News briefs

11 July 2001 |

HESSI launch postponed
Launch of Berkeley’s High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager spacecraft on a two-year NASA mission to study solar flares has been postponed indefinitely while a space agency review board completes its investigation of the launch vehicle.

The latest delay came after an X-43A test jet with a highly modified version of a similar Pegasus rocket began to break apart shortly after launch on June 2. NASA decided to postpone launch of the $85 million HESSI spacecraft until preliminary results from the X-43A failure have been released.

Campus releases draft EIR on two projects
Construction noise and the loss of tennis courts and a skateboarding area were identified as the significant, unavoidable environmental impacts associated with building new health sciences and technology research facilities at Berkeley, according to a draft environmental impact report released by the campus.

The campus proposes to replace two outdated and seismically poor research buildings — Stanley Hall and old Davis Hall — with modern, safe structures in the northeast area of the campus. The proposed new buildings will house interdisciplinary research in the health sciences, bioengineering, and information technology.

The UC Board of Regents, which must certify the EIR before approving any construction, is expected to take up the matter in the fall. If approved, the earliest construction could begin would be in 2002, with completion possible in 2005.

Clerical staff eligible for parking program
Members of the clerical and allied services bargaining unit are now eligible to participate in the pre-tax, payroll deduction program offered by Parking and Transportation. This includes all parking permit and alternative transportation programs currently offered as payroll deductions by Parking & Transportation.

There may have been some confusion created by the Parking and Transportation Web site. Union membership is not required to participate in the program.

Campus announces ‘casual’ conversions
Employees who were in limited — formerly known as casual — appointments on January 1 may qualify for retroactive conversion to career employment status.

Affected employees should request that the Office of Human Resources review their work history between Jan. 1, 1998 and Dec. 21, 2000 to determine eligibility for retroactive conversion. Employees who meet the eligibility criteria are eligible to be converted to career employment status retroactive to the first of the month following Human Resources’ receipt of the Self-ID request. Both the employee and the employee’s current home department will be notified by Human Resources.

See hrweb.berkeley.edu/FORMS/Formlist.htm or hrweb.berkeley.edu/ for information about what kind of past service is eligible, and a Self-ID form with instructions. Employees without Web access can pick up a copy of the form at 207 University Hall or the Information Center at Doe Library.

Nominations sought for staff awards
Nominations for the “Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Awards,” honoring staff who’ve made exceptional contributions to the university or community, are now being accepted.

To be eligible for this non-monetary award, staff must have completed at least one year of employment at the university. Staff with academic or executive titles are not eligible.

See the Chancellor Staff Advisory Committee Web site at campus.chance.berkeley.edu/csac for specific nomination criteria, PDF and MS Word versions of the nomination form and information on submitting the form.
The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m., Friday, September 7. For information, contact Lyn Hunter at dlh@pa.urel.berkeley.edu or 643-0705, or Kati Markowitz at ksmarkow@uclink4.berkeley.edu or 642-8915.

Management skills program applicants
MSAP, the University of California Management Skills Assessment Program, is back from a one-year hiatus.

The residential program, which will be held at Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, Dec. 3-7, 2001, offers participants insights into their managerial competencies, skills and potential through small group work in simulated management scenarios. Participants are given objective feedback on skills that have been determined to be critical for successful management at UC. MSAP benefits those desiring to enter or expand their role in management, including entry-level to mid-level managers.

Visit the MSAP Web site at MSAP.ucdavis.edu for application and program information.
For specific questions, contact MSAP coordinator Ellie Schindelman at ebs@uclink.berkeley.edu or 643-0645.

Applications are due Sept. 21.

Correction
An update on campus construction projects in the June issue incorrectly noted that the Berkeley Art Museum will be closed for the duration of its seismic retrofit project. The project is slated to continue through October, but exhibits will open in September.