic job"
https://news.yahoo.com/harry-styles-convinces-berkeley-graduate-165720736.html

Anyway, some T-Day tunes;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIIuzB11dsA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yezDEWako8U


________
then this:
- the latest of what is not quite like anything else- and it seems a longtime preference of 'Neptune' over 'Poseidon':

and,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxEy00HYRfc

Audit findings say University of California on some Covid Relief "Did Not Maximize Available Federal Pandemic Funds, and They Prioritized Students Differently When Awarding Relief Funds", more.

"Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Some University Campuses Did Not Maximize Available Federal Pandemic Funds, and They Prioritized Students Differently When Awarding Relief Funds"
http://auditor.ca.gov/reports/2021-611/index.html#section1
..."if the UC Office of the President and the CSU Chancellor’s Office had provided more guidance to campuses about how to distribute HEERF student aid, these inconsistencies may have been prevented."...
__
"California state auditor: 'Speak the truth to power"
includes:
 ..." I would say one of the challenging audits was the University of California. … When we were conducting the audit we did a few years ago and we found out that the Office of the President was interfering with our ability to work directly with campuses, that was a major issue for me. … Most agencies don’t do that. … I think that’s the one and only time I ever had to inform anybody that an entity directly interfered with our ability to do our work independently.” 
in- CalMatters
https://calmatters.org/politics/2021/11/california-state-auditor-exit-interview/
__
UC admissions testing news and also the separate subject of math instruction effects both mentioned earlier - now covered here:
"California education: Big changes coming- CalMatters"
https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2021/11/california-education-big-changes/

__
"Berkeley's only landmarked gas station gets a sorrowful goodbye"
https://www.berkeleyside.org/2021/11/21/berkeleys-only-landmarked-gas-station-gets-a-sorrowful-goodbye
- yes, they should have incorporated it:
https://www.berkeleyside.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2009-framework-jpeg-1.jpg

University of California leaders at regents meeting anticipate new UC admissions testing policy to reverberate, trend, have wide impact.

 University of California sticks with test-free admissions, won’t replace SAT and ACT with new standardized test | EdSource"

https://edsource.org/2021/university-of-california-sticks-with-test-free-admissions-wont-replace-sat-and-act-with-new-standardized-test/663870

"UC won’t use any test for admissions, system leaders affirm - CalMatters"
https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2021/11/uc-admissions-no-tests/

or,

https://ktla.com/news/california/uc-slams-the-door-on-standardized-admissions-tests/
___

"UC Regents explores creating in-house real estate operating company | Pensions & Investments"
https://www.pionline.com/real-estate/uc-regents-explores-creating-house-real-estate-operating-company

UC Regents discuss financial investments, research hub
https://www.dailycal.org/2021/11/17/uc-regents-discuss-financial-investments-research-hub/
____
"Strike Averted!"
https://cucfa.org/2021/11/strike-averted/

University of California Lecturers' Strike Called Off Part II, and more

 see the full series Cal Matters archives over last several months of their coverage on UC Lecturers -and now this latest:

"UC lecturers win raises, concessions in deal that averts two-day strike"
https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2021/11/uc-lecturer-strike-2/

includes:
"The threat of the strike was technically over accusations of the UC’s unfair labor practices rather than the larger contract terms. That distinction is important: By law the union couldn’t strike over the contract because they were in state-led mediation with the UC. Adding to the confusion, the UC and lecturers have also been negotiating behind closed doors through a state mediator.

The lecturer union and UC settled a key unfair labor practice gripe. Lecturers will now get four weeks of paid family leave at 100% of pay; previously the UC was offering paid leave at 70% and only for lecturers who worked more than 1,250 hours in a year, which excluded most of the workforce because so many work part time. The union was asking for eight weeks of paid leave."
..."Lecturers didn’t win everything they wanted. The UC still won’t pay into a lecturer’s Social Security if the lecturer works less than 50% of what’s considered full-time. Lecturers in that situation also don’t receive UC retirement contributions. The lecturers didn’t get a promise of a neutral arbitration committee to settle workload disputes nor changes to grievance procedures."....

__

"The union had filed seven “unfair labor practices” claims with the state against UC, including one that said the university was improperly refusing to negotiate over family leave.  UC officials have called the allegations groundless and on Wednesday"    University of California strike averted after lecturers reach ‘historic’ agreement with UC system
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/University-of-California-strike-averted-after-16628254.php
______

"UC Davis quietly added caste to its anti-discrimination policy. Will it cause others to do the same?"
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/UC-Davis-quietly-added-caste-to-its-16626845.php
____

"Report outlines the Class of 2020's student debt burden"
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/11/17/report-outlines-class-2020s-student-debt-burden
___

detailed article of how
UCSF med personnel get messy in commenting on public health measures, covid protocls,etc  at UC Berkeley involving Golden Bears Football team:
"Cal COVID outbreak: Dr. Monica Gandhi walks back criticism of Berkeley"
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/11/15/covid-expert-walks-back-criticism-of-berkeley-health-officials-over-cal-football-situation/

____

Chancellor Yang at UCSB gets more criticism as result of Munger project and admissions decisions in reader reactions to LA Times- cross posted here:
"Letters to the Editor: Who at UCSB decided to enroll more students without building enough housing?"
https://news.yahoo.com/letters-editor-ucsb-decided-enroll-110019115.html

