uc davis travel risk

The UC Davis Travel & Entertainment Team provides a broad range of services, including expense reimbursement, Travel & Entertainment Card program management, and guidance on policy requirements.

Complete details can be found here:    Travel & Entertainment  

How to Travel at UC Davis

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding AB 1887 

List of States re: AB 1887

New Policy Requires Registration of International Travel

• by Dateline Staff
• June 05, 2018

UC Davis has enacted a new policy on international travel, laying out the campus’s registration requirement for trips abroad and setting rules for “high-risk” travel.

The policy aims to promote the safety and security of UC Davis travelers abroad and ensure that appropriate risk mitigation procedures are applied to “high-risk” travel.

AT A GLANCE

The policy has two major components:

• All international travel on university business must be registered .
• “High-risk” travel is subject to review.

UC Davis Policy and Procedures Manual: Chapter 300, Travel and Transportation; Section 32, International Travel

The campus’s travel security manager cited some of the benefits of trip registration: Travelers receive customized, location-specific alerts to mitigate weather, health, security and transportation disruptions; access to important travel insurance and emergency contact information; and timely responses — to include emergency evacuation — in the event of medical or security-related incidents.

Trip registration is automatic for travel arrangements made through AggieTravel (Connexxus) . For reservations made outside of AggieTravel (Connexxus), travelers must register through UC Away “It’s a simple process that takes one minute or less,” the travel secuyrity manager said.

Important note: Beginning July 1, UC Davis travelers will be required to certify via the reimbursement process that their international travel was registered prior to departure.

More details, including an updated list of “high-risk” destinations and procedures for submitting proposed travel itineraries to such destinations, can be found on Global Affairs’ “International Travel Policy” webpage .

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Media Resources

Dateline Staff, 530-752-6556, [email protected]

Primary Category

Safety Services

Risk management services, improve safety, reduce loss, protect resources.

Risk Management Services supports the campus by helping faculty, staff and students to identify and strategically manage their risk exposures associated with their activities, consistent with the university’s missions of teaching, research and public service.

By strategically managing risk we can reduce the chances and costs of loss, strengthen the campus safety culture, create greater financial stability, and protect our resources. Risk Management manages Workers' Compensation services for UC Davis.

International Travel

Registration is required for all university-related international travel

Youth Protection Program

Registration for youth programs helps ensure our commitment to the safety and protection of minors

Central Authentication Service (CAS)

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Protect your campus computing account login ID and passphrase. Use them only for campus websites and campus online services.

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Be extremely wary of messages that ask you to enter your passphrase into a non-UC Davis website. If you have doubts about a message or website, or think you have been tricked into submitting your passphrase or personal information, call your local IT service desk:

UC Davis Campus: IT Express at 530-754-HELP (4357) UC Davis Health: Technology Operations Center at 916-734-HELP (4357) Copyright © Regents of the University of California, Davis campus. All Rights Reserved.

Global Affairs

Travel Tips and Resources

Tips and resources for safe and productive travels.

Safety and Security

Global Affairs considers the safety and security of UC Davis travelers of critical importance. Explore resources and tips for safe and secure travels. 

Communications

Reliable and redundant communications capabilities are critical to ensuring a safe and productive trip. Explore communications-related travel resources, to assist in trip planning.

Global Affairs has collected a variety of vital health-related resources and tips to assist in trip planning.

UC Davis and travel language tips and language resources available at UC Davis. 

Electronics

While cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices have become necessities, traveling with such devices occasionally poses challenges. Explore tips and resources for traveling with electronic devices. 

LGBTQIA+ Travelers

Depending on destination and culture, LGBTQIA+ travelers may encounter unique challenges while in transit and abroad, including harassment, intimidation, discrimination, barriers to medical and law enforcement assistance, incarceration, and physical violence. Explore resources to help think through potential challenges and risk mitigation strategies before traveling.

More Information

For more information, see travel resources and tips related to communications , health , language , safety and security ,  traveling with electronic devices .

UC Davis travelers with general travel-related questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Global Affairs at (530) 752-4129 or [email protected] . 

Global Learning Hub

Global Grad Grants

Funding opportunity overview.

