(COVID-19): Campus Health Updates
Section 1
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2/5/2021 - Daily COVID-19 Graduate Division Update
Dear Graduate Students and Post-Docs,
Welcome to Black History Month. If you have not read it already, I encourage you to read this excellent piece sent out by OIE recognizing some of our groundbreaking anteaters: https://inclusion.uci.edu/2021/02/01/black-history-month-recognizing-black-groundbreakers-in-the-anteater-community-%E2%99%A5-%E2%98%85-%E2%9C%9A/
I also want to recognize that while our Black graduate student community is small (~3% of our overall student population), this group has been growing steadily over the years. We are committed to ensuring that UCI graduate school is a place where everyone can THRIVE and not just survive. Thank you for working with us on that mission!
Some GOOD NEWS just came in for our International Students. The Biden administration is pushing back the effective date of the Trump DHS rule to eliminate the H-1B lottery and prioritize H-1B applications subject to the cap for those with the highest salaries. As a reminder, this final rule, which the Trump administration published in the Federal Register before January 20, would basically prohibit our F-1 students from transitioning to an H-1B upon graduation. The rule will now be effective December 31 (as opposed to March 9), and could potentially be scrapped by the Biden administration, the federal courts, or Congress before the end of the year. This will hit the Federal Register on Monday and a 30-day public comment period will follow.
Now, I want to share with you all a concept that was new to me in name but incredibly familiar to me in behavior: Revenge Bedtime Procrastination https://www.glamour.com/story/revenge-bedtime-procrastination-is-real-according-to-psychologists
Have you found yourself staying up far later than you should just to have a moment to yourself to breathe? I know I have. Apparently, this is called revenge bedtime procrastination. For me, my day is back to back to back zoom calls, helping homeschool my kids, emails, housework, and trying to get a little research done too. The past couple of weeks, this has really come to a head for me, and I found myself at my computer until 11 or midnight. I am up before 7 with the kids most days, and I am a person who REALLY likes to get a solid 8 hours of sleep. So, you would think I would go straight to bed after right? I did not. I binge watched a show on Netflix until 1 or 2 some nights. WHY? Well, it turns out this is a real thing, where you take revenge on your life for not giving you any free time by procrastinating going to bed. Since I found a label for this and learned I wasn’t alone, it helped me get a better handle on it. How about any of you? Send me your revenge bedtime procrastination stories! I hope that naming and sharing might help those of you who have the same challenge I do.
I also wanted to start sharing with you all some helpful hints and interesting articles each week that might help you with your graduate studies. I ran into this post this week that I wish I had as a graduate student, Writing theoretical frameworks, analytical frameworks and conceptual frameworks:
Whether you are writing a masters thesis, PhD dissertation, paper, or grant/fellowship proposal, understanding the different types of frameworks available and how to use them is so essential. And for those of you who are not in research programs, this is still useful! Yes, it's true. In my years as a consultant, my understanding of how to deploy conceptual and analytical frameworks in ways that clients could understand was often a key differentiator in what we were delivering.
