In a Feb. 1 email to faculty and staff, including teaching assistants and student employees, UC Davis’ chief information officer announced the extension of the Feb. 13 deadline for placing campus email accounts behind Duo multifactor authentication until later this calendar year.

“The extension gives the campus additional time to address the complexities of using Duo with certain versions of hardware and email software,” wrote Viji Murali, CIO and vice provost, Information and Educational Technology. “This decision was reached in consultation with the Academic Senate Committee on Information Technology, Academic Senate leadership and other campus partners.”

She said UC Davis still expects all faculty and staff, including TAs and student employees, to enroll in Duo, because the use of Duo improves the security of campus accounts. See updated enrollment instructions here.

“The previously discussed Feb. 13 deadline will not be enforced, although February remains a good time to enroll,” Murali said, noting that UCPath — which goes live at UC Davis on April 1 — requires Duo for access.

More information is available on the Move to Duo website.

AF&S has a new name: Finance

Accounting and Financial Services, or AF&S, has changed its name to Finance — a “more forward looking” name, said Matt Okamoto, university controller and assistant vice chancellor, one that “emphasizes our role in maintaining the financial health of the university.”

Finance is one of the Finance, Operations and Administration departments overseen by Chief Finance and Budget Officer Lisa Frace — all part of the new Finance and Business website. It has links to the Finance and Budget units, as well as Budget and Institutional Analysis, Real Estate Services, Student Services, Supply Chain Management and the Preferred Partnership Program, or UP3.

Read more in this FOA news story.

WarnMe test described as a success

Last Wednesday’s test (Jan. 29) of the WarnMe system was a success, according to Clement Stokes, director of Emergency Management and Mission Continuity.

The test took in the Davis and Sacramento campus staff, faculty and students, the Bodega Marine Laboratory and Tahoe Environmental Research Center, and community subscribers. WarnMe text messages and emails went to about 70,000 people, with only a handful of recipients reporting problems.

If you did not receive the alerts, please contact administrators by email: warnme@ucdavis.edu for the Davis campus and klspurgeon@ucdavis.edu for UC Davis Health.

Future tests are scheduled for April 24 and Oct. 16 this year. Keep your WarnMe information up to date.

4 new emergency phones activated

• Shields Avenue and West Quad Avenue, outside Walker Hall (northeast corner), kitty-corner from the Quad and across the street from the library
• Hutchison Drive on the south side of the library (the call station is between the library and the Art Building)
• Shields Avenue outside University House Annex, just east of the Quad and northeast of the library
• Memorial Union bus terminal, south end

Calling all brewers and tasters!

Brewing teams and tasters are being sought for the fifth annual Staff Brewing Competition, the organizers announced on the event’s website Jan. 31. The website lists this year’s categories as pale ales, sours and ciders, and gives the following information:

• Fees for brewing team (two to six members, all of whom must be UC Davis affiliates): $10 per brewing style (individuals or teams may enter only one or two categories). Team fee does not include the per-person fee ($15) for the competition’s finale: a tasting event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Buehler Alumni Center.
• Noncompetitors are welcome to attend the finale to taste the entries (2-ounce servings) from up to 30 beers. The tasting fee is $15 for UC Davis staff, faculty and Cal Aggie Alumni Association members, $20 for others. Register by March 31 to be guaranteed a souvenir glass.
• Food trucks will be onsite (everyone pays for their own food).
• Entry and tasting fees go toward facility rental, tasting glasses and prizes for the best brews.

‘Soar’ for this volunteer signup sheet

The Staff Diversity Administrative Advisory Committee has put out a call for volunteers for this year’s Soaring to New Heights celebration, to be held Wednesday, April 10.

“The annual Soaring to New Heights celebration wouldn't exist without the help of staff and faculty,” the organizers said. “Volunteer for a role on the planning committee, or simply to help out on the day of the event.”

More information and the sign-up form are available online. If you have issues accessing the form using your UC Davis Google account, contact Alissa Magorian by email.

Students offer free tax help

The UC Davis organization Students in VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is offering free tax preparation for people with annual income of $54,000 or less who live in and around Davis.

The nonprofit Students in VITA, certified by the Internal Revenue Service, announced three sessions a week at two sites in Davis and at least one session on campus.

The Davis sites will be open through Friday, April 12 (except March 18-30, finals week and spring break), according to the following schedule:

• Monday and Friday — 5-8 p.m., New Harmony Community Center, 3030 Cowell Blvd., Davis
• Saturday — 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Mary Stephens Library, 315 E. 14th St., Davis

Students in VITA has confirmed one campus session: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Garrison Room, second floor of the Memorial Union.

Appointments — which are encouraged and prioritized — can be arranged online (look for the “Tax Filers” drop-down menu, then click on “Make an Appointment”). The appointment page lists the documents you must bring with you.

No appointment? Walk-ins are welcome until an hour before closure.

During the last tax season, Students in VITA prepared 393 tax returns that brought $330,835 in tax refunds.

Questions? Check the website or send an email.

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