The Global Grad Grants, supported this year by the Pitzer Family Foundation, provide funding opportunities for UC Davis graduate or professional students seeking to participate in a globally-focused social impact program or  in a globally-focused research opportunity or program during the summer.

Students will be able to choose between two funding tracks: the Social Impact Track or the Research Track .

• The Social Impact Track is ideal for students who want to deepen their knowledge of the complexities of striving for justice across differences of culture and power and examine their own location within global flows of power and resources.
• The Research Track is ideal for students who have identified a global research opportunity or program that relates to their academic and/or professional goals and want to explore how concepts of culture, identity, power, global systems, and conflict relate to their work.

Please see more details below about the structure, eligibility, and timeline for each track.

• Log in through Experiential and Intercultural Programs portal
• Click “Start an Application”
• Click “Global Grad Grants”
• Click “Apply Now”
• Deadline March 15, 2024

Funding Tracks Criteria and Eligibility

Social Impact Track

For the Social Impact Track, students will be enrolled in the UC Davis Widening Circles Program and will need to complete all requirements of that program. The Global Grad Grant will cover your $500 program fee, and you will also be eligible for a $2000 travel grant to support a social impact internship or volunteer opportunity, either offered through the program’s partner, Omprakash or that you find on your own. To learn more about the program curriculum as well as internship and volunteer opportunities offered through Omprakash, register here .

Eligibility

• Continuing UC Davis graduate or professional students.
• In good academic standing.
• Demonstrated financial need.
• International students are eligible.
• Verification from department that you are able to receive additional funding in the form of a travel grant stipend.
• Demonstrated connection between the UC Davis Widening Circles program learning outcomes and your graduate studies.
• Demonstrated connection between one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals and your social impact internship/volunteer opportunity goals.
• Priority for internship/volunteer opportunities based in Latin America or Africa.

Additional Requirements

Social Impact Track recipients must:

• Complete all requirements of the UC Davis Widening Circles program.
• Participate in the Widening Circles virtual symposium at the end of the summer.
• Write a Global Aggies blog post about your experience for the Global Learning Hub.

Research Track

For the Research Track, students will be enrolled in the Global Leadership Pathway Micro-Credential Program offered by the UC Davis Global Learning Hub. You will need to complete all aspects of the micro-credential program by the specified deadline (see below). The Global Grad Grant will cover your $500 fee for supporting badge administration and you will also be eligible for a $2000 travel grant to support research activity in the summer.

• Demonstrated connection between the Global Leadership Pathway learning outcomes and your graduate studies.
• Identify a research opportunity/program related to your graduate studies.
• Demonstrated connection between one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals and your research opportunity/program.
• Priority for research opportunities/programs in Latin America or Africa.

Research Track recipients must:

• Complete the Global Leadership Pathway modules by June 15, 2024.

Both tracks

• Application Opens: January 8, 2024
• Application Closes: March 15, 2024
• Award Notification: week of April 8, 2024
• View the UC Davis Widening Circles webpage for more details about program dates.
• Program will be approximately 2 hours/week during program dates.
• Social impact internship/volunteer opportunity: summer 2024.
• The six asynchronous modules will take approximately 10 hours to complete.
• Research opportunity/program: summer 2024

Application Instructions

• Log into the Experiential and Intercultural Programs portal

Contact Information

Kimberly Bellows

Experiential and Intercultural Programs Senior Analyst Global Learning Hub, Global Affairs [email protected]

• UC Finance >
• Risk Services >
• Travel Risk and Insurance >

Registering UC Travel

Travel risk and insurance.

Travel registration is an important risk management tool. If an emergency occurs in your travel destination, this is how your campus Risk Management office will know you are there. Travel registration also enrolls you to receive travel alerts from UC’s security provider,  Crisis24 .

• Travel arrangements made through the  UC travel program , also known as ConnexUC, Connexxus, and Concur, are automatically registered to receive travel alerts through Crisis24’s Worldcue system, except for SWABIZ bookings.
• For SWABIZ bookings -or- for reservations made outside ConnexUC, you must register your trip in UC’s travel registration system,  UC Away .
• UC employees must be on approved university business during which they will be compensated by the university.
• UC students must be participating in a UC sponsored and supervised off-campus activity that meets the policy definition of a ‘covered activity.’
• If in doubt, consult with your campus  Risk Management  office.