Internal Fellowships:
In response to the challenges of 2020 and early 2021, we are deploying a wide variety of support. To save you from having to dig out those old emails, here is the list with the contact information and link to apply for each fellowship or support program. You can find the details of each of these here: https://grad.uci.edu/services/COVID-19-Campus%20Health%20Updates%20Archive/ContinuingCOVIDReliefFellowships202021.php
Graduate Division Completion Fellowships
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUBaUb0yA3JYGCCIqJMRDZSCT_2rovFL4GQz8Uf7oXg8HnrA/viewform
Contact: Rodrigo Lazo at rlazo@uci.edu
Doc 2A NRST Support
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_wPJP0c1OC8Agfs8vWjMO07HR9foTd0pHT-Sw_uiAIxW7mA/viewform
Contact: Jaymi Smith at jaymis@uci.edu
DTEI Graduate Fellows 2021
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEijxNNE8MZi-E9s09G-ntXlxJPwg783wwSaiNGzbiwVKLJA/viewform
Contact: Mayank Verma at mayankv@uci.edu
UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s Graduate Student Innovation Fellows Program
https://uci.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cBJ79sVrL64xoi
Contact: Cloe Hsieh at chole.hsieh@uci.edu
Cascade Mentoring Program in Social Sciences and Humanities
https://ci-redcap.hs.uci.edu/surveys/?s=JMKYWKPPAN
Contact: Prof. Barbara Sarnecka at sarnecka@uci.edu
Telematic Bridges 2021 Fellowship
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn0FQFaATxoJlTLd7dK5E2k28OrDrV2UPvh2qeamKY6caioA/viewform
Contact: Michael Dessen at mdesssen@uci.edu
LGBTQ+ Studies Fellowship
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZCYIMT_9EAqB9EtqXHTekmxsJRGKXSOdeRbkoMEMVGtzI-A/viewform
Contact: Jaymi Smith at jaymis@uci.edu
Indigenous Studies Fellowship
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsxixbfvAVUvQ1_RnxVpzhoW4T2t79T8Ah2whefzvvFFQ1JA/viewform
Contact: Jaymi Smith at jaymis@uci.edu
International Covid Response Award
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScV_SASP-wyn4_X66uaIctmN4lZ98id8YzH5ht3VR_CcXZ63g/viewform
Contact: Jaymi Smith at jaymis@uci.edu
Caretaker and Parent Covid Response Award: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehXOgiVZsk8qGIoMmm7Pbcu8ThLHF5P8kNrC0ww7BQYWot5g/viewform
Contact: Jaymi Smith at jaymis@uci.edu
Summer Inclusive Excellence Grants: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdm7z53P3kQ-8f39gyspdWgfdtrE7rePPb6WjMwdfEDTmysEg/viewform
Contact: Rodrigo Lazo at rlazo@uci.edu
External Funding Opportunities
Stanford Introductory Studies Fellowship to Diversify Teaching and Learning. https://apply.interfolio.com/81824
Deadline Feb 16
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society Funding Opportunity
Deadline to submit applications for the spring 2021 grant cycle is March 15, 2021 at 11:59 pm PT: https://sigmaxi.fluidreview.com/
Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program
- The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program provides grants to universities to fund individual doctoral students who conduct research in other countries in modern foreign languages and area studies. Deadline to apply is April 5, 2021 at Noon PT: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsddrap/applicant.html
Accepting Proposals - 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant
Broadening participation in computing is a core part of Microsoft's values; accordingly, Microsoft is excited to continue the Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant that aims to recognize and support diverse doctoral students as they complete their dissertation research in computing-related fields.
- This grant is open to doctoral students in their fourth year or beyond at universities in the United States and Canada, who are underrepresented in the field of computing. This includes those who self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or person with a disability.
- The program allows students to submit a proposal of up to $25,000 USD to support their dissertation research; grant recipients can also participate in a two-day career workshop later this year.
- For questions, please contact Microsoft Research Grants: msrgrant@microsoft.com.
- For more information on our offerings for students and faculty visit our Academic Programs page
Heritage Museum of Orange County Presents a Live Stream Lecture Featuring Dr. S. Ama Wray.
Thursday, February 18, 2021
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrf-2trTsrHNYv7ypOFQbKvKvmDbc73avY
Check out the website for more details: https://heritagemuseumoc.org/. The event is free, but registration is required.
Winter Recharge is Underway! Brought to you by the GPSRC
Winter Recharge is intended for you to reconnect with yourself and each other. This series of programs allows you to focus on your personal and professional growth.
- Attend one event or attend them all. For each event you attend, you will be entered into the Winter Recharge Raffle! Raffle winners will be drawn Tuesday, February 23 at 4:45PM at a live Zoom party. The raffle includes gift cards totaling $500!
- In addition to the events, you can participate in the Collaborative Recipe Book and the Positive Affirmation Corner. A submission to the Recipe Book will also earn you a raffle entry!
- For detailed event information: Winter Recharge Details
Scheduled Events:
- Stretch and Release Yoga & Meditation – Friday, February 5 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Letter to Self – Monday, February 8 from 4:00 – 4:30 PM
- Recharge Your Goals and Create A Vision Board – Wednesday, February 10 from 12:00 – 1:30 PM
- Recharging Your Professional Network – Wednesday, February 17 from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Releasing Expectations and Going with the Flow – Improv Games with Bri – Monday, February 22 from 1 – 2:30 PM
- Show and Tell Your Pet (Therapy Dogs with a Twist) – Tuesday, February 23 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Collaborative Mind Map Journey – Tuesday, February 23 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM
- Winter Recharge Raffle Zoom Party – Tuesday, February 23 at 4:45 PM
Please join us for the 2020-21 “What Matters to Me and Why” discussion!
