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The independent is trying something new with the scheduling of its public meeting for the spring quarter. Instead of meeting at night, the board will meet during the day, and, instead of having one meeting in Davis or Sacramento, the board will hold simultaneous meetings on both campuses.

The meetings will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, in the DeCarli Room, (second floor), Davis campus; and 3225A/B on the Sacramento campus. You may attend whichever meeting you like. Board members will split up, so there will be a contingent at each meeting.

The board holds public meetings quarterly during the regular academic year. Up until now, the board has alternated between the Davis and Sacramento campuses, and held its meetings at night.

Each public session starts with board member introductions and information about the board's purpose and how complaints can be filed. The board then invites public comment.

Million Cat Challenge hits milestone: 500,000 saved

Animal lovers all across the country, from the School of Veterinary Medicine at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis to the University of Florida, held a virtual celebration April 11 as the hit the halfway mark of 500,000 cats saved. And it was accomplished in just the first two years of what is supposed to be a five-year campaign.

“We’ve learned to design better facilities, optimize operations and market adoptable pets and services more creatively,” said Kate Hurley, veterinarian and director of 51�ԹϺ��� Davis’ Koret Shelter Medicine Program. “Most importantly, we’ve found new ways to engage the community as our partner in lifesaving.”

She’s the campaign co-founder, along with Julie Levy, professor and director of the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida. They’ve enlisted some 400 shelters in the Million Cat Challenge.

“We’ve reached a tipping point; nobody wants to turn back now,” Hurley said. “Shelters now have strategies that are more humane, are more effective and better serve cats and communities. These strategies really work, and on April 11, we’ll have 500,000 witnesses to prove it.”

The organizers invited veterinary staffs everywhere, and the people who adopted all those cats, to come together — on the Internet — for Monday’s celebration, featuring confetti and kittens galore, and the Million Cat Counter, which rolled past 500,000.

Medical plan satisfaction survey underway

51�ԹϺ��� Human Resources this week launched its annual medical plan satisfaction survey, the results of which will be used in to help in planning and shaping medical plan offerings in future years. The sample includes more than 35,000 randomly selected faculty, staff and retirees (as well as their spouses or domestic partners). Retirees enrolled in Medicare plans will receive a separate, paper-only survey later in the month.

51�ԹϺ��� has engaged DSS Research, an independent research firm, to conduct the survey. Faculty and staff with work email addresses on file will receive emails from “University of California Human Resources (surveyreply@dsslive.com)” with a link to the survey. Each recipient also receives a username and PIN for the survey website.

People without work email addresses will receive, by mail, a paper survey and login information so they can either submit the paper questionnaire or go online to complete the survey.

The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous and confidential. The results will be available in late October prior to open enrollment.

Brainfood Talk: Long-Range Development Plan

A Brainfood Talk scheduled for this week has a 51�ԹϺ��� Davis flavor: "Planning for the Campus of the Future," about updating and extending the Long-Range Development Plan, or LRDP, to take it out 10 years to 2027.

Brainfood Talks, presented by the Emeriti and Retirees associations, are free and open to the campus community.

The associations announced Bob Segar, assistant vice chancellor in charge of Campus Planning and Community Resources, as the guest speaker. He has led campus planning since 1989.

The 51�ԹϺ��� Davis Arboretum and Public Garden falls under his purview, and, as part of his Brainfood Talk, he plans to discuss an arboretum program whereby students are helping in efforts to create a more sustainable campus environment.

Segar's Brainfood Talk is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday (April 14) at the Buehler Alumni Center. There is no preregistration. People who attend are invited to bring their lunches; the Emeriti Association will provide coffee, tea and cookies.

More about the Long-Range Development Plan, on the .

Spring cleaning: E-waste drop-off next week

Spring cleaning in the age of “e” means getting rid of broken electronics in an environmentally friendly way — and can do that for you. All you need to do is drop off your e-waste, for free, from noon to 3 p.m. next Tuesday, April 19, at the , 615 Hopkins Road, across from University Airport.

Acceptable items: Nonfunctioning, university-owned desktop (or smaller) electronic items such as desktop and laptop computers, monitors, keyboards and mice; software; printer fax machines and shredders; cords and cables; personal digital assistants; projectors, televisions, and VCR and DVD players; speakers and phones; typewriters and microwaves. (If you have any of these items that work, and want to get rid of them, Aggie Surplus will pick them up at no charge, for resale.)

Aggie Surplus’ e-waste collection also will accept small lab items, such as shakers and water baths.

Here’s what’s not acceptable: items with 51�ԹϺ��� Davis property stickers; items requiring decommissioning (e.g., containing oil or refrigerant) or containing hazardous chemicals; household batteries (you can leave these for pick-up with your campus mail); and toner cartridges (also can be placed for pick-up with your campus mail).

Aggie Surplus gave these additional guidelines: Remove items from original packaging and do not place items in small boxes. And, if you’re dropping off a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) unit, remove the batteries. Finally, if you plan on dropping off a large quantity of items (50 or more), Aggie Surplus would appreciate advance notice.

Still have questions? Contact Aggie Surplus by telephone, 530-752-2145, or email.

Sunday swim launches Rec Pool's new season

Everyone in the pool! The Rec Pool! The 2016 pool season opens this Sunday (April 17).

Campus Recreation and Unions announced open swim is scheduled every afternoon, seven days a week, through Sept. 30. Hours are as follows:

• Monday-Thursday — 1-6 p.m.
• Friday-Sunday — noon-7 p.m.

Extended hours, noon-7 p.m., are scheduled on three Monday holidays: Memorial Day, May 30; Fourth of July; and Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Students and CRU members are always admitted free. Daily fees for others are as follows: continuing students, $2; general public, $4.50; and youths, 3-17, $4. Monthly and season passes also are available. No charge for ages 2 and under, but be advised the Rec Pool complex no longer has a wading/baby pool.

6th Jeopardy! appearance set for April 27

If you missed 51�ԹϺ��� Davis’ last five appearances on Jeopardy!, you still have the chance to catch more.

A pair of veterinary medicine-themed clues filmed on campus will air on the game show April 27. Jeopardy! is shown at 7 p.m. on Sacramento’s ABC10.

Most recently, 51�ԹϺ��� Davis appeared on Jeopardy! March 31 with a clue about vintage wine.

The clues were all filmed on campus last year, when the show’s Clue Crew visited for three days, making stops at the School of Veterinary Medicine, the Teaching and Research Winery, and the August A. Busch III Brewing and Food Science Laboratory. Clue Crew members Sarah Foss and Jimmy McGuire read answers at each location.

Earlier coverage: The answer is: 'Who’s on Jeopardy! again?’