Related Resources

• UC Away Travel Registration

Finance & Business

High risk transactions, reduce the risks and consequences of errors or fraud. .

Departments with  effective internal controls , both preventative and detective, can reduce the risks and consequences of errors or fraud. 

Although university financial systems have forced separation of duties for the initiator and approver of a transaction, many transactions that have been generated outside those systems do not. You should pay closer attention to transactions that are directly fed into the ledger by recharge departments using the General Ledger Internal Billing (GLIB) document and by direct charges for airfare, local hotel or catering from the campus Preferred Booking Program .

Best Practices

Preferred booking program.

When an employee uses AggieExpense, BCD Travel, the Local Hotel program, or campus Catering Services and direct bills the university, these transactions are not routed for approval. The expenses post directly to the department account/Billing ID that the employee/traveler has established in their profile.  This direct billing leaves the university at risk for potential misuse or fraud if the fiscal officers are not performing their monthly reviews.  Best practices for these transactions:

• Create a separate account that will be used for these transactions as a "clearing account" and assign a fiscal officer that is familiar with all department personnel.  Having a separate account will help highlight any unusual activity or excessive charges in the account. 
• Use the  Analytical Ledger Review  (ALR) to verify that all transactions appear reasonable and travel/expense has been approved.  As well as confirming that all travelers/employees are part of your department and are currently employed.  You can perform this review in the feed section by drilling down into the "AT" origin code or drilling down in the Travel (SUB5) section.
• If these transactions are not recorded in a separate account you must review the AggieExpense Unreconciled CTS expenses report ( DS FIS 421 ).  Verify all transactions appear reasonable, travel/expense has been approved and the traveler/employee is part of your department and currently employed. 
• No personal travel/expenses should be charged to the university.  Spouse/partner travel that will be billed to the university and is allowed per policy should be pre-approved prior to booking the travel/expense.
• Send reminders to travelers that have unreconciled transactions greater than 30 days.

Employee Reimbursements

Employee reimbursements are more vulnerable to error or fraud as these transactions have bypassed all approved purchasing methods.  These reimbursements should be the exception and not the norm.  If you are receiving multiple reimbursement requests from the same employee within a small time frame your department should advise the employee of the proper purchasing methods.  Best practices when reviewing requests for employee reimbursements:

• Look for duplicate submissions for out of pocket reimbursements.
• If the employee has a Procurement Card, look for transactions submitted as a Procurement Card transaction but also as an out of pocket reimbursement.
• Departments should restrict employee reimbursements as much as possible.
• Provide new employees with guidance on purchasing practices and direct them to the " How to Buy " guide. 

In the last several years, there has been an increase in the number of gift cards purchased with university funds.  With this increase there is also an increase in the risk that these gift cards are mishandled and/or misused. Best practices for managing gift cards.

• Treat gift cards like you would cash.
• Always maintain gift cards under dual custody.
• Maintain gift card distribution log to record the distribution of gift cards.
• Conduct random audits of the gift cards and the gift card log. This should be performed by someone not involved in the custody and distribution of the gift cards.
• Gift cards purchased in excess of policy limits for  employees  or  non-employees  must be reported to Tax Reporting & Compliance.
• If you are purchasing gift cards for spot awards that will be used throughout the year, do not purchase more than you expect to use within the fiscal year (July-June).
• Purchase gift cards through Aggie Enterprise .

Procurement Card (P-Card transactions)

Procurement Cards are at higher risk of misuse or fraud when the fiscal officer is not performing adequate reviews, or if the department does not have an appropriate separation of duties. Departments should have someone other than the cardholder verifying all purchases have been received and accounted for. Best practices for P-Card transactions:

• Create a separate account for P-Card transactions to ensure transactions are being reconciled timely.  A department can also create separate accounts for each P-Card which would allow better oversight of the items individuals are purchasing and their purchasing patterns.
• Ensure receipt of purchases has been performed, and custody of item is not maintained by the purchaser. This will help prevent items being returned for store credit by the purchaser.
• Review receipts to ensure there are no personal purchases.
• Establish a process to ensure purchaser provides receipts in a timely manner.  A P-Card can be canceled if the purchaser is not following department processes or following campus policies.
• For more information on what is an allowable/unallowable purchase visit the  Procurement Card  page.

