News articles this week on a state pension reform proposal barely mentioned, if at all, that proposals like this one would have no impact on the UC pension plan.

A brief message on UC’s At Your Service website makes clear: “This is to let you know that this proposed legislation does not apply to University of California employees, who are under a separate university pension plan, and the state’s proposal does not affect UC’s retirement benefits.”

UC Human Resources Vice President Dwaine Duckett wrote the Aug. 29 message to his UC colleagues.

“As you may have read in the news media, Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers unveiled a pension reform plan on Aug. 28, 2012,” Duckett wrote, then referred to a couple of provisions: one under which many state workers would be required to pay higher pension contributions, and another under which the state would raise the retirement age for maximum benefits.

But those “state workers” do not include UC workers. UC itself has already embarked on pension reform; for example, employees and the university are now contributing again to the retirement plan, after a “holiday” of nearly 20 years.

The rate for most employees started at about 2 percent in 2010 and is now up to 5 percent. The university's contribution rate started at 4 percent and is now up to 10 percent.

In July 2013, the rates are due to increase to 6.5 percent (employees) and 12 percent (university) — for a combined contribution rate that will for the first time in many years cover the annual increase in UCRP liability for active members (more than 17 percent of pay on average).

More information on UCRP changes.

A pint a day for a year

Blood donors this week collectively gave the equivalent of a pint a day for a whole year: 365 pints.

“These are wonderful results,” said Brie Leon of the Sacramento-based BloodSource, which runs regular blood drives in partnership with the ASUCD.

This week’s drive took place Tuesday and Wednesday in bloodmobiles parked alongside the Quad. Leon said 414 people registered (not all gave blood, for a variety of reasons), and the registrants included 82 new donors. 

“UC Davis has been our partner in saving lives for years and we are so lucky to have your help because we wouldn’t see such great results without you,” Leon said in an email to people who assist in running the blood drive.  

They include three student directors: Sylvia Tan '15, biological sciences; Lisa Teixeira '13, biochemistry; and Ronald Vo '13, biological sciences with an emphasis in neurobiology, physiology behavior.

Out with the old, in with the new

Today's the day: Your 2011-12 campus poster calendar expires!

The 2012-13 calendars, designed by university Communications, arrived this week at all UC Davis Stores. The calendars cost 90 cents each before the 10 percent departmental discount, and are available while supplies last.

You can buy folded calendars in the stores, or send in an order by email (to Sarah Brodberg, sabrodberg@ucdavis.edu) and have the calendars delivered for free. Orders should include department name, contact name, phone number, delivery location (room number and building), quantity or quantities (folded and rolled), and DaFIS account of billing ID.

Note: If you faxed a preorder to (530) 754-7819, you will need to send it in again to a different number: (530) 752-4791.

Bookstore purchase orders also are acceptable, with the same information, via fax, (530) 752-4791.

If you want rolled calendars, you can pay to have them delivered for $2.50 (shipping materials fee, per order), or you can pick them up at the main store (Memorial Union) or the medical center store in Sacramento.

Retiree Center moves to Buehler

The Retiree Center switched buildings this week at the campus’s south entry, moving from the Conference Center to the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.

“Once we are settled in, we will plan an open house in our new space,” said Sue Barnes, the Retiree Center coordinator.

The new space is on Buehler’s first floor, in the suite of offices to the left of the main entrance. Barnes said the new location provides much needed additional space, including three offices and a reception area, as well as more storage space.

The Retiree Center's telephone number is unchanged: (530) 752-5182.