News Briefs
03 December 2008
Robert Price to serve as interim vice chancellor for research
Professor of Political Science Robert Price, who has served as associate vice chancellor for research since 2001, has agreed to serve as interim vice chancellor until June 30, 2009, or until a new vice chancellor is appointed, whichever is earlier.
Price's interim role is occasioned by the October retirement of former Vice Chancellor for Research Beth Burnside. A search for her permanent replacement is under way.
UC's Education Abroad Program in Israel to reopen in fall 2009
After a review of safety issues and the means available to monitor and mitigate security risks, the University of California is in discussions with the Rothberg Inter-national School at Hebrew University of Jerusalem with the intention of reopening UC's study-abroad program there next fall. It is hoped that students will be able to enroll for studies as soon as Summer 2009.
On Nov. 20, the UC Academic Senate Committee on International Education approved the academic plan for the program at Hebrew University. Terms are now being negotiated for the full implementation of the program.
The university suspended the program in 2002 following the listing of Israel on the U.S. Department of State's travel warning list.
Nominations open for 2009-10 Regents' Professorships and Lectureships
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Faculty Welfare Sheldon Zedeck encourages schools and departments, through deans and department chairs, to nominate distinguished people in the arts, letters, sciences, or business to campus appointments as Regents' Professors (usually for one semester) or Regents' Lecturers (for one or two weeks).
Information, instructions, and the nomination form, are online (vpaafw.chance.berkeley.edu/regents_professor.html). The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. Inquiries should be directed to either Professor Emeritus John Letiche (526-5761), chair of the program's campus committee, or Cathy Romanski (642-7759) in the Academic Senate office.
Screenings, discussions to consider baseball in Japan and the U.S.
A Saturday-morning film screening and symposium, and a Sunday-afternoon screening and discussion, will bring perspectives on baseball in Japan to campus this weekend. The event is being organized by Duncan Williams, director of the campus's Center for Japanese Studies.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Lipman Room, Barrows Hall, there will be a screening of the ESPN documentary The Zen of Bobby (2008), which focuses on the experiences of former major-league manager Bobby Valentine as the manager of a Japanese baseball team. A symposium (10:30-11:30 a.m.) will follow, featuring two former major leaguers (Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to play in the U.S., and Warren Cromartie, who played in Japan following his U.S. career) and two academics (from Yale and Harvard) who have written books on Japanese baseball.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum Theater, a screening of American Pastime (2007), a film about baseball in Japanese-American internment camps during World War II, will be followed by a discussion with the film's associate producer, Kerry Nakagawa.
Campus AIDS Life/Cycle team sets informational meeting Dec. 10
Cyclists, activists, prospective volunteers, and others interested in joining or supporting the campus team participating in next year's AIDS Life/Cycle fundraising ride, from San Francisco to Los Angeles, are invited to attend an informational meeting on campus on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. For the location, contact Christine Shaff (643-4793) or Devin Wicks (643-7158), or keep an eye on the online Campus Calendar.
Faculty encouraged to create bSpace sites now for spring
To help faculty get a headstart on the spring semester, Educational Technology Services (ETS) suggests they create their course websites now. Step-by-step help is available online. Although the process is intended to be straightforward, faculty desiring individual assistance will benefit from preparing now, since ETS often receives many requests for support at the beginning of each semester. To sign up for a bSpace workshop this month, register online.