Travel is an especially high-risk area for misuse or fraud. One way to mitigate the risk is to require pre-trip approval for all travel and utilize AggieExpense as the pre-approval system. Best practices for reviewing travel reports:

• Review explanations and ensure the traveler is not requesting reimbursement for items that have already been pre-paid or have been previously paid on a different expense report.
• If the employee has appointments in two departments, think about coordinating travel expenses reports with the other department to ensure both departments are not reimbursing the traveler for the same expenses.
• Review all exceptions noted by AggieExpense and ensure the appropriate review/action has taken place.
• Ensure the accounts being charged are appropriate for the fund source.
• If you have concerns with the type of travel or repeatedly high cost/luxury travel, be sure to discuss your concerns with the MSO/CAO/Manager of your department. 

Global Affairs

Travel Checklist

Uc davis global affairs travel checklists, before traveling  .

• While at your Destination

After Returning

General travel resources.

With UC Davis students, faculty, and staff actively studying, researching and collaborating worldwide, there are hundreds of UC Davis travelers at any given time. Global Affairs is committed to providing travel resources and tips for safe and productive trips.

Register your trip

Registration is automatic if booking travel via AggieTravel/Connexxus

• Otherwise, out-of-state and international travel must be registered at the UC Away website
• Visit the Global Affairs travel webpages for resources and tips , and important travel news and updates

Ensure that your passport is valid

Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended return date

Determine what visa requirements apply to your destination

Please note: the University of California maintains a contract with Peninsula Passport & Visa for reduced visa and passport rates for UC travelers

Research your destination

Two resources are the  Worldcue Planner and the State Department’s “Country Information” webpages

Service is offered free of charge to UC Davis travelers and contains a wealth of country-specific safety, security, health, cultural, political, transportation, communications, legal, financial, and weather information and guidance

• K eep weather, crime, transportation ( including road safety ), and cultural/political considerations in mind
• Always know where the nearest police station and hospital/clinic are located
• Learn about the local culture, political/security environment, weather, geography, traffic patterns, road conditions, visas required for entry and the perception of foreigners

Engage with friends or colleagues who have traveled to your destination previously or who are originally from there

• Gain insights into daily life and tips on how to ensure a safe and productive trip

Establish a robust and redundant communications plan (see  Communications Resources )

Review country-specific health, food safety, and immunization requirements

Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Travelers’ Health” webpage

• Be aware of local laws and regulations regarding the importation of medicine –especially medications that are commonly controlled
• UC Davis employees can obtain free immunizations and a detailed travel health report by calling the Travel Medicine Program at 530-752-6051
• UC Davis students should consult Student Health and Counseling Services’ travel webpage

Register your travel with the U.S. Department of State’s  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

Registration enables receiving critical health, safety, and security alerts directly from the local U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. consulate

Enter  emergency contact information into your phone

Program  local emergency services , the U.S. Embassy or nearest consulate , UnitedHealthcare Global , and friends/family/colleagues) into your phone before traveling

• Keep a hard copy of this information with you in case your phone is lost or stolen

Be prepared for local weather contingencies

Pack clothing to dress in layers  and  allows you to maintain a low profile and blend in

Inform friends, family, and colleagues of your travel plans

Let friends and family know of impromptu trips while abroad

• Establish routine check-in times, as well as a protocol in the event that you fail to check in as planned

Make copies of your identity documents

This includes passport, visa page, and other important documents

• Keep them in safe place (e.g., separate from the originals in case they are lost or stolen)

Create a “mugger’s wallet”

 Keep a small amount of local currency, expired credit cards, and old receipts to hand over in a potential robbery attempt

Know the safest methods to withdraw cash at your destination

While ATMs are the most efficient way to withdraw local currency in many countries, they are not always prevalent or secure