_____

"UC lecturer strike that threatened to cancel classes statewide is averted after agreement reached "
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/uc-lecturer-strike-that-threatened-to-cancel-classes-statewide-is-averted-after-agreement-reached/

'Tentative, Amazing'- University of California Lecturers' Strike Called Off

 "University of California lecturers' strike averted after 'major victories,' union says"

https://www.kcra.com/article/university-of-california-lecturers-strike-averted-after-major-victories-union-says/38277919

The message to members touting its "major victories" also said new protections include:

    Multi-year appointments in the first six years of teaching
    Reviews and merit pay increases of at least 3% with every reappointment
    Rehiring rights
    A "clear pathway" for promotion to senior continuing lecturer
    "Greater consistency, transparency, and enforceability of workload issues."
    A $1,500 bonus for every member once ratified
    Cost of living increases through 2025
    Four weeks of paid family leave

" Non-Tenured UC Faculty Members Reach Tentative Labor Agreement, Averting Two-Day Strike
"It’s been a long fight to get here," the co-chair of the union said. "It’s an amazing day." "
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/non-tenured-uc-faculty-members-reach-tentative-labor-agreement-averting-two-day-strike/2761430/

The agreement includes:

    A transition plan providing job stability provisions that will take effect beginning July 1, 2022.
    Job stability with multi-year appointments in the first six years, with reviews before reappointment and the right to be reappointed if deemed effective.
    A pathway to apply to become a senior continuing lecturer.
    Specific and transparent performance review criteria.
    A $1,500 signing bonus upon ratification and 3% annual salary increments.
    Expanded eligibility for paid medical leave to all bargaining unit faculty.
    Increased support for members with children to fully paid leave of four weeks.
    Expanded retirement and health benefits for summer sessions lecturers.
    Professional development funding.

The agreement also raises the salary floor for those non-tenured employees and provides greater consistency, transparency and enforceability when it comes to workload issues.
The tentative contract is expected to be delivered to UC-AFT members for ratification within the next week or so, according to UC-AFT UCLA Chapter co-chair John Bransetter.
____

"UCI breaks ground on $1.3B hospital, medical complex in ceremony at Irvine campus - Los Angeles Times"
https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2021-11-16/uci-breaks-ground-on-1-3b-hospital-medical-complex-on-irvine-campus-in-ceremony

University of California Regents Meeting, November 16-18, 2021 Limited Capacity In Person Hybrid

Watch this week's  open sessions UC Regents Committee and Board Meeting Sessions here: 

https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/videos/nov2021/nov2021.html

Earlier:

 see: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/agendas/nov21.html

--none of the committee meeting materials links are active yet but will add in below as available- this is really just a schedule the regents have posted right now. The agenda is supposed to be posted 10 days before each of their meetings so hopefully by tomorrow there will  be agenda items for each committee listed. 11/6: They have now updated with active links to the agenda items.

University of California Regents Meeting, November 16-18, 2021

**IMPORTANT: TO REDUCE RISKS RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19), THE NOVEMBER 2021 REGENTS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED MAINLY AS A TELECONFERENCE WITH EXTREMELY LIMITED IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE. PUBLIC COMMENT MAY BE MADE BY PHONE OR IN PERSON. EXTREMELY LIMITED SEATING WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE PROPER PHYSICAL DISTANCING. ALL ATTENDEES MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED, COMPLETE A SYMPTOM SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE, AND TAKE A RAPID ANTIGEN COVID-19 TEST PROVIDED BY UC AT THE MEETING SITE EACH DAY PRIOR TO ENTRY. ALL ATTENDEES MUST WEAR A MASK WHILE IN THE BUILDING. FOR MORE DETAILS, SEE NOVEMBER 2021 REGENTS MEETING INFORMATION.**

Meetings of The Regents of the University of California and its committees are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 16-18, 2021, by teleconference, as follows. Please note that all times indicated and the order of business are approximate and subject to change.

Click on each Committee/Board meeting below to see the agendas and on each open session agenda item to see background materials.

Live video streaming is available during the open session meetings.

Notices (printable pdf) --not available usually until the day of the meeting fyi

Regents Meeting: November 16-18, 2021

Tuesday, November 16
2:00 pm	Tuesday Board (open session - includes public comment session) (pdf)
2:30 pm	Investments Committee (open session) (pdf)
4:00 pm	National Laboratories Committee (open session) (pdf)

Wednesday, November 17
8:30 am	Wednesday Board (open session - includes public comment session) (pdf)
Concurrent Meetings
9:30 am	Public Engagement and Development Committee (open session) (pdf)
9:30 am	Compliance and Audit Committee (open session) (pdf)
Upon end of open	Compliance and Audit Committee (closed session) (pdf)
12:45 pm	Special Committee on Nominations (closed session) (pdf)
Concurrent Meetings
1:30 pm	Academic and Student Affairs Committee (open session) (pdf)
1:30 pm	Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session) (pdf)
4:30 pm	Governance Committee (closed session) (pdf)

Thursday, November 18
8:30 am	Thursday Board (open session - includes public comment session) (pdf)
12:30 pm	Joint Meeting: Academic and Student Affairs Committee & Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session) (pdf)
Upon end of open	Joint Meeting: Academic and Student Affairs Committee & Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (closed session) (pdf)
Upon end of closed	Board (closed session) (pdf)

Times indicated and order of business subject to change