The University of California Office of the President has announced the opening of the application period for the next staff advisor-designate to the Regents.

UCOP Learning and Development is starting the New Year by offering classes to help you meet your development goals. Upcoming topics include:

• Conducting Effective Meetings, Feb. 23
• How to Deal with Difficult People, March 31

Want to share your views about UC pension and retiree health benefits? You can do so via a short and confidential online survey. Just go to the Future of UC Retirement Benefits website between February 5 and March 1 and select the survey button. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and all answers are confidential.

California State Summer School for Mathematics & Science (COSMOS) is giving students who love math and science a chance to spend four weeks at one of five UC schools this summer learning about astronomy, biomedical sciences, engineering, robotics and more. tudents are invited to apply to one of the four campus programs. Students should apply online at http://www.ucop.edu/cosmos by March 15.

Join your colleagues and cheer for the Cal Bears basketball teams at an upcoming staff outing! UCOP has an opportunity to purchase a block of tickets at discounted prices.

UCOP’s Ricardo Vázquez appears on Univision each Friday to educate Latino parents and students on higher education issues—in Spanish.

It's not too late to get off to a healthy start in 2010 and reap the rewards. Faculty, staff and their spouses or domestic partners enrolled in a non-Kaiser medical plan are eligible to complete the StayWell health assessment.

More than 50 people received seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccinations at last Wednesday’s flu shot clinic at UCOP. Nurses from UC Berkeley’s Tang Center administered the shots. Participating at the clinic were Pam Cameron, Elaine

Michael Waldman has accepted the position of Customer Service Manager in UCOP's Retirement Administration Service Center.

The Office of the President has approved an exception to Policy 41-Vacation to extend the vacation maximum accrual “grace period” from four months to six months. This extension is being implemented to facilitate the use of vacation time for employees participating in the Furlough/Salary Reduction program. This exception will be effective January 4, 2010 through January 15, 2011.

Beginning with a noon-time event today, UCOP’s Nancy Coolidge will offer a series of talks aimed at helping parents of college-bound students understand financial aid.

On Wednesday, February 3, a walk-in flu shot clinic will be open for UCOP employees and their family members over the age of 16.