• Research the safest methods to withdraw cash at your destination
• Be vigilant of ATM “skimming” equipment and protect your PIN

Research cell/landline access and coverage

Consider purchasing a local SIM card and data/voice plan for your mobile phone

• Local SIM cards/plans are generally moderately priced, especially when compared to international plans offered by U.S.-based carriers
• If traveling to remote or rural locations, consider renting a satellite phone or radio

Ensure that you have the correct plug adapters and, if necessary , power converters

Consider purchasing a spare or external battery for your electronic devices

Limit the amount of data and number of electronic devices that you travel with

Consider traveling with a “loaner” laptop and/or phone

• Access sensitive data only remotely via cloud-based applications
• If traveling with encrypted devices or devices with encryption software, be aware of which countries restrict or require licenses for importation of such devices/software (e.g., Belarus, Burma/Myanmar, China, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Ukraine)
• If you must travel with your personal electronic devices, have your IT department scan your equipment before departure for comparison upon your return to determine if your devices have been tampered with
• If traveling with personal devices, back them up before departing
• Do not insert hardware (e.g., thumb drives or CDs) from unknown or untrusted sources into personal electronic devices

Be aware of internet/WiFi availability

Keep in mind that some states censor certain web content, applications, social media platforms, and occasionally impose complete blackouts

• While some virtual private networks (VPNs) can bypass some levels of censorship, they should not be relied on to work at all times
• There should be no expectation of privacy when utilizing “government approved” VPNs

Inform your bank and credit card companies of your travel plans

Research and comply with all local laws

• This is especially important if traveling to conduct research or traveling with materials subject to local regulation

Get your export control-related questions answered

Visit UC Davis’ Office of Research Compliance and Integrity 's website

• This is particularly important if traveling to sanction countries (e.g., Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Venezuela, etc.)
• The Office of Research provides more information on export controls

While at Your Destination

• Re-check communications capabilities as you relocate during your trip, especially if moving from urban to rural areas
• This could be for food/restaurants and safety/security precautions
• Blend in as much as possible
• If you do not need ID, credit cards, documents, or cash with you while away from your hotel/residence, leave them in a safe place
• Spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself to emergency exits at your hotel/residence, restaurants, place(s) of employment, etc.
• Visualize your escape plan in the event an emergency
• Know where the nearest hospital, police station, and embassy/consulate are
• Time permitting, walk or drive by these locations to know where entrances are
• Remain vigilant of your surroundings
• Don’t walk and text
• Whenever possible, travel with someone else
• Keep a low profile and blend in
• If something doesn’t seem right, depart the area
• Avoid political protests and demonstrations
• Keep your phone charged and travel with a spare or external battery
• This is especially true for login credentials and passwords
• Avoid connecting to public WiFi networks
• If you must utilize public WiFi, use of a virtual private network (VPN)  may  afford a basic level of security
• Do not transmit sensitive information (e.g., login credentials and passwords) via hotel business center (or other public) computers or devices
• Avoid discussing politically, culturally, or socially sensitive topics, either in-person or electronically
• Travelers re-entering the United State have no Fourth Amendment right to privacy
• Electronic devices are subject to search  by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol

Contact UnitedHealthcare Global, the University of California’s travel insurance provider, in the event of any health, safety, or security incidents at  +1-410-453-6330 . Be sure to have your insurance identification number, which travelers receive when  registering  their travel.

• Or other information that may be helpful for future UC Davis travelers by calling (530) 752-4129 or by e-mailing  [email protected]
• Have your IT department inspect your equipment and compare to pre-departure scans to determine if your devices were tampered with
• UC Davis travelers must use their university email address to receive discounts
• Offers a wide range of health, safety, and security, export control, and other resources for faculty and researchers, staff, and students planning travel abroad
• If you are a student traveling abroad, review the Department of State’s  Students Abroad webpage
• Consult the Transportation Security Administration’s general  Travel Tips webpage
• Review the Department of Homeland Security’s  Overseas Travel webpage
• Expedites travel, along with other  Trusted Traveler Programs , such as TSA’s  Pre-Check expedited security program

More Information

UC Davis travelers with general travel-related questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Global Affairs at (530) 752-4129 or  [email protected] . 

