CAMPUS
The University of California, Santa Barbara Alumni Association elected their newest UC Regent, Fran Mancia of the class of 1980, to serve as one of four University of California Alumni Regents. His term as Regent-designate begins on Jul. 1, 2016, and his voting rights as Regent will be active from Jul. 1, 2017 to Jun. 30, 2018. The board of directors of the UCSB Alumni Association elects a new regent every six years.
UCSB Residential Dining Services held the grand opening of Miramar Market, located in the Sierra Madre Apartments, on Tues., Feb. 23. After months of planning, this new mini market, staffed by student employees, now makes beverages, snacks and school supplies easily accessible for residents farther removed from campus and Isla Vista markets.
In a University of California Campus Wide Student Mental Health Evaluation, conducted by the UC Student Association, UCSB garnered a C+, a third of a grade above the average C rating awarded to all nine campuses. The evaluations — based on data collected from students and counseling staff from Sept. 2015 to Feb. 2016 — assessed the quality of accessibility of care, diversity of counseling staff and level of outreach performed by Counseling & Psychological Services.
ISLA VISTA
Researchers at UCSB are taking advantage of El Niño conditions to better track the rate of cliff erosion on nine different sites, from East Goleta Beach to Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve, along the Isla Vista coastline. The sea level rise, that has so far been recorded at eight to twelve inches, will help UCSB earth science professor Edward Keller and his team of researchers better understand coastal retreat in the future.
LOCAL & STATE
California State Senator Steven Glazer proposed “The California Promise” on Mon., Feb. 22 to improve four-year graduation rates in the California State University system. If passed, it would freeze tuition rates for incoming students at the amount paid as a first-year so long as they pass 15 units per semester with a 2.0 average. Students would have access to academic advising, priority registration and tuition-free courses taken outside of the four-year window.