Who: Dr. Albert Chang, UCI’s Student Health Medical Director
When: Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at Noon
Where: Zoom Webinar
Reservations: RSVP Here
Past recordings are here.
The next event will be with UCI’s Student Health Medical Director Dr. Albert Chang. Albert Chang, MD, MPH, has been a pediatrician and patient advocate in Orange County for nearly 20 years. Prior to UCI, he served as the Regional Medical Director of AltaMed Health Services in Orange County. He obtained his MD/MPH combined degree from Boston University, trained in Pediatrics at CHOC Children’s, and completed a Preventive Medicine Residency at UCLA. For the past three years at UCI, Dr. Chang has strived to maintain health in student and staff populations, prevent illness and injury, and promote healthy living for the people of our community.
“What Matters to Me and Why” encourages reflection about values, beliefs and motivations in the lives of those who shape our university. The series explores personal journeys – choices made, difficulties encountered, commitments formed and joys revealed – with the hope that these stories will help us to understand diverse pathways in life, work and leadership. Such understandings are crucial for fortifying tolerance, strengthening bonds, and supporting the virtues that make UCI a great institution.
Please mark your calendar for future “What Matters to Me and Why” speakers:
- Feb. 25 - Dr. Shruti Gohil - UCI Health Series
- Mar. 10 - Jack Miles
- Apr. 7 - Paula Smith
- May 12 - Anita Casavantes Bradford
Fifth Annual UCI Postdoctoral Scholar Research Symposium, Wed March 24
Submission Deadline: Friday, February 12, 2021
Submission Form: https://forms.gle/c498NcccjoV1JoQj7
CLSA Mentoring Program: Now Accepting Mentor Applications
The Chican@/Latin@ Staff Association (CLSA) is a campus organization of UCI professionals committed to providing a social support network for Chican@/Latin@ staff and students at our campus.
- CLSA is now accepting mentor applications! Graduate students are invited to apply. Mentors will be matched with first year undergraduate students and transfers.
- Sign-up today to be a CLSA Mentor for Winter and Spring 2021! Complete the CLSA Mentor Form.
- Applications are due Monday, February 8, 2021 by 5 pm.
Contacts
- Jessica Ortega at jrortega@uci.edu
- Paulina Raygoza at praygoza@uci.edu
Office Hours
This week was a busy week for office hours. I had the opportunity to talk to a student one day and a faculty advisor another, and I heard Associate Dean Jaymi Smith met with a lot of students this week as well. Please keep showing up, keep talking. Share your wins, your losses, your joy, your grief, your procrastination techniques. We are here for it all.
All office hours at https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057 and all half hour.
- Monday Feb 8 - High Noon (insert obligatory western music) Dean Hayes - https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057
- Tuesday Feb 9 - 2PM Dean Hayes - https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057
- Wednesday Feb 10 - 1PM, Assoc Dean Rodrigo Lazo - https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057
- Thursday Feb 11 - High Noon (again insert obligatory western music), Assoc Dean Jaymi Smith - https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057
- Friday Feb 12- 5PM Dean Hayes - https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057
Be there or be square:
[alt text “When you realize that ‘be there or be square’ means you’re not a-round” above Lisa Simpson’s head]
In Closing:
Hope is here again. You may personally not feel it, and that’s okay, but I am going to hope for us all. You may have seen J&J filed for emergency use today of their vaccine. Hopefully you were able to attend the Chancellor’s town hall in which he noted that heavy vaccine doses are headed our way. The Covid relief package is well on its way through Congress in the US. Many things are happening that mean some level of normalcy is well on its way. So, today I thought it would be fun to end on something a little more lighthearted, a little whimsical, and more than a little strange. Apparently, the US postal service has occasionally throughout its history delivered children by mail:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brief-history-children-sent-through-mail-180959372/
Enjoy the reading, and please don’t send any children or anything else wacky by mail!
On behalf of the Graduate Division,
Gillian Hayes
Kleist Professor of Informatics
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Dean of the Graduate Division