How Big a Threat Is Bird Flu?

• by Josh Fischman, Tanya Lewis, Alexa Lim, & Madison Goldberg
• April 24, 2024

Cows and at least one person in the U.S. have been sickened by avian influenza. OHI's Dr. Christine Kreuder Johnson is one of the experts recently interviewed on Scientific American's podcast "Science, Quickly" to discuss the risk to humans.

Listen Here

UC Davis Leadership

Checking in with chancellor may: our transfer student success.

• by Gary S. May
• April 19, 2024

To the UC Davis Community:

Today, thousands of future Aggies will open their email to the exciting news they have been accepted as transfers at UC Davis. They join our vibrant community of almost 8,000 transfer students and will continue their path toward an undergraduate degree in a community eager to welcome them.

Our transfer students come from every walk of life and experience. Some are first-generation students, some are returning to college after serving in the military or raising families, and some are transitioning from one career to the next.

While every transfer has a unique story, they are joined in their desire to get a world-class education at UC Davis.

Brenda Chavarin Lizama is a thriving first-generation student who transferred to UC Davis. A political science major, she’s a peer advisor for other transfer students, excited about a summer internship in Thailand and a year from graduation. Unsure about finances and academic focus, she said she didn’t see herself here right after high school. Encouragement from her community college professors and a UC Davis transfer counselor helped her realize that she is as right for UC Davis as it is for her.

UC Davis has an incredible track record of supporting transfer students, with some of the highest graduation rates in the state. In fact, 88% of transfer students graduate within four years , and in winter 2024, our two-year graduation rate jumped to an all-time high of 65%.

ASUCD Transfer Student Representative Kaito Clarke welcomed the “clean slate” Ohlone College offered to jumpstart his pursuit of a political science degree. The first-generation college student chose UC Davis because it is an inclusive environment that recognizes and celebrates every student's journey to campus.

Pathways for success

For many students, the story begins at a California community college. The University of California’s Transfer Admission Guarantee promises that students who fulfill the academic requirements in almost every major will be admitted to UC Davis or five other institutions.

At UC Davis, we’re committed to welcoming transfers. UC Davis has one of the highest transfer admit rate in the UC system, reaching 70% for California community college students in fall 2023.

Transfer admissions are essential to expanding opportunities for California students. The vast majority of our transfers come from one of the state’s community colleges, and 89% of our transfer admissions are from California.

Many students are from historically underrepresented groups, and 44% of transfer admissions are the first generation in their families to attend college.

We’ve expanded our partnership relationship to 42 community colleges in California through the Transfer Opportunity Program . It connects students with a cohort group across the state, explains the admission process and matches students with Student Outreach Ambassadors at UC Davis.

Members of our Aggie community

Transitioning from community colleges can often feel intimidating. However, our programs help transfers immediately establish connections. Events like Discover UC Davis, Aggie Day and Picnic Day draw students to campus to learn more about our community and its unique spirit. Aggie Orientation sets the stage for transfer students to connect to the community and jump into campus and academic life.

Once students enroll, the Transfer and Reentry Center, or TRC, provides vital social and emotional support. Transfer Coordinator Dasha Sidenko said relationships are at the heart of the TRC, connecting students with networks of peer advisors, staff advisors and fellow students.

Director of Transfer and Veterans Services Hope Medina said the TRC helps students navigate the challenges of larger campus life. When students have questions about anything from housing to financial aid, the center’s open-door policy means staff can often walk them right to the office they need to visit to find support.

Students can also get assistance from the Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers, or AATC, which support thousands of undergraduates each year with subject-specific tutoring, classes, workshops and writing support services. Appointment and drop-in tutoring support is available in biology, chemistry, economics, math, physics and statistics.

Get engaged

Speaking of ways to be part of our community, I hope all undergraduate students — including transfers — will vote in next week’s ASUCD elections . It’s a vital way to have a say in the way the university’s student government is run, including who will fill leadership roles like president, six senate seats, transfer student representative and more. The ballot also contains a proposal to reinstate a student fee to fund a program that supports campus sustainability projects. Voting will take place online Monday (April 22) through April 26.

