Nov. 1 - Top 100 global university, STARS Platinum sustainability rating
Section 1
Spot the open parking space: This view of downtown Los Angeles from our campus only makes it appear La-La Land is a short walk away. Photo by Ian Parker
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
UCI among the world’s top 100 universities
U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the 2022 Best Global Universities place UCI at No. 86. Other UC campuses (and their rankings) are: UC Berkeley (4); UC San Francisco (11); UCLA (14); UC San Diego (21); and UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara (67-tied).
Campus becomes two-time recipient of STARS Platinum rating for sustainability
With a 2021 sustainability report that received the highest score of any institution ever, UCI once again achieved a rare platinum rating through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System. UCI, which was previously bestowed a platinum rating in 2018, is one of only four universities to be a two-time recipient.
Netflix Pathways Bootcamps prepare tomorrow’s tech leaders
The Division of Continuing Education invites recent alumni to apply to Netflix Pathways Bootcamps, which are free online training programs aimed at diversifying and accelerating the careers of the next generation of tech leaders. Starting in January, introductory-level bootcamps in software development, data science and UX/UI design will be offered to alumni from the classes of 2020 and 2021.
A new way to transplant insulin-producing islet cells
In recent years, transplanting pancreatic islet cells has offered an alternative to insulin injections for people with type 1 diabetes. In a paper recently posted by Communications Biology, Jonathan Lakey, professor of surgery and biomedical engineering, and his fellow UCI researchers describe a promising new method they developed to transplant insulin-producing islet cells.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
California Department of Public Health updates guidelines for gatherings
For indoor events with 1,000 or more people (also known as mega-events), attendees must provide proof that they:
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Are fully vaccinated, or
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Have received a negative COVID-19 test
Attendees cannot self-attest to verify vaccination status or a negative test result. Beginning Dec. 1, attendees ages 18 and older must provide identification at indoor mega-events. Your identification must confirm you are the person:
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Presenting proof of vaccination status or negative test result, and
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Entering the venue
COVID updates
- The pandemic has now killed 5 million people around the world, and the U.S. is the country with the highest total number of confirmed deaths (745,800) from the virus, according to data released today. Health officials see worrying signs of a surge in other parts of the world — just as some nations are relaxing international travel rules.
- Vaccines prevented 245,000 deaths in the U.S., models show. Without vaccinations, the delta surge would have been "an unmitigated disaster," pushing deaths nationwide to about 1 million, according to Chapman University research.
- New COVID cases in the U.S. rose slightly in the past week. The spike is driven by increases in the interior west, from Arizona to North Dakota.
- U.S. regulators are delaying their decision on Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 17-year-olds while they study the rare risk of heart inflammation, the company said Sunday.
- Playing college football games didn't spread COVID among athletes, according to a study published Friday in JAMA Network Open.
EVENTS
Find Your Future at UCI virtual open house
Wednesday, 10 a.m. through Thursday, 6 p.m. (sponsored by Graduate Division)
Wednesday Wellness Walk: UCI Arboretum
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. (sponsored by Student Wellness & Health Promotion)
New Organization Orientation
Wednesday, 2 p.m. (sponsored by Office of Campus Organizations & Volunteer Programs)
Shri Parshvanath Presidential Chair in Jain Studies’ 3rd Lecture in Ethical Innovations: Beyond Animal Agriculture
Wednesday, 4 p.m. (sponsored by School of Humanities)
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.
You probably qualify for a COVID-19 booster already, even if you don't realize it, several health experts say
Insider, Oct. 29
Cited: Bernadette Boden-Albala, director and founding dean of the Program of Public Health
How Children Develop Fine Motor Skills
U.S. News & World Report, Oct. 29
Cited: Stephanie Reich, professor of education
Hoping to lure back retail investors, Robinhood is handing out dogecoin in Burger King sweepstakes
Yahoo Finance, Nov. 1
Cited: Chris Schwarz, associate professor of finance
#UCICONNECTED
#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
5 new campus cases
One employee and four students tested positive for COVID-19 Friday through Sunday. For more information, visit the UCI COVID-19 dashboard.
Remember to upload your vaccine record
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 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.