All members of the campus community are invited to a forum next week on the initiative to introduce Microsoft and Google offerings as UC Davis' central e-mail and unified communications services for faculty and staff.

The forum is schduled from 3:10 to 4:30 p.m. Monday (Feb. 27) in 1065 Kemper Hall. RSVPs are not needed.

The e-mail transition, which is scheduled in phases starting in March, is the product of an extensive study conducted by a committee jointly appointed last year by Professor Robert Powell, in his role then as chair of the Academic Senate, and Peter M. Siegel, the campus's chief information officer.

The project will move central e-mail services for faculty and staff from Geckomail to one of two new campus-provided services: uConnect Microsoft Exchange or DavisMail Google Apps. Each option includes shared calendaring and other features.

Departments will choose the service that best meets the needs of their faculty, graduate students and staff. Many administrative departments already use uConnect, and some units that run their own e-mail services are already planning to retire them and make the transition to DavisMail or uConnect. Undergraduate students will continue to use DavisMail.

Read more.

Staff adviser applications due March 2

The application deadline is next Friday (March 2) for staff adviser to the Board of Regents. The selected staff member will serve for one year as staff adviser-designate, then become staff adviser for a year.

For example, Penelope "Penny" Herbert, manager in the Department of Clinical Operations, UC Davis Health System, is now serving as staff adviser, after having served for one year as staff adviser-designate. Herbert, therefore, will have served two years total when her term comes to an end in June.

Kevin Smith, chief financial and compliance officer for the UCLA chancellor's office, will move up to staff adviser in July.

And, out of the selection process that began Jan. 20, someone new will take his place as staff adviser-designate.

The staff adviser program, now in its sixth year, allows for two staff and-or non-Academic Senate academic employees to participate in open sessions of designated Board of Regents committees.

The application form and more information are available online. Questions about the staff adviser position and the application process should be directed to Jeannene Whalen, Employee Relations, UC Office of the President: (510) 987-0853 or Jeannene.Whalen@ucop.edu.

Registration open for ADMAN conference

Registration is open for the 2012 ADMAN Mid-Management Conference — and the organizers are once again advising: Register early, because the conference fills up fast.

ADMAN is the Administrative Management Group, which holds the Mid-Management Conference annually to address topics of interest to campus managers, find ways to improve and simplify business operations at all levels, promote professional growth of all department and unit administrators and managers, and encourage work-life enrichment through training and understanding.

This year’s conference is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, in the Activities and Recreation Center Ballroom. The theme is Tools to Build Spirit.

The keynote presenters: Tim and Kris O’Shea, former corporate professionals in sales, training and human resources, with second jobs at night: comedy writing and performing. Now they are internationally recognized speakers, presenting their unique blend of business humor.

Registration and more information. Fees (including a buffet breakfast and a catered, sit-down lunch): $115 from now until the Feb. 29 deadline. Only departmental recharges are allowed as payment.

Questions? Contact ADMAN Chair Jessica Potts, (530) 752-3988 or jrpotts@ucdavis.edu.