Academic support

UC Davis supports the academic transition as well.

The College of Biological Sciences is one example of our colleges offering programs that connect transfer students to their academic cohort and research opportunities. Helen Schurke Frasier, assistant dean for student success initiatives, described their approach as one focused on creating multiple mentorship opportunities to build a strong foundation for student success.

Their goal is to have every transfer student participate in significant experiential learning in and beyond the classroom during their time at UC Davis. As Professor J. David Furlow said, transfer students choose UC Davis because of our research mission to “not only teach but discover.”

All freshman and transfer students attend a BioLaunch Seminar to connect them with academic life and immediately engage in research projects. The Mentor Collective , one of the largest in the country, connects students with peers to help them find study spaces, learn how to engage with professors and handle exams.  And Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience, or CURE , puts students in labs as scientific investigators conducting practical research to uncover the unknown. The college has launched an initiative to dramatically expand CURE offerings with the goal that every transfer student will have a seat in this transformative, research-intensive course.

For students in biology, engineering , or medicine , Avenues B, E and M offer pathways all the way from community college to careers.

Across our colleges, transfer students are linked to opportunities that will help them meet their career aspirations.

Patty Garcia , a transfer student who will graduate this spring with an English degree, credits UC Davis support for parents, from diapers to daycare, as an indispensable part of her success. She said her experience in the Washington Program as a Congressional intern for Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) helped her develop networking skills she’ll need to make a difference in her community. Garcia, a first-generation student with two children, hopes to return to UC Davis to study law.

Graduation and beyond 

Garcia’s story is the story of so many of our transfer students. Once students are admitted to UC Davis, they succeed here.

Dustin Lower , a reentry student, came to UC Davis after first entering college 20 years ago. After a career and time caring for his family, Lower hit the ground running at UC Davis, where he will continue his studies toward his Ph.D. after graduating with a degree in plant biology this spring. Lower, who recently won a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for his mycology work, says that UC Davis’ support for research and invested faculty made all the difference.

He said there was a direct throughline from the Avenue B program to winning the fellowship, a path that led to his first hands-on lab experience running his own study to the Dean’s Circle Summer Undergraduate Research Program .

Our transfer students embody my goal that every student leaves UC Davis with a job offer or graduate school placement in hand, inspiring others to realize they can do the same. Clarke, who will graduate this June, said he could only graduate from UC Davis because of his community college transfer experience, and he’s been touched to see that his brother — who wasn’t thinking about college before — is now talking about attending UC Davis.

Congratulations to our successful transfer applicants on this special day in your academic career. We couldn’t be happier welcoming you as scholars, leaders and Aggies!

Gary S. May Chancellor

Primary Category

Staff Environmental Scientist/Toxicologist

Posted: April 26, 2024

Job Opening March 4, 2024

Summary: We are seeking an entry to mid‐level professional to perform data collection and analysis related to risks to ecological and human receptors from exposure to pesticides in production agriculture, rights‐of‐ way, irrigation and flood control settings. Gathers and uses peer‐reviewed scientific data on fate, transport and toxicity to estimate and communicate ecological and human health risk; regularly interacts with clients and regulatory agency staff; prepares scope, schedule and cost estimates and manages or assists with management of projects.

Background Sought: A work history that includes performance of ecological and human health risk assessment, use of environmental toxicology principals and an understanding of pesticide science is preferred. Background in environmental modeling, agriculture, water quality, regulatory compliance and contaminated site assessment is a plus. Additional requirements include strong Excel and Access skills, attention to detail and ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

Education & Experience Required: minimum BS; MS/PhD preferred with a degree in biology, environmental toxicology, environmental science, or environmental chemistry. Between 1‐5 years of directly relevant work experience required.

Minimum Credentials: Valid CDL

Compensation: Annual compensation range of between $65K‐$105K depending on experience. Benefits include flexible schedule, 401K match, health/dental/vision/life insurance, flexible spending account, vacation and holiday time and a generous educational allowance.

How to Apply: Please email cover letter and resume to [email protected] . Please